This year’s Emmy nominations included a number of surprise packets and inevitable snubs.

While the team behind The Americans received some much-delayed recognition, Orange is the New Black was largely left off the list.

Beyonce vs Amy Poehler vs … James Corden? Photo: Tidal

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Game of Thrones unsurprisingly led the field with 23 nominations, with The People v. O.J. Simpson close behind with 22.

One of the stranger fields is ‘best variety’, which will be contested by a motley crew including Beyonce’s visual album Lemonade, Amy Poehler’s live comedy show and James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke special.

Another head-scratcher was the shared nod given to queens of comedy Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

The duo was nominated as one entry for guest actress in a comedy for Saturday Night Live.

Snubs, and past snubs redeemed

In case you needed proof that popularity doesn’t always translate to Emmy nominations, Orange is the New Black only picked up one nomination – best casting.

This could be because the show is currently being judged for its (less impressive) third season, rather than the fourth season which aired on Netflix earlier this year.

Lena Dunham’s Girls also missed out on a nomination for its final season.

Conversely, spy thriller The Americans, has been largely unrecognised during its past two years and four seasons.

In its sixth and final series, British societal drama Downton Abbey again picked up a best drama nod. Photo: ITV

But fans will note the show has been nominated not only for best drama, but in the lead actor and lead actress categories for Kerri Russell and Matthew Rhys.

The Americans picked up a total five nominations, plus the obscure honour of being one of the very rare shows to be recognised by the awards this late in its run.

Finally, The Good Wife‘s Julianna Margulies missed out on a dramatic lead actress nod for her final season – after winning the award twice previously.

GoT continues to dominate

Cuba Gooding Jr. and The People vs O.J Simpson crew cleaned up. Photo: FX

One example of (incredible) popularity actually translating to Emmy kudos was – you guessed it – Game of Thrones.

Actors in show’s sixth season received plenty of recognition, picking up five nominations with Maisie Williams (Arya Stark) and Kit Harington (Jon Snow) being nominated for the first time.

Previous nominees Lena Headey (Cercei Lannister), Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen) and Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), received another nod this year.

GoT also picked up two directing nominations and will defend it’s best drama crown from last year.

Progress

Comedy favourite Aziz Ansari became the fifth South Asian person to be nominated for lead actor in a comedy for his Netflix series Master of None.

When you include producing and writing nominations, Ansari picked up an impressive four nominations in total.

Another nod to stem any #OscarsSoWhite backlash went to comedy Black-ish, which picked up a best comedy nomination, as well as a comedy acting nod for Tracee Ellis Ross – the first for a black woman since 1986.