'The Pitt' up for 25 Emmys, and LI-themed shows also in the mix

The 78th annual Primetime Emmy Awards nominations, announced Wednesday, came with the expected ("The Pitt") and the unexpected ("Your Friends & Neighbors"). And most definitely in the unexpected category: These nominations also had a distinct Long Island flavor, with no less than three nods going to shows that were either set here or filmed here: "The Beast in Me," "The Gilded Age," and "The Diplomat" which set an entire episode in Amagansett and filmed the season finale at Planting Fields in Oyster Bay.

Here's the list and a few quick thoughts; this year's awards ceremony will air Sept. 14 on NBC and stream on Peacock:

DRAMA

"The Diplomat" (Netflix)

"The Gilded Age" (HBO Max)

"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" (HBO Max)

"Paradise" (Hulu)

"The Pitt" (HBO Max)

"Pluribus" (Apple TV)

"Slow Horses" (Apple TV)

"Your Friends & Neighbors" (Apple TV)

As expected, the brilliant sophomore season of "The Pitt" walked away with a load of nods — 25 — but nobody predicted "Seven Kingdoms" or "Your Friends & Neighbors" to be on the list. ("Kingdoms," another spinoff from the "Game of Thrones" universe; "Friends," about a guy who robs his wealthy neighbors, and which did get some buzz for its second season.) As you may know, "The Gilded Age" has taped scenes at Old Bethpage Village restoration while a major filming location is just behind Bethpage's Museum of American Armor, where the exteriors of the Russell and Van Rhijn mansions have been constructed.

A strong category, this race is nonetheless between "The Pitt" and "Pluribus." (And if it's snubs you're looking for, no "Stranger Things" here?)

COMEDY

"Abbott Elementary" (ABC)

"The Bear" (FX on Hulu)

"Hacks" (HBO Max)

"Margo’s Got Money Troubles" (Apple TV)

"Nobody Wants This" (Netflix)

"Only Murders in the Building" (Hulu)

"Shrinking" (Apple TV)

"Widow’s Bay" (Apple TV)

Six of these series were nominated last year — you can easily guess which ones — but the favorites are both freshmen: "Widow's Bay" (about a mayor trying to turn his cursed island into a tourist destination), and "Margo's Got Money Troubles" (about a young mom who turns to OnlyFans to pay the bills). Could "Hacks" win for its final season? (It won for the third.) Sure, but "Bay" has the buzz.

The biggest snub of the entire day is here: "The Lowdown," a standout on FX that seemed poised to have a big day (and did not).

LIMITED SERIES

"All Her Fault" (Peacock)

"The Beast in Me" (Netflix)

"Beef" (Netflix)

"DTF St. Louis" (HBO Max)

"Love Story" (FX)

All of these were expected, but only one can win, and won't everyone be surprised if the winner is the latest installment from the Ryan Murphy anthology factory line "Story," which covered the JFK Jr.-Carolyn Bessette saga with intelligence and nuance? It certainly deserves to. Meanwhile, yes, "The Beast in Me" was set in Oyster Bay but filmed in New Jersey (go figure), most likely for cost reasons.

ACTOR/DRAMA

Sterling K. Brown ("Paradise")

Gary Oldman ("Slow Horses")

Mark Ruffalo ("Task")

Rufus Sewell ("The Diplomat")

Noah Wyle ("The Pitt")

Wyle is a favorite to repeat, but Sewell could surprise. Brown and Oldman are repeat contenders in this category. Snub? Obviously Jon Hamm, of "Your Friends & Neighbors."

ACTRESS/DRAMA

Carrie Coon ("The Gilded Age")

Chase Infiniti ("The Testaments")

Keri Russell ("The Diplomat")

Rhea Seahorn ("Pluribus")

Zendaya ("Euphoria")

This is the most competitive category. How strong and competitive? Kathy Bates ("Matlock") was snubbed, and so were Jennifer Aniston ("The Morning Show") and Michelle Pfeiffer, who gave a performance with Emmy written all over it in "The Madison." Infiniti may be a big surprise (except to anyone who watched "The Testaments"). Her statement: "I truly cannot believe this but am so honored and grateful." Will this be the year Russell finally wins an Emmy, after standout work in both "The Americans" and "The Diplomat?"

ACTOR/COMEDY

Yahya Abdul Mateen II ("Wonder Man")

Steve Carell ("Rooster")

Matthew Rhys ("Widow's Bay")

Jason Segel ("Shrinking")

Martin Short ("Only Murders in the Building")

Rhys easily had the best day Wednesday, with lead actor nominations for comedy and limited series (and he could have the worst this September if he walks away empty-handed). Double nods are rare, though not unprecedented (Melanie Lynskey was up for "Yellowjackets" and "The Last of Us" in 2023, and Colman Domingo got a double on Wednesday for "Euphoria" and "The Four Seasons"). Meanwhile, the biggest snubs of the day: Zip for "The Bear's" Jeremy Allen White (who won in '23 and '24) and for Ethan Hawke of "The Lowdown."

ACTRESS/COMEDY

Quinta Brunson ("Abbott Elementary")

Ayo Edebiri ("The Bear")

Elle Fanning ("Margo's Got Money Troubles")

Lisa Kudrow ("The Comeback")

Jean Smart ("Hacks")

Smart has owned this for years now, with wins in 2021, '22, '24 and '25. And '26? Maybe, but Kudrow could also finally pick something up for her comeback in "The Comeback," while Fanning feels like a strong possibility, too.

ACTOR/LIMITED SERIES, MOVIE

Riz Ahmed ("Bait")

Jason Bateman ("Black Rabbit")

Charlie Hunnam ("Monster: The Ed Gein Story")

Oscar Isaac ("Beef")

Matthew Rhys ("The Beast in Me")

Nice to see Bateman nominated for the underappreciated "Black Rabbit." Meanwhile, Paul Anthony Kelly ("Love Story") was iced out.

ACTRESS/LIMITED SERIES, MOVIE

Claire Danes ("The Beast in Me")

Sally Field ("Remarkably Bright Creatures")

Carey Mulligan ("Beef")

Sarah Pidgeon ("Love Story")

Sarah Snook ("All Her Fault")

The second most competitive category. Danes, Field and Snook are all previous winners, while Mulligan is a three-time Oscar nominee. Imagine how Pidgeon must feel right now? One consolation: She absolutely deserved this nod.