Game of Thrones' George R.R. Martin Is Just Like You and Annoyed By Outlander's Emmy Snubs

He's happy for Game of Thrones' insane nominations, but what about all the other quality TV out there?!

By Chris Harnick Jul 17, 2015 2:14 PMTags
George R. R. Martin, Outlander, Parks, Big Bang, Masters of SexJB Lacroix/WireImage; Starz; CBS; NBC; Showtime

Game of Thrones got 24 Emmy nominations, more than any other show this year! George R.R. Martin is thrilled, naturally. The show was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series, actors Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Diana Rigg got acting nominations, there are writing, directing and special effects honors too, and many more. In fact, Game of Thrones' whopping tally this year is amongst the highest ever.  NYPD Blue has the highest with 27 garnered in 1994.

"Today is a day for celebrations and congratulations, for popping champagne corks and raising toasts and exchanging thanks...but before we do too many cartwheels, it would be wise to remember that Game of Thrones also led the Emmy nominations last year, with 19 nods, only to get skunked on the night of the televised awards," Martin wrote on his blog. "The same as the year before, and the year before that. Like many fantasy shows before us, GOT is often honored for our special effects, costumes, makeup, stuntwork, set design, and cinematography (this year, please note, we have four of five finalists for cinematography), but seldom for writing, directing, or acting. Peter Dinklage's Emmy as Best Supporting Actor for season one remains the ONLY award the show has ever won in those categories, in fact.

"Will that change this year? One can hope, I suppose," he wrote.

Starz/Sony Pictures Television

Still, Martin is pleased the show got all the lovin' it did on Thursday, July 16 when the nominations were announced. However, he's still got some gripes about the snubs. Oh boy, were there snubs.

"This truly is The Golden Age of Television, especially for drama. Game of Thrones faces the usual formidable competition for the 'Big One,' the award for Best Dramatic Series... but as distinguished a list as that is, there are so many incredible shows that did NOT make the cut that it boggles the mind," he said. "It's great to see Better Call Saul and Orange Is the New Black on this list, but where is Masters of Sex? The Knick? Halt and Catch Fire? How about Vikings? I really thought Justified might make it, for its final season. And Outlander, how in the world did they overlook Outlander, with its music and its costumes and its cinematography and the incredible performances of its three leads (especially Tobias Menzies in his double role)? Why is Nick Offerman not on the ballot for Parks and Recreation? How could Big Bang Theory possibly fall off? Truly, the Academy (of which I am a member) moves in mysterious ways."

HBO

Martin went on to lament the overlooked actors like Maisie Williams, Sophie Turner and Natalie Dormer and the episodes he thought had solid directing.  "Okay, okay, I know, I am being greedy, and every producer on every other show on television is probably saying the same things about his own cast just now," he wrote. "Let me just savor the moment."

Watch: 2015 Emmy Noms: Best Drama Series