Apple TV has earned plenty of Emmy attention over the years, but one early moment still stands out. In 2021, Ted Lasso hit the Primetime Emmy Awards with 20 nominations in one shot, and Apple said it set a mark as the most nominated freshman comedy series ever.
If you want the full breakdown, here are the 20 nominations that made the show the headline.
The comedy show that carried the list
You can trace the “20 nominations” line straight to Ted Lasso’s first-season haul. Apple highlighted the milestone when nominations dropped in July 2021.
What makes it unusual is the spread. The show did not just show up in acting and series categories. It also landed major craft nominations, including directing, editing, sound, and even main title theme music.
All 20 Emmy nominations for Ted Lasso
Below is the complete list of nominations connected to Ted Lasso’s 2021 Emmy run, based on the Television Academy’s published nominee and winner entries for the show that year.
| # | Category | Episode or credit | Nominee(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Outstanding Comedy Series | Series | Producing team listed by the Academy | Winner |
| 2 | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | Performance | Jason Sudeikis | Winner |
| 3 | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Performance | Brett Goldstein | Winner |
| 4 | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Performance | Brendan Hunt | Winner |
| 5 | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Performance | Nick Mohammed | Nominee |
| 6 | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Performance | Jeremy Swift | Nominee |
| 7 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Performance | Hannah Waddingham | Nominee |
| 8 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Performance | Juno Temple | Nominee |
| 9 | Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series | “The Hope That Kills You” | MJ Delaney | Winner |
| 10 | Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series | “Biscuits” | Zach Braff | Nominee |
| 11 | Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series | “Make Rebecca Great Again” | Declan Lowney | Nominee |
| 12 | Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series | “Make Rebecca Great Again” | Jason Sudeikis (teleplay), Brendan Hunt and Joe Kelly (story) | Winner |
| 13 | Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series | “Pilot” | Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly | Nominee |
| 14 | Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series | Casting | Theo Park, CSA | Nominee |
| 15 | Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series | “Make Rebecca Great Again” | Melissa McCoy (editor) | Nominee |
| 16 | Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series | “The Hope That Kills You” | A.J. Catoline (editor) | Nominee |
| 17 | Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation | “The Hope That Kills You” | Ryan Kennedy, Sean Byrne, David Lascelles | Winner |
| 18 | Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation | “The Hope That Kills You” | Sound team listed by the Academy | Winner |
| 19 | Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music | Music | Marcus Mumford, Tom Howe | Nominee |
| 20 | Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour) | “For The Children” | Paul Cripps, Iain White | Nominee |
Why this stood out for Apple TV
You can see the pattern in the list. Ted Lasso did not rely on one lane. The show earned nominations in the top awards, acting, and below-the-line crafts at the same time. That breadth is what turned “20 nominations” into a real headline, not a trivia stat.
FAQs
Apple’s Newsroom says “Ted Lasso” earned 20 Primetime Emmy nominations in 2021.
No. Apple’s 2021 announcement listed multiple nominated titles, but it also made clear that “Ted Lasso” accounted for 20 of the 35 nominations that year.
Yes. Apple said the show earned 20 Emmy nominations again in 2022.
Summary
“Ted Lasso” gave Apple TV a fast path to awards credibility. Its 20 Emmy nominations in 2021 powered Apple’s 35-nomination total, and its wins turned that attention into trophies. Apple then repeated the 20-nomination headline in 2022, showing that the platform’s biggest comedy success had staying power, not just a single season of noise.
