When it comes to the recent 2024-2025 TV season, one series dominated viewership in the United States far and above anything else: Season 2 of Netflix’s “Squid Game.” It wasn’t even close: Include multiplatform viewing for all series — broadcast, cable and streaming — and the show dominated. And yet, “Squid Game” was completely ignored this year by Television Academy voters, and the show didn’t receive a single nomination on Tuesday.
It’s not that “Squid Game” isn’t an Emmy show. In Season 1, the Korean-based series received 14 nominations and won six — including outstanding drama directing (for Hwang Dong-hyuk) and lead drama actor (Lee Jung-jae). So how could it be completely blanked in Season 2? Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria was wondering the same thing.
“‘Squid Game’ had an incredible cultural impact. Biggest show in the world,” she told Variety. “That first season really made Emmy history, and people loved this last season too. I am disappointed for Director Hwang and the cast. For Director Hwang to not be recognized in that way, considering the amount of audiences around the world who loved it so much and that it really resonated with people… I’m disappointed when it doesn’t get recognized in the way that it should have.”
Bajaria said she doesn’t think the lack of a Season 2 Emmy nod takes away from the show’s status as a Netflix “crown jewel… but here’s the thing, I think if you’re really looking at excellence in television and excellence in storytelling, it is in every single way. So when you deliver that, yes, it’s surprising when it doesn’t get recognized.”
On the flip side, the No. 2 most-watched series of last season, Netflix’s “Adolescence,” did manage to score 13 nominations – the most of any show on the streamer this year. “I think what’s really interesting about ‘Adolescence’ to me is, not only is it groundbreaking television, but it was our second biggest English language show ever, with 142 million views,” she said. “It’s having that kind of incredible cultural impact where it starts helping change law in the UK. So to be recognized for their amazing storytelling with Emmy nominations, but also that kind of cultural impact, that’s really amazing.”
Netflix dominated the limited or anthology series category, with three: “Adolescence,” “Black Mirror” and “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.” Overall, Netflix scored 120 nominations this year (second to HBO Max’s 142), up from last year’s 107 nods. Other shows with several nods included “Bridgerton,” “Love on the Spectrum” and “Sirens.” Bajaria pointed out that Netflix achieved this year’s number across 44 titles.
“This goal is always to aim for excellence and great entertainment across all categories of TV,” Bajaria said. “We’re really seeing that reflected, if you look across all of the 14 program categories. From drama and comedy and stand up and limited and docs and animation and live and unscripted. I think that is really exciting for all of the teams in this building today.”
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Among other highlights: In variety special (pre-recorded), Netflix owned five of the six slots, thanks it part to its ongoing comedy “Netflix Is a Joke” investment: “Adam Sandler: Love You,” “Ali Wong: Single Lady,” “Conan O’Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor,” “Sarah Silverman: PostMortem” and “Your Friend, Nate Bargatze.”
In variety special (live), another space that Netflix is investing heavily in, “Beyoncé Bowl” scored a nod. “I would never, ever underestimate Beyoncé in any way,” she said. “So I can’t say it was really a surprise, but I think it’s really rewarding and great after we’ve only been in the live space for maybe about two years.”
In talk, “Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney” earned a nod in technical direction and camerawork, and Bajaria said she’s talking to the host about whether to continue or if a new offering might be on the table. (“We’re going to have those conversations about what that looks like,” she said.) And then despite its cancellation, “The Residence” star Uzo Aduba scored a nomination for lead actress in a comedy series.
“The Residence” isn’t coming back, however, as Bajaria already figured Aduba — who has won three Emmys, including for Netflix’s “Orange is the New Black” — might get a nom. “We always thought she would get nominated,” Bajaria said “We don’t really look at that when we’re talking about the show. But there was no question about her performance, so I’m just happy to see her get recognized.” The cancellation, alas was for “all of the reasons when you don’t renew a show. But we loved what it was. She did a great job and we love Shondaland and Paul, it was really well done.”
From Variety US