If I Had an Emmy Ballot, The Best of 2025-2026 TV
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In the chaos of me finishing my look for the Her Universe Fashion Show and other work obligations, I was even more behind on the TV year than usual. However, I have finally watched the last show I needed and am here to tell you all what was actually the best of TV in 2025-2026!
This past TV year, was one of the more unique on record, in part because we got so much new stuff. It’s par for the course in our new world order, but I was still surprised that across Animation, Comedy, and Drama 12 of the 19 nominees are from new shows. From Widow’s Bay to Isekai Office Worker to Heated Rivalry, there was some boundary pushing TV that arrived in our lives and hopefully the industry will continue to push. The big winners for me this year were The Count of Monte Cristo and Widow’s Bay, which took home 8 awards, and The Gilded Age topped an incredible Drama field.
It’s been a great year for TV and I am excited to fully unveil what I would do If I had an Emmy Ballot.
Animation
A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation
Isekai Office Worker: The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter
Splinter Cell: Deathwatch
Twisted Wonderland
Wistoria: Wand and Sword
Witch Hat Atelier
Actor
Paul Castro Jr., Twisted Wonderland
Kent Itou, Isekai Office Worker: The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter
Liev Schrieber, Splinter Cell: Deathwatch
Shogo Sakata, Kusunoki’s Garden of Gods
Natsuki Hanae, Witch Hat Atelier
Kohei Amasaki, Wistoria: Wand and Sword
Actress
Erkia Henningsen, Hazbin Hotel
Yuuna Kamakura, Isekai Office Worker: The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter
Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Splinter Cell: Deathwatch
Rena Motomura, Witch Hat Atelier
Mitsuki Saiga, Witch Hat Atelier
Akira Sekine, Wistoria: Wand and Sword
Writing
An Adventurer’s Debut, A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation
I Got a Job, Isekai Office Worker: The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter
We Cornered Him. And Then…, Isekai Office Worker: The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter
Scars of Bagram, Splinter Cell: Deathwatch
Stranger Walking, Twisted Wonderland
A Promise in Silver, Witch Hat Atelier
Director
I Got Promoted, Isekai Office Worker: The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter
We Cornered Him. And Then…, Isekai Office Worker: The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter
Dinner First, Talk Later, Splinter Cell: Deathwatch
Lilith’s Carpet, Welcome to Demon School Iruma-Kun
A Roar of Ice and Lightning, Wistoria: Wand and Sword
The Dragon’s Labyrinth, Witch Hat Atelier
Music
Gachiakuta
Kusunoki’s Garden of Gods
Twisted Wonderland
Welcome to Demon School Iruma-Kun
Wistoria: Wand and Sword
Witch Hat Atelier
Editing
Spy x Family
Isekai Office Worker: The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter
A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation
Welcome to Demon School Iruma-Kun
Witch Hat Atelier
Wistoria: Wand and Sword
Sound
Gachiakuta
Splinter Cell: Deathwatch
Twisted Wonderland
Welcome to Demon School Iruma-Kun
Witch Hat Atelier
Wistoria: Wand and Sword
Movie
The Muppet Show
Remarkably Bright Creatures
A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
Miniseries
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials
The Count of Monte Cristo
His & Hers
The Terror: Devil in Silver
Washington Black
Guest Actor
Jeremy Irons, The Count of Monte Cristo
Guest Actress
Sabrina Carpenter, The Muppet Show
Actor
Jon Bernthal, His & Hers
Sam Claflin, The Count of Monte Cristo
Joe Jonas, A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
Ernest Kingsley Jr., Washington Black
Dan Stevens, The Terror: Devil in Silver
Actress
Tessa Thompson, His & Hers
Claire Danes, The Beast in Me
Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures
Mia McKenna-Bruce, Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials
Ruth Jones, Harlan Coben’s Run Away
Supporting Actor
Tom Ellis, Washington Black
Alfred Enoch, Harlan Coben’s Run Away
Andrew Barth Feldman, A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, The Count of Monte Cristo
Chinaza Uche, The Terror: Devil in Silver
Supporting Actress
Chloe Bennett, A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
Karla-Simone Spence, The Count of Monte Cristo
Helena Bonham Carter, Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials
CCH Pounder, The Terror: Devil in Silver
Judith Light, The Terror: Devil in Silver
Writing
Episode 2, Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials
The Duel, The Count of Monte Cristo
The Red Room, The Count of Monte Cristo
A Number in the System, The Terror: Devil in Silver
A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
Director
A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
The Muppet Show
The Duel, The Count of Monte Cristo
Episode 2, Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials
A Number in the System, The Terror: Devil in Silver
Music
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Terror: Devil in Silver
A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
Washington Black
Costumes
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Muppet Show
The Thursday Murder Club
Washington Black
Cinematography
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials
The Count of Monte Cristo
His & Hers
The Terror: Devil in Silver
Washington Black
Production Design
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials
The Count of Monte Cristo
His & Hers
The Terror: Devil in Silver
Washington Black
Editing
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Terror: Devil in Silver
A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
Washington Black
Sound
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Terror: Devil in Silver
A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
Washington Black
Comedy
Big Mistakes
The Burbs
Running Point
Widow’s Bay
Wonder Man
Guest Actor
Justin Kirk, The Burbs
Josh Gad, Wonder Man
Byron Bowers, Wonder Man
Hamish Linklater, Widow’s Bay
Mark Ivanir, Big Mistakes
Guest Actress
Erica Dasher, The Burbs
Stella Everett, Running Point
Betty Gilpin, Widow’s Bay
Kyrie Mcalpin, The Burbs
Octavia Spencer, Running Point
Actor
Yayha Abdul-Mateen, Wonder Man
Ben Kingsley, Wonder Man
Dan Levy, Big Mistakes
Matthew Rhys, Widow’s Bay
Jack Whitehall, The Burbs
Actress
Emilia Clarke, Ponies
Kate Hudson, Running Point
Taylor Ortega, Big Mistakes
Keke Palmer, The Burbs
Maya Rudolph, Loot
Supporting Actor
Chet Hanks, Running Point
Boran Kuzum, Big Mistakes
Stephen Root, Widow’s Bay
Kapil Talwalkar, The Burbs
Drew Tarver, Running Point
Supporting Actress
Julia Duffy, The Burbs
Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay
Laurie Metcalf, Big Mistakes
Abby Quinn, Big Mistakes
Brenda Song, Running Point
Writing
A Nine on the Tension Scale, The Burbs
Pacoima, Wonder Man
I Will Do ANYTHING to Survive, Big Mistakes
Beach Reads, Widow’s Bay
Your Baggage, Widow’s Bay
Director
Pacoima, Wonder Man
Get Your Nonna a Necklace, Big Mistakes
A Nine on the Tension Scale, The Burbs
Your Baggage, Widow’s Bay
We Hope You Enjoyed Your Time, Widow’s Bay
Music
The Burbs
Loot
Ponies
Widow’s Bay
Wonder Man
Costumes
Loot
The Manny
Running Point
Spider-Noir
Wonder Man
Cinematography
Big Mistakes
The Burbs
Spider-Noir
Widow’s Bay
Wonder Man
Production Design
The Burbs
Loot
Spider-Noir
Widow’s Bay
Wonder Man
Editing
The Burbs
Big Mistakes
Running Point
Wonder Man
Widow’s Bay
Sound
Big Mistakes
The Burbs
Spider-Noir
Widow’s Bay
Wonder Man
Drama
The Assassin
Brilliant Minds
The Gilded Age
Fallout
Man on Fire
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Sandman
Shine
Guest Actor
Jack Davenport, The Assassin
Richard E. Grant, Nautilus
Jeff Hiller, Pluribus
David Keeley, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Jamie Thomas King, Brilliant Minds
Chris Meyers, Star Trek: Stranger New Worlds
Alex Ozerov-Meyer, Man on Fire
Bashir Salahuddin, Fallout
Guest Actress
Nadine Bhabha, Heated Rivalry
Jenna Coleman, Sandman
Rosemarie DeWitt, Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Menik Gooneratne, Pluribus
Jane Krakowski, Brilliant Minds
Tatiana Maslany, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Deborah Oyelade, Sandman
Alison Simms, Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Actor
Yahya Abdul-Mateen, Man on Fire
Zachary Quinto, Brilliant Minds
Morgan Spector, The Gilded Age
Connor Storrie, Heated Rivalry
Tom Sturridge, Sandman
Luke Thompson, Bridgerton
Apo Nattawin Wattanagitiphat, Shine
Hudson Williams, Heated Rivalry
Actress
Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age
Yerin Ha, Bridgerton
Keeley Hawes, The Assassin
Leah Jeffries, Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Tamberla Perry, Brilliant Minds
Rhea Seahorn, Pluribus
Zine Tseng, Young Sherlock
Mari Yamamoto, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
Supporting Actor
Ben Ahers, The Gilded Age
Francois Arnaud, Heated Rivalry
Karim Diane, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Daniel Diemer, Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Donal Finn, Young Sherlock
Yuke Songpaisan, Shine
Yotsawat Tawapee, Shine
Iago Xavier, Man on Fire
Supporting Actress
Christine Baranski, The Gilded Age
Denee Benton, The Gilded Age
Kirby Howell Baptiste, Sandman
Celine Menville, Nautilus
Annabel O’Hagan, Fallout
Melanie Scrofano, Star Trek: Stranger New Worlds
Karolina Wydra, Pluribus
Gina Yashere, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Writing
Once Upon a Time in America, Brilliant Minds
Love is Never Easy, The Gilded Age
Hunter, Heated Rivalry
We Check in to CC’s Spa and Resort, Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Please, Carol, Pluribus
More Devils Than Vast Hell Can Hold, Sandman
Episode 3, Shine
Vox in Excelso, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Director
Episode 1, The Assassin
Once Upon a Time in America, Brilliant Minds
Rose, Heated Rivalry
What Lies Beneath, Nautilus
Clarisse Blows Up Everything, Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Episode 3, Shine
Vitus Reflux, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
The Case of the Missing Scrolls, Young Sherlock
Music
Alien: Earth
The Gilded Age
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
Nautilus
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Sandman
Shine
Young Sherlock
Costumes
The Gilded Age
Fallout
Murderbot
Nautilus
Sandman
Shine
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Young Sherlock
Cinematography
The Gilded Age
Heated Rivalry
Man on Fire
Nautilus
Pluribus
Sandman
Shine
Young Sherlock
Production Design
Alien: Earth
Fallout
The Gilded Age
Nautilus
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Pluribus
Sandman
Shine
Editing
The Assassin
Fallout
The Gilded Age
Man on Fire
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Shine
Young Sherlock
Sound
Alien: Earth
The Assassin
Man on Fire
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
Nautilus
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Sandman
Young Sherlock
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