Emmys 2020: Sandra Oh and ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Stars Among Nominees as Cicely Tyson, 95, Makes History

Canadian stars Sandra Oh, Martin Short and Schitt’s Creek‘s Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy are among the nominees for the 2020 Emmy Awards, announced today during a live stream on the award show’s website.

Oh, 49, landed a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Killing Eve in a heavy-hitting category that sees her pitted against Olivia Colman, 46, for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II on season 3 of The Crown (for which she won a Golden Globe earlier this year); Jennifer Aniston, 51 (The Morning Show); Laura Linney, 56 (Ozark); as well as Killing Eve co-star Jodie Comer and Euphoria’s Zendaya.

O’Hara, 66, is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, along with the likes of Dead to Me co-stars Christina Applegate, 48, and Linda Cardellini, 45; Tracee Ellis Ross, 47 (Black-ish); as well as Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) and Issa Rae (Insecure).

Meanwhile, Eugene Levy, 73, finds himself up against heavyweights Michael Douglas, 75 (The Kominsky Method); Ted Danson, 72 (The Good Place); Don Cheadle, 55 (Black Monday); Anthony Anderson, 49 (Black-ish); and Ramy’s Ramy Youssef in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series category. O’Hara and Levy’s Schitt’s Creek co-stars, Daniel Levy and Annie Murphy, were also nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series categories respectively.

Short, 70, picked up a nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his appearance on The Morning Show in a category that includes James Cromwell, 80 (Succession); Ron Cephas Jones, 63 (This Is Us); Giancarlo Esposito, 62 (The Mandalorian); Jason Bateman, 51 (The Outsider); and Black Mirror’s Andrew Scott.

In addition, Toronto-born actor Stephan James, 26, earned a nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for #FreeRayshawn.

As well, the third season of The Handmaid’s Tale — the miniseries based on Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel — landed 10 nominations.

In total, the HBO series Watchmen led all shows with 26 nominations, followed by The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (20), Succession and Ozark (18 each) and Schitt’s Creek (which is also up for Outstanding Comedy Series) and The Mandalorian (15 each). The Crown picked up 10 nominations, including for Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Helena Bonham Carter, 54, as Princess Margaret and the previously mentioned nomination for Colman.

 

Cicely Tyson Makes History

At 95 years old, Cicely Tyson made Emmy history as the oldest ever nominee in an acting category with her nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for How to Get Away With Murder. And, of course, if she wins she’ll become the oldest Emmy winner in an acting category ever.

Overall, Tyson, with this nomination, becomes the third-oldest Emmy nominee ever. Legendary television producer Norman Lear is the oldest Emmy winner and nominee, achieving the feat last year, at age 97, as a producer for the television special Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons.

After Tyson, this year’s oldest acting nominees include Alan Arkin, 86 (Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for The Kominsky Method), Louis Gossett Jr., 84 (Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for Watchmen) and the late Fred Willard, who died in May at age 86 and received a posthumous nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for Modern Family.

As well, streaming giant Netflix broke an Emmy record this year by nabbing 160 total nominations.

 

Big Screen Stars and Emmy First-Timers

 

And while the Emmys award efforts on the small screen, a number of big screen stars landed nominations for television work this year. That includes:

• Meryl Streep, 71 (Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Big Little Lies)
• Hugh Jackman, 51 (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, Bad Education)
• Cate Blanchett, 51 (Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie, Mrs. America)
• Octavia Spencer, 50 (Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie, Self Made)
• Mahershala Ali, 46 (Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, Ramy)
• Brad Pitt, 56, and Eddie Murphy, 59 (Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, Saturday Night Live)
• Bette Midler, 74 (Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, The Politician)

Cate Blanchett’s and Octavia Spencer’s nominations are the first of their careers, while other first-time nominees this year include:

• Christoph Waltz, 63 (Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series, Most Dangerous Game)
• Dame Harriet Walter, 69 (Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, Succession)
• Taika Waititi, 44 (Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance, The Mandalorian)
• Basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 73 (Outstanding Narrator, Black Patriots: Heroes of the Revolution).

As well, this year’s nominations are the first for Schitt’s Creek’s Annie Murphy and #FreeRayshawn’s Stephan James.

Click here for the full list of 2020 Emmy nominees.

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