Key takeaways from the 2021 Emmy nominations

It’s Round 2 for an Emmy nomination day during the pandemic. Now that shows that likely brought you some comfort this year have been nominated by the Television Academy, here are some notable takeaways.

Josh O’Connor and Emma Corrin in “The Crown.”

(Des Willie / Netflix)

Netflix’s “The Crown” leads the pack with four nods as Disney+’s “WandaVision” scores Marvel its first Emmy nominations. It was also a good day for the teams behind HBO’s “Mare of Easttown” and Hulu’s “Framing Britney Spears” documentary.

Did your favorite show make the cut? See the full list >>

(Carole Bethuel / Netflix)

Remember when the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. was ridiculed for calling the lightweight Netflix series “Emily in Paris” one of the best television comedies? Emmy voters either didn’t pay attention or were too busy marveling over Lily Collins’ designer outfits to care.

Read more surprises and snubs >>

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

“Pose” went out with a bang Tuesday, earning a history-making Emmy nomination for star Mj Rodriguez, who became the first transgender performer to earn a nomination in a lead acting category.

“Having all these intersectionalities slammed on top of being an African-American woman, and being Latina, and being a person who represents for females in general and identifies as a woman ... I’m just glad I can represent for each and every last one of those communities,” a jubilant Rodriguez told The Times.

Read her full interview and see how the cast and creatives of “Pose” also were quick to celebrate >>

Grogu, also known as Baby Yoda, in “The Mandalorian.”

(Lucasfilm)

On the whole the 2021 Emmys will reflect the central TV-watching habit of the last year: the turn to comforting shows, often while consuming comfort foods — Cocoa Puffs straight from the box, anyone? — when times got tough.

Read TV critic Lorraine Ali’s analysis here >>>

(Joshua Ade / HBO)

Though the nominations were led overall by “The Crown,” “The Mandalorian,” “WandaVision” and “Ted Lasso,” many projects led by Black creators and performers were recognized by the Television Academy in the major categories.

Leading them was HBO’s “Lovecraft Country,” often compared to “Watchmen,” which scored top honors during last year’s Emmys. Another leading nominee was “I May Destroy You,” the provocative HBO series about a young influencer and author grappling with the trauma of sexual assault. “I May Destroy You” will face off in the limited series category with another high-profile series, Amazon’s “The Underground Railroad.”

In the highly competitive limited series field, other acclaimed series about Black history failed to break through.
Learn more >>

Hannah Waddingham, left, and Juno Temple in “Ted Lasso.”

(Apple TV+)

In speaking with The Times, a tearful Juno Temple and Hannah Waddingham react to their nods for Apple TV+’s feel-good comedy “Ted Lasso,” which scored 20 total nominations.

They discussed how it’s not just a show but also a vibe as well as the secret behind their TV chemistry.

Read the full interview >>

Regé-Jean Page as Duke Simon Bassett in “Bridgerton.”

(Liam Daniel / Netflix)

Once defined by white actors playing compelling but deeply flawed antiheroes — think Bryan Cranston as Walter White in “Breaking Bad,” Jon Hamm as Don Draper in “Mad Men” or James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano in “The Sopranos” — the lead actor field for this year’s Emmys includes four Black actors playing an array of roles that defy easy generalization.

We break down what this unprecedented showing by Black actors means in the context of Emmy history. Read more >>>

Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff in “WandaVision.”

(Marvel Studios)

The first-time Emmy nominee is one of 23 in all for “WandaVision,” which earned Marvel Studios its first major nods from the Television Academy on Tuesday. She spoke to The Times about what it means to have the series’ technical prowess honored alongside its actors — and tells us why “Agatha All Along” became a chart-topping earworm. Read more >>>