2020 Emmys: Billy Porter, Dan Levy, Shira Haas and more react to their nominations
With the 2020 Emmy nominations now officially out, TV's biggest stars are reacting -- some even for the first time.
Leslie Jones announced the nominations via livestream Tuesday morning with Laverne Cox, Josh Gad and Tatiana Maslany.
It was a good day for "Watchmen," with the series taking the top spot with 26 nominations. It was followed by "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" with 20 and then "Ozark" and "Succession" both with 18. "The Mandalorian," "Saturday Night Live" and "Schitt's Creek" all had 15 apiece while "The Crown" snagged 13.
This year's awards show will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. The comedian has hosted the ceremony twice before, in 2012 and 2016.
The 2020 Emmy Awards will take place on Sunday, Sept. 20, and will air at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Check out how some of the stars celebrated their recognition from the Television Academy:
"Queer Eye"
Jonathan Van Ness shared a screenshot of himself trying to FaceTime his fellow "Queer Eye" hosts, Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France and Antoni Porowski.
"Y’all answer your phone!! We’re Emmy nominees," he wrote, later sharing that they answered the call.
JVN's co-hosts also shared their own reactions.
Billy Porter
Billy Porter said he was "grateful" to have been nominated for "Pose" in the lead actor in a drama series category. "It’s blessing and a gift to be part of this moment where my art and my activism meet," he added in a statement. "POSE represents hope and is a reminder of how powerful ‘we-the-people’ are!"
Mark Ruffalo
Mark Ruffalo said he had "enormous gratitude" for being nominated for "I Know This Much Is True" and acknowledged its writer and director, Derek Cianfrance, for creating a project "that will stand the test of time."
Robin Thede
Robin Thede congratulated her fellow "A Black Lady Sketch Show" stars for the show's three nominations. "LOOK WHAT BLACK WOMEN DID!" she exclaimed.
Dan Levy
"Schitt's Creek" star Dan Levy was left "speechless" by all the love.
Sterling K. Brown
Sterling K. Brown celebrated the Television Academy for nominating him twice -- once for "This Is Us" and once for "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" -- by saying it's "2 Good to be True!"
RuPaul Charles
RuPaul Charles, host of "RuPaul's Drag Race," reacted to his show being nominated for five consecutive years, saying, "Thank you Television Academy. I am humbled and grateful to work with the best queens, cast, and crew in television. In the face of a global pandemic, they persevered to complete this exceptional season with style, innovation and grace. Hearing how our show continues to bring joy and light to so many during this dark time has been the greatest gift of all. Together with World of Wonder and VH1, I dedicate these nominations to anyone who has been told you’re too queer, too black, or too different to achieve your dreams."
William Jackson Harper
William Jackson Harper reacted to being nominated for "The Good Place" by sharing a video captioned "WHAT!?" In it he simply said, "It's been quite a morning."
Amit Rahav and Shira Haas
"Unorthodox" star Amit Rahav shared a video of himself and co-star Shira Haas reacting to the nominations. Haas was also nominated individually, too.
Samira Wiley
Samira Wiley reacted to being nominated for "The Handmaid's Tale," writing: "With so many crazy things happening in the world, this was such a joy to wake up to. Thank you."
Don Cheadle
Don Cheadle offered up a simple "thanks, y'all" after being nominated for "Black Monday."
Patton Oswalt
Patton Oswalt said he was "blown away" to be nominated among "purely creative, brilliant, game-changing minds" and joked about what he will wear for a potentially virtual ceremony.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II penned a heartfelt note in which he thanked the Television Academy as well as the cast, crew and fans of "Watchmen."
Yvonne Orji
Yvonne Orji reacted to her first-ever Emmy nomination by joking about the storyline featured on the most recent season of "Insecure."
"I know Molly stressed y’all THE heck OUT this season, but shout out to all of you for riding with @insecurehbo and for VOTING!! We IN HERE!" she tweeted.
Rachel Brosnahan
Rachel Brosnahan reacted to her Emmy nomination for "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," which she won for in 2018, by saying, "Grateful doesn’t begin to cover it."
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman, nominated for his role in "Bad Education," shared a photo of him in character as he reacted to the news.
Randy Rainbow
Internet sensation Randy Rainbow reacted to finding himself nominated for his YouTube series again.
Shangela
Drag queen icon Shangela reacted in the most hilarious way possible to "We're Here" getting nominated for an Emmy.
Sarah Paulson, on behalf of Holland Taylor
Sarah Paulson didn't pass up the opportunity to gush about her longtime partner, Holland Taylor, who was nominated for "Hollywood."
"@hollandvtaylor you are the best of the best, in every and all ways," she wrote. "I am over the moon for you. Congratulations my love."
Wanda Sykes
Wanda Sykes said she was "over the moon" to be nominated for playing her hero, legendary Black comedian Moms Mabley, on "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel."
Christina Applegate
Christina Applegate tweeted that she was "so proud" of her "Dead to Me" family for all their nominations, which includes one for co-star Linda Cardellini as well.
Marc Maron, on behalf of Lynn Shelton
Marc Maron's late partner, Lynn Shelton, was posthumously nominated for an Emmy for "Little Fires Everywhere," of which she directed multiple episodes. Shelton died in May at the age of 54. Maron tweeted that she "would be thrilled" to be included in this list of nominees.
Sandra Oh
Sandra Oh didn't just focus on her own nomination; she also called out each nomination "Killing Eve" received this year.
Angela Bassett
Angela Bassett said she is "feeling ALLL the love this morning full of love & thanks" for her two Emmy nominations. "God has blessed me REAL good!" the actress wrote.
Paul Mescal
Paul Mescal said he wouldn't be nominated if it wasn't for his "Normal People" co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones, who didn't score a nomination like him.
"This only exists because of you and your extraordinary talent it’s as simple as that," he tweeted.
Jeremy Pope
Jeremy Pope, star of "Hollywood," said he is "proud to see so many Black artists nominated this year."
"It gives me hope that systemic change in our entertainment industry is not only possible, it’s imminent," he added. "Today was a reminder that seeing is believing and everything is possible."
Jennifer Aniston
"The Morning Show" star Jennifer Aniston, who was nominated in the best actress in a drama series category, gushed that she is "so proud of my @themorningshow family." "This team worked so, so hard to make the best show we possibly could, and I am truly honored to be a part of it. Thanks for this acknowledgment and congratulations to EVERYONE," she added. "Now, I’m just gonna have to figure out what MASK I’M GONNA WEAR!!"
