Jon Hamm ruled out of Emmy guest category

Jon Hamm has been disqualified from the Emmy guest drama actor race for his work in the Apple TV drama “The Morning Show,” Variety has confirmed.

Due to a clerical error by the studio, Hamm was submitted in the guest actor in a drama series category for his performance as Paul Marks in the show’s fourth season. While he appears in only three episodes, fewer than half the season’s run, he was ineligible under an Emmy rule that bars actors previously nominated in the lead or supporting categories from competing as a guest performer.

In January 2025, the Television Academy introduced a rule that any performer who has been nominated for or won a lead or supporting acting Emmy may no longer submit in the guest performer categories for the same role. The revision effectively barred a select group of performers who would otherwise have been in the Emmy running. This rule has effectively prevented actors such as Meryl Streep, who was nominated for supporting comedy actress for Season 3 of Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building” and has been unable to submit in either Seasons 4 or 5. Streep appears in less than 50% of both seasons. However, the rule doesn’t affect “Saturday Night Live” guest submissions — Amy Poehler and Will Ferrell — former cast members who were nominated for Emmys during their tenure. When “SNL” performers are entered for Emmy consideration, they are credited as playing “various characters.” However, official Emmy credits list the NBC sketch comedy’s hosts simply as “host” — a designation that creates ambiguity and exposes a loophole already drawing scrutiny from competing strategists and studios.

Apple TV’s team overlooked the rule, as Hamm was nominated for supporting drama actor in 2024. The TV Academy also missed the discrepancy during verification, and when ballots were released today, he was listed in the guest category.

As a result, Hamm’s “Morning Show” work has been disqualified and cannot be voted on.

There are still other opportunities for Hamm to land Emmy recognition. He is among the listed contenders in lead drama actor for his other Apple show “Your Friends and Neighbors,” as well as in character voice-over performance, for voicing Marvin Flute in the animated comedy “Grimsburg.”

Hamm has been nominated for 18 Emmys across various categories and series, including the anthology series “Fargo,” the comedy “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and, most famously, the critically acclaimed drama “Mad Men,” for his turn as ad man Don Draper. His sole Emmy win came in 2015 for lead drama actor.

Emmy voting concludes June 22.

-Variety