Before the Golden Globe nominations are announced each year, there is always a lot of interest in which actors will make the cut and who will be snubbed. Thankfully, even though some major sitcoms have problems that need to change, there are some great shows with hilarious characters and storylines. As a result, it can be difficult to predict which comedy show stars will be in the running for a Golden Globe trophy.
Even though nominations can be difficult to predict, it has always seemed like some network comedy stars will be nominated for a Golden Globe Award each year. For that reason, the fact that the networks were shut out of the running for the TV comedy acting awards this year is extremely surprising.
The Golden Globes didn't nominate any network TV comedy stars for the first time in 6 years
On December 8, 2025, the nominations for the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, which will take place on January 11, 2026, were announced. That announcement revealed the 12 actors who were specifically nominated for a Golden Globe in the Musical or Comedy categories for starring in a TV show. Of that group, the nominations were broken down by 2 for an FX and Hulu co-production, 3 for Netflix, 4 for Hulu, 1 for Apple TV+, 1 for Peacock, and 1 for HBO Max. That meant that none of the nominations went to actors who starred in shows produced by the major networks, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and The CW.
The fact that none of the network comedy shows garnered comedy actor Golden Globe nominations is shocking because it has been years since that last happened. In fact, the last time that happened was during the 77th Golden Globe Awards, which aired in 2020. Another reason why it is very surprising that the networks didn't get any comedy acting nominations is that there are shows that could have been given that honor.
The most obvious example of a network sitcom that could have garnered an acting nomination is Abbott Elementary, since it features a hilarious and talented cast. After all, Quinta Brunson and Tyler James Williams both won an acting Golden Globe Award for their Abbott Elementary performances. It should also be noted that Janelle James and Sheryl Lee Ralph were nominated in the past. Any of those actors could have been nominated, and Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, and William Stanford Davis also deserve praise.
I also would argue that St. Denis Medical features several stars who could have been nominated. For example, David Alan Grier and Wendi McLendon-Covey are comedy legends, Josh Lawson is hilarious, and Allison Tolman is one of the most respected actors of her generation. Some of the other notable network sitcoms that were ignored include Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, Animal Control, and Happy's Place.