Lauren Rivera 
Even though New Jersey is on the other side of the country, Hollywood is shining a bright spotlight on our home state this Emmy season. The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, taking place on September 14th at 8PM this year, feature a nomination list packed with actors, writers, directors, composers, and more from the Garden State. Read on for a list of 2025 Emmy-nominated shows + films with ties to New Jersey.
2025 Emmy-Nominated Shows + Films with Ties to New Jersey
Abbot Elementary
Hulu’s Abbot Elementary, a mockumentary-style sitcom that follows a group of teachers in an underfunded Philadelphia school, is up for a Primetime Emmy nomination. Rutgers alumna of the 2003 class, Sheryl-Lee Ralph, who plays Barbara Howard, was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
Read More: What’s Filming in Hoboken + Jersey City? An Ongoing List for 2025
The Bear
FX’s The Bear, directed by Christopher Storer and co-showrun and produced by Joanna Calo, a Maplewood, New Jersey native, was nominated for several Primetime Emmys. The full list includes:
- The Bear, “Napkins” for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
- Jeremy Allen White for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
- Ayo Edebiri for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
- Liza Colón-Zayas for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
- Olivia Colman for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
- Jamie Lee Curtis for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
ICYMI, The Bear‘s leading star, Jeremy Allen White, also spent much of 2024 in our home state for the filming of the Bruce Springsteen biopic, Deliver Me From Nowhere. Places like Montclair, Rockaway, Bayonne, Asbury Park, and Hoboken were used as backdrops for the film. During his time in the Mile Square, the actor sipped his way through the area, making stops at spots like Mojo Coffee Co., bwè kafe, and Hidden Grounds.
Black Mirror
Black Mirror, a Netflix original anthology series inspired by old-timey favorites like The Twilight Zone, was nominated for various Primetime Emmys, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series and Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series for the episode “Common People.” Written by Charlie Brooker and Bisha K. Ali, this episode kicked off Season 7, which premiered on April 10th, 2025. Featured in this episode were none other than New Jersey-BNR actors Jimmi Simpson of Hackettstown and Cristin Milioti of Cherry Hill.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Doubling its own Emmy record, according to Deadline, Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart has been nominated for eight different Primetime Emmy Awards, including:
- Outstanding Talk Series
- Outstanding Production Design for a Variety or Reality Series
- Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series
- Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming (Segment)
- Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming (Segment)
- Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special
- Outstanding Technical Direction + Camerawork for a Series
- Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series
Jon Stewart was raised in Lawrenceville and is an alumnus of Lawrence High School.
Hacks
HBO’s Hacks was nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series, as well as Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for episode 9 of Season 4, “A Slippery Slope.” The dark comedy follows the unlikely pairing between an older Las Vegas stand-up comedian and a young, outcasted writer. Co-creator of Hacks, Paul W. Downs, is hacking (pun intended) his way into Hollywood and repping his home state while he does it. The actor and writer was born in Morristown and raised in Sussex Borough.
Hacks‘ Other Emmy Nominations:
- Jean Smart for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
- Hannah Einbinder for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
- Robby Hoffman for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
- Julianne Nicholson for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
The Last of Us
HBO’s The Last of Us, a TV series adaptation of the video game namesake, starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, has been featured in several Primetime Emmy nominations. Joe Pantoliano (known by New Jersey locals as Joey Pants) was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his role in The Last of Us. Joey was born in Hoboken and raised in Cliffside Park. The co-creator of the show, Craig Mazin, is also from Marlboro.
The Last of Us’ Other Emmy Nominations:
- The Last of Us for Outstanding Drama Series
- Bella Ramsey for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
- Pedro Pascal for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
- Kaitlyn Dever for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
- Catherine O’Hara for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
- Jeffrey Wright for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert’s CBS show The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was nominated for Outstanding Talk Series. According to NJ Monthly, Stephen Colbert and his wife, Evelyn McGee Colbert, have been longtime Montclair residents. The duo raised three kids in our beloved town and, as active members of the community, helped launch the annual Montclair Film Festival.
Martha
Martha, a Netflix documentary chronicling the life and legacy of Martha Stewart, was nominated for Outstanding Documentary/Nonfiction Special as well as Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program. As most already know, Martha Stewart was born in Jersey City and grew up in Nutley.
Mountainhead
Mountainhead, an HBO original movie that follows four tech billionaires who retreat to a remote Utah mansion during an AI-triggered global crisis, has been nominated for Outstanding TV Movie. Ramy Youssef, who plays Jeffrey “Jeff” Abredazi, was raised in Rutherford.
Nonnas
Netflix’s Nonnas, a heartwarming movie based on the real-life opening of an Italian restaurant in Staten Island, where actual nonnas run the kitchen, has been nominated for Outstanding TV Movie. Not only was the movie partially filmed in the Garden State, but the writer of the film, Liz Maccie, is a native of West Orange and Ocean Grove.
Patrice: The Movie
Patrice: The Movie is a documentary that follows the relationship of Hamilton native Patrice Jetter and Princeton native Garry Wickham, as they navigate U.S. social benefits laws as a disabled couple. The film has been nominated for an Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking award.
The Penguin
A native of Cherry Hill, Cristin Miloti, best known for her roles in Once and How I Met Your Mother, was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her performance in The Penguin, a gritty crime-drama spin-off of Matt Reeves’ The Batman. Edgewater Park native Michael Giacchino, a composer on The Penguin, was also nominated for Music Composition for a Limited/Anthology Series, Movie or Special.
See More: Montclair on Film: A Rundown of the Movies With Scenes Filmed in Town
Severance
Severance, an Apple TV+ series directed by Ben Stiller, was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series. The workplace thriller, starring Adam Scott, Britt Lower, and Zach Cherry, with appearances by John Turturro, Patricia Arquette, and Christopher Walken, was filmed at Bell Works in Holmdel, New Jersey. This business center is featured in both the first and second seasons of the series.
Severance‘s Other Emmy Nominations:
- Adam Scott for Lead Actor in Drama Series
- Britt Lower for Lead Actress in Drama Series
- Patricia Arquette for Supporting Actress in Drama Series
- Zach Cherry for Supporting Actor in Drama Series
- John Turturro for Supporting Actor in Drama Series
Our sister brand, The Jersey Shore Girl, has all the details about Severance’s NJ filming here.
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, a documentary chronicling the life, career, and legacy of Christopher Reeve, was nominated for:
- Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program
- Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program
- Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score)
As any diehard Superman fan knows, Christopher Reeve spent his adolescence and teenage years in Princeton, New Jersey.
