Apple TV scored a record-breaking 89 nominations for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards and, in anticipation of the ceremony, held interviews and a reception. Here’s what I learned from some of the cast and showrunners behind Shrinking, Margot’s Got Money Troubles, Your Friends and Neighbors, and Cape Fear.
See Also: TV Review: ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’ Season 2 Brings New Life to the Neighborhood
Margot’s Got Money Troubles, based on the novel by Rufi Thorpe, earned eight nominations, including individual nods for Elle Fanning and Michelle Pfeiffer. Fanning, who plays the title character, Margot, received a nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy Series. At the same time, Pfeiffer picked up a Best Supporting Actress nomination for portraying Margot’s mother, Shyanne. The series follows a college student who becomes pregnant by her professor and struggles to support herself after he wants nothing to do with the baby, ultimately turning to OnlyFans to make ends meet.
The book was adapted by David E. Kelley, who happens to be married to Pfeiffer. I had read that she never intended to work with her husband, but she loved the novel so much it was an immediate “yes” from page one. Pfeiffer laughed as she revealed that her nickname is usually “Dr. No.”
Elle Fanning has also enjoyed an impressive 2026. Her film Sentimental Value picked up multiple awards-season nominations, including one for her performance. Already an Emmy nominee for The Great, she recalled being at Wimbledon on the morning the nominations were announced. Sitting in a box behind the Queen, having your phone on was a definite no-no. It wasn’t until she stepped outside that she found out about all the nods.
Shrinking, currently filming its fourth season, picked up ten nominations for season three. I sat down with Luketa Maxwell, Luke Tennie, Jessica Williams, and television legend Ted McGinley. Williams received an individual nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She admitted she was awake for the announcement, even accidentally waking co-star Michael Urie and calling to tell him about his nomination.
For the rest of the cast, there weren’t any immediate celebrations because it was simply another workday. Luketa Maxwell and Luke Tennie didn’t even realize the nominations were being announced. Everyone saw it as a nod to the entire production and was eager to celebrate if they took home any trophies. McGinley, who has spent decades as a series regular on shows like Happy Days and The Love Boat, called Shrinking one of the greatest gifts of his career and said he still pinches himself for being part of it. My biggest takeaway was seeing how much this cast genuinely loves making the series and working with one another. The magic is every bit as real off-screen as it is on.
Your Friends and Neighbors, now filming its third season, earned a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series. I spoke with star Amanda Peet and creator Jonathan Tropper. As a Korean American, one of the coolest things I appreciated was Tropper thinking outside the box by featuring a Korean American family. He explained that he wrote the role specifically with Hoon Lee in mind, someone he always tries to find a part for. Their working relationship stretches back to Banshee and Warrior.
Season one appeared to wrap up the storyline for Amanda Peet’s character, Mel Cooper, the wife of Jon Hamm’s “Coop,” with the family reuniting. However, when season two begins, the couple has decided not to stay together. Peet said Tropper gave her advance notice about where Mel’s story was headed, and she found the character’s menopausal journey especially relatable.
Cape Fear had literally aired its season one finale the night before I sat down with stars Amy Adams, Juliette Lewis, and creator Nick Antosca. Based on the novel The Executioners, the series follows previous film adaptations, with Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg serving as executive producers. Scorsese also directed the 1991 remake that featured Lewis. She said she had always wanted to work with Antosca and joked that she would have been upset if he hadn’t included her. Fortunately, Antosca already had her in mind after they previously worked together on another project.
Amy Adams said she revisited the earlier adaptations while preparing for the role. Asked whether she had begun hearing reactions, she said they were starting to come in. Her mother had been watching the series and, although she hadn’t called yet, had let her know it was very intense and that she was enjoying it.
All episodes of each of these series are now streaming on Apple TV.
