Emmys: The Most-Watched Show, Actor and Actress Nominees

As a longtime enthusiast of the small screen, I find myself thoroughly intrigued by this year’s Emmy contenders! The numbers speak for themselves – with millions upon millions of viewers tuning in to witness the artistic brilliance these shows and actors bring to our living rooms.


The prestigious Emmy Awards, known as the pinnacle of television achievements, are not decided by popular vote. Instead, a recent examination of the highly-viewed programs and nominees from this year offers a fascinating insight into the comparative market success of the competitors.

According to Nielsen, the highest-rated nominees encompass “Fallout,” a popular video game adaptation on Prime Video, and its lead actor Walton Goggins, who is nominated in the dramatic categories.

In terms of comedic shows, “The Bear” claimed the top position, and its lead actor, Jeremey Allen White, also topped the charts according to Nielsen’s findings. Meanwhile, Selena Gomez held the highest viewership among actresses in a comedy series, on Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building”.

SEE ALSO: 2024 Emmy Nominations — Full List

Of course, just because any given show or actor is popular doesn’t actually mean they have better odds of winning an Emmy (or any other award). But Nielsen’s point in releasing the rankings was reveal to show which awards contenders could give marketers the biggest reach, by providing insight into “how audiences are voting with their time,” the company said.

For the categories of drama and comedy series during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, Nielsen tracked the amount of time viewers spent watching each show’s season that fell within the qualifying period (June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024).

In the actor and actress categories, the rankings consider any productions (be it movies or series) where the performer was a main cast member, often referred to as a top-billed actor. For instance, Goggins’ total count includes views of “Fallout,” but also other shows like “Righteous Gemstones” on HBO and “Justified” on FX. Similarly, White received credit for “The Bear” and the 2023 film “The Iron Claw,” as well as his role in Showtime’s “Shameless” as the eldest Gallagher brother. Aniston benefited significantly from viewings of “Friends” on Max. This methodology favors actors who starred in popular shows and films during the Emmys eligibility period, serving as a reasonable approximation for determining the most-watched nominees in the acting categories.

Here’s a summary of the top three most-popular TV shows, actors, and actresses according to Nielsen’s categorical rankings:

Drama Series

Network/PlatformShowTotal U.S. viewing hours
Prime VideoFallout (Season 1)162.1 million
NetflixThe Crown (Season 6)100.1 million
Hulu/FXShogun (Season 1)99.7 million

Comedy Series

Network/PlatformShowTotal U.S. viewing hours
Hulu/FXThe Bear (Season 2)97.6 million
HuluOnly Murders in the Building (Season 3)84.4 million
ABC/HuluAbbott Elementary (Season 3)59.8 million

Limited or Anthology Series

Network/PlatformShowTotal U.S. viewing hours
HBO/MaxTrue Detective: Night Country66.7 million
NetflixBaby Reindeer61.2 million
Apple TV+Lessons in Chemistry35.4 million

Actor in a Drama Series

ActorNominated forTotal U.S. viewing hours*
Walton GogginsFallout (Prime Video)363.9 million
Gary OldmanSlow Horses (Apple TV+)283.6 million
Idris ElbaHijack (Apple TV+)279.8 million

Actress in a Drama Series

ActorNominated forTotal U.S. viewing hours*
Jennifer AnistonThe Morning Show (Apple TV+)1,725.4 million
Imelda StauntonThe Crown (Netflix)247.6 million
Reese WitherspoonThe Morning Show (Apple TV+)192.8 million

Actor in a Comedy Series

ActorNominated forTotal U.S. viewing hours*
Jeremy Allen WhiteThe Bear (Hulu/FX)499.7 million
Steve MartinOnly Murders in the Building (Hulu)195.4 million
Martin ShortOnly Murders in the Building (Hulu)169.4 million

Actress in a Comedy Series

ActorNominated forTotal U.S. viewing hours*
Selena GomezOnly Murders in the Building (Hulu)164.8 million
Ayo EdebiriThe Bear (Hulu/FX)158.4 million
Jean SmartHacks (Max)45.4 million

Nielsen, based on their assessment, considered the top Emmy candidates by taking into account both streaming platforms and traditional broadcast and cable television within the United States.

On Sunday, September 15th, the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards event will be broadcast live from 8 p.m. Eastern Time onwards, on ABC.

A Look Ahead at the Emmys: Special Reunions of ‘Happy Days’, ‘Saturday Night Live’, and ‘The West Wing’ Cast, as well as Jelly Roll’s ‘In Memoriam’ Tribute Performance

Shown here from left to right: Jeremy Allen White (“The Bear”), Walton Goggins (“Fallout”), and Jennifer Aniston (“The Morning Show”)

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2024-09-13 18:48