A Night of Disappointment for the Arconia Trio
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, held on September 14, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, proved to be a challenging evening for the team behind Hulu’s hit series Only Murders in the Building. Despite entering the night with high hopes, the show failed to secure any of its nominations, marking a notable shutout for the beloved mystery-comedy in a year dominated by the series Widow’s Bay, according to ABC11.
Martin Short, who has been nominated for each of the show’s five seasons, faced his fifth consecutive loss in the category of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The award went to Matthew Rhys for his performance in Widow’s Bay. In a moment that quickly went viral, Short was captured on camera playfully tearing up his prepared acceptance speech after the winner was announced. His co-star and frequent collaborator, Steve Martin, later shared a photo of a crumpled fragment of that speech on social media, with the official Only Murders Instagram account humorously dubbing it the “Best ripped up speech award.”
The Weight of the Snub
The loss extends a trend for the series, which has struggled to translate its popularity into major Emmy wins. While Only Murders has amassed 61 nominations across its five-season run, it has secured only seven trophies, mostly in technical categories such as production design and sound mixing, as reported by Entertainment Weekly. The show was also unsuccessful in its bid for Outstanding Comedy Series, a category won by Widow’s Bay.
Despite the lack of major hardware, the series maintains a robust reputation for its production environment. Short, 76, recently remarked on the show’s positive atmosphere, telling Deadline that it is one of the “loosest, happiest sets” for guest stars. This reputation for quality and collaboration remains a hallmark of the show, even as it faces stiff competition from emerging powerhouses like Widow’s Bay and The Bear.
Looking Toward Season 6
As the cast and crew move past the disappointment of the 2026 ceremony, attention is already shifting toward the future. Season 6 of Only Murders in the Building is set to premiere on Hulu on December 8, 2026. The upcoming season is highly anticipated for its star-studded guest cast, which includes Olivia Colman, David Tennant, Martin Freeman, and Nicola Coughlan.
Short recently described the experience of working with such a high-caliber ensemble as “insane,” highlighting the show’s continued ability to attract elite talent. While the Emmy shutout may sting, the series’ ability to reinvent itself through casting and narrative complexity suggests it remains a major player in the television landscape.