By Nate Bloom
Contributing Columnist
The Emmys and Related Comments
The 2026 Emmy Awards ceremony takes place on Sept. 14 (8–11 p.m.). It airs on NBC and streams on Peacock. Mariska Hargitay (“Law & Order: SVU”) hosts.
The Jewish Emmy nominees in the acting, directing, and writing categories appear below. I also note the TV series nominated for outstanding comedy series and outstanding drama series that were created (or co-created) by a Jewish person.
Virtually every series has multiple producers—often five or more. If a series wins as outstanding series, those producers receive an Emmy. The key producer(s) are typically the creator or co-creators. That credit is almost always listed in official TV credits.
Here is a list of the outstanding series nominees that have a Jewish creator (who is also a producer/nominee):
Lead Actor, Comedy Series (5 nominees)
JASON SEGEL, 46, “Shrinking,” Apple TV+ (Segel’s father is Jewish; he was raised Jewish)
Lead Actress, Comedy Series (5 nominees)
LISA KUDROW, 62/63, “The Comeback,” HBO
Lead Actor, Drama Series (5 nominees)
NOAH WYLE, 55, “The Pitt,” HBO Max (Wyle’s father is Jewish; he is secular)
Lead Actress, Drama Series
No Jewish nominees
Supporting Actor, Comedy Series (multiple nominees)
HARRISON FORD, 83, “Shrinking,” Apple TV+ (Ford’s late mother was Jewish; he is secular)
Supporting Actress, Comedy Series
HANNAH EINBINDER, 31, “Hacks,” HBO Max
Supporting Actor / Actress, Drama Series
No Jewish nominees noted in the major categories
Directing, Comedy Series
RANDALL EINHORN, 62, “Abbott Elementary,” ABC. Born in Cincinnati; graduated from Finneytown High School (1982). He has worked as a cinematographer, director, and executive producer.
Directing, Drama Series
NOAH WYLE, 55, “The Pitt,” HBO Max
SAUL METZSTEIN, 55, “Slow Horses,” Apple TV+ (Metzstein was born and raised in Scotland and still lives in the U.K.; he has Jewish heritage through his family)
Writing, Comedy Series
ZACH KANIN, 42, “The Chair |}
Company,” HBO (shared nomination with Tim Robinson, who is not Jewish)
LISA KUDROW, “The Comeback,” HBO (shared with Michael Patrick King). Kudrow also starred in the series.
Writing, Drama Series
DEBORA CAHN, 55, “The Diplomat,” Netflix (shared with Peter Ackerman)
Outstanding Drama Series (8 nominees)
“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” HBO (IRA PARKER and George R.R. Martin; both are nominees/co-creators/producers. Martin is not Jewish)
“The Diplomat,” Netflix (DEBORA CAHN, creator and producer)
“Paradise,” Hulu (DAN FOGELMAN, 50s, creator and producer)
“Your Friends & Neighbors,” Apple TV+ (JONATHAN TROPPER, creator and producer)
Outstanding Comedy Series (8 nominees)
“Shrinking,” Apple TV+ (co-creators/producers JASON SEGEL, BRETT GOLDSTEIN, and Bill Lawrence—who is not Jewish)
“Only Murders in the Building,” Hulu (co-creators/producers JOHN HOFFMAN and Steve Martin—who is not Jewish)
“Nobody Wants This,” Netflix (ERIN FOSTER, creator and producer). Foster converted to Judaism shortly before marrying a Jewish businessman in 2019. The series centers on a romance between a rabbi and a non-Jewish woman.
A poignant note: The Creative Arts Emmys (covering many technical and guest-acting categories) took place Sept. 5–6. The late ROB REINER was nominated for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series for his role in three episodes of “The Bear” (Hulu/FX). He won the award posthumously. Reiner previously won two supporting-actor Emmys in the 1970s for “All in the Family.” A tribute is expected during the main Primetime telecast.
