The Television Academy's Emmy submission ballots are taking shape, revealing which Saturday Night Live Season 51 hosts made the cut for guest acting consideration — and which notable names were left off entirely, according to Variety. Out of 20 celebrity hosts across the season, NBC submitted only 11 performers for guest comedy acting races, marking a noticeable drop from last year when all hosts were included.
Hosts Submitted for Emmy Consideration
Those submitted include Ariana Grande, Olivia Rodrigo, Melissa McCarthy, Amy Poehler, Bad Bunny, Ryan Gosling, Harry Styles, Jack Black, Will Ferrell, Colman Domingo and Connor Storrie. The decision leaves several high-profile hosts off the ballot, including Matt Damon, Glen Powell, Josh O’Connor, Finn Wolfhard, Miles Teller, Sabrina Carpenter, Nikki Glaser and Teyana Taylor. Alexander Skarsgård was also notably excluded despite a widely discussed viral sketch during his episode.
Strategic Submission Trends
Industry observers note that submission strategy often reflects both awards positioning and perceived competitiveness in crowded categories, especially as overall acting submissions have dropped by roughly 8% compared to last year. This year's Emmy race also highlights shifting trends across television performance categories, with the Television Academy reporting 1,573 acting submissions across 17 performer fields.
Major Contenders and Nomination Rules
Major contenders include The Boys, Saturday Night Live, Euphoria and Hacks, all of which secured large ensemble representation across multiple categories. According to Academy rules, nomination slots are determined by submission volume, meaning categories expand only when entries surpass key thresholds. As a result, several lead acting races this year will feature fewer nominees than in previous cycles.
Voting for Emmy nominations is currently underway and will continue until June 22, with official nominations set to be announced on July 8. The final lineup is expected to reflect both star power and strategic campaigning as networks position their strongest contenders ahead of the ceremony.
