As the Emmy Awards approach, some network TV shows are worth keeping an eye on for nominations. Shows like HBO Max's The Pitt, FX's The Bear, Peacock's The Traitors, and HBO's Hacks are all but guaranteed to earn big nominations. However, there are also series on ABC, CBS, and NBC that are worthy of winning Emmys. After all, Saturday Night Live is really the only network show that will reliably score a nomination each year. Abbott Elementary has earned a few solid wins for ABC, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert pulled off an upset in the Outstanding Talk Series category in 2025.
Awards season buzz is already picking up in 2026, and the nominations for the Emmy Awards will be announced in the not-too-distant future. Network TV shows don't get as much attention on the awards circuit as they once did, after the rise of online streaming services as well as premium cable's prestige television.
Some shows, like HBO Max's The Pitt, FX's The Bear, Peacock's The Traitors, and HBO's Hacks are all but guaranteed to earn some big nominations. Still, there are series on ABC, CBS, and NBC that are worthy of winning Emmys. After all, Saturday Night Live is really the only network show that will reliably score a nomination each year.
Abbott Elementary has earned a few solid wins for ABC, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert pulled off an upset in the Outstanding Talk Series category in 2025. Matlock's Kathy Bates made news just for being nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress and setting an Emmy record. There have been a few victories for network TV shows in recent years, but they've gotten fewer and farther between.
Shows that run for 20+ episodes under the constraints of network TV will probably never be dominant on the awards circuit again, but it's still worth looking at some of the best of the best from the last broadcast season. The official nominations will be announced on July 8, and the 78th Emmy Awards will take place in September. High Potential is a series on ABC that has gained attention for its lead actress, Kaitlin Olson.
Prior to 2024, anybody who recognized Olson almost certainly knew her from FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, or perhaps for her recurring guest role on HBO's Hacks. As soon as High Potential arrived on ABC in late 2024, however, Olson proved that she's as talented with drama as she is with comedy. She plays Morgan, a complicated single mom who uses her genius-level IQ to solve crimes with the LAPD.
If High Potential was nothing more than Morgan helping Karadec and the rest of the LAPD close cases each week, the drama could have been written off as just another primetime procedural. The format of the show meant that it would either stand out from standard procedurals or flop, depending entirely on the lead performance. Following the season 2 finale, it's safe to say that the ABC drama certainly hasn't flopped.
Kaitlin Olson has proved herself as a leading lady on High Potential more than she's ever had the opportunity to on Always Sunny. Utkarsh Ambudkar is an actor who has consistently delivered on the CBS show Ghosts. The show is still going strong, although the premise was nearly stretched thin by the end of the fifth season.
The vast majority of the cast plays ghosts, who literally can't leave the premises of Woodstone Mansion, and the fun shenanigans of only Sam being able to see them has veered more heavily into cringe humor. The actor who has one of the toughest jobs of the series has also consistently delivered from the start: Utkarsh Ambudkar as Jay. As the straight man to all the ghostly hijinks of the house, Ambudkar might have had a pretty thankless role.
Instead, Jay is one of the funniest characters of the show, and arguably the one who has shown the most substantial growth over the years. Yet, except for the Critics Choice Awards, Ghosts hasn't earned many nominations from major industry events, and he has been snubbed. Steve Buscemi is a guest star on the CBS show Elsbeth, and his performance is one of the highlights of the show's third season.
He played Simon, an obsessive crossword puzzle enthusiast who snapped and killed the editor. If that doesn't sound particularly funny, Elsbeth has a knack for making the crimes hilarious each week, and Buscemi strangling a man with the drawstring of a nylon backpack definitely delivered some laughs. The odds aren't terrible for Buscemi to be recognized by the Emmys for his performance.
SNL hosts frequently win for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy, so network television isn't totally off the map for this category. Buscemi is also one of the biggest celebrities who guest-starred on Elsbeth
Please follow us on Google to support us Emmy Awards Network TV Shows ABC CBS NBC Saturday Night Live Abbott Elementary The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
HBO's Legacy of Excellence: Five Groundbreaking Series That Changed TelevisionA look at HBO's enduring influence on television through five landmark series that pushed creative boundaries, from 'Eastbound & Down' to 'The Larry Sanders Show,' showcasing the network's commitment to bold, high-quality storytelling.
Read more »
Somebody at Apple clerical errored Jon Hamm out of a possible Emmy nominationSomebody at Apple clerical errored Jon Hamm out of a possible Emmy nomination
Read more »
Top 10 HBO Shows: Beyond The SopranosThis article provides a list of HBO shows that have touched various aspects of entertainment, including crime drama, crime comedy, and nuanced character studies. It talks about the extraordinary achievements of shows like 'The Wire' and 'Barry' (a dark comedy-drama about a hitman who tries his hand at acting while struggling with his own identity). 'The Leftovers', a tale of a community dealing with post-apocalypse, and 'Succession', which draws inspiration from historical media dynastic battles, are also mentioned. Each show is unique within HBO, showcasing its brilliance and potential to change the narrative of film and TV.
Read more »
Emmy-Nominated Comedian Exposed as MAGA at Trump’s UFC FightThe comedian appeared on the “Fox & Friends” sofa last month.
Read more »