Which Supporting And Guest Acting Emmy Nominations Could “The Pitt” Receive?

After its Best Drama Series Emmy win, the first season of “The Pitt” proceeded to completely sweep the winter awards, winning the Critics’ Choice, the Golden Globe, the Actor Award for Best Ensemble, and the WGA, DGA, and PGA Awards. While the show has been praised across the board, as these prizes indicate, one of the main elements of “The Pitt” that made it beloved by audiences, critics, and industry voters alike was its brilliant ensemble. Yet for its first season, only three of its actors were Emmy-nominated: Noah Wyle, Katherine LaNasa, and Shawn Hatosy, who all went on to win their categories. With the clear passion actors in particular have for “The Pitt,” the show seems destined to expand in its acting nominations for its second season. Let’s break down all of the additional actors who could be a recipient of this love come Emmy nominations morning, in order of likelihood.

Patrick BallEver since his fantastic, volatile performance in season one, Ball has felt like the obvious second season addition for “The Pitt.” His material this season isn’t quite as explosive as that of his first season, but he nonetheless conveys a lot of nuance and guilt in Dr. Langdon’s attempts at redemption. He plays one of the most prominent, discussed characters in “The Pitt,” and his palpably tense on-screen dynamic with Emmy favorite Noah Wyle has given him a solid showcase of his capabilities. It does help that there are a lot fewer standout supporting male performances; while everyone might have a different favorite supporting lady from “The Pitt” (after Katherine LaNasa, who has by far the most material), Ball is a much clearer MVP in his category.

Sepideh MoafiOn one hand, it might not make sense for a second season addition to benefit from the surge in “The Pitt” goodwill when other actresses play characters who already have devoted fans. On the other hand, Sepideh Moafi’s performance on “The Pitt” is just that sensational, especially in the finale. While Dr. Al-Hashimi was initially a somewhat polarizing character because of how directly in opposition she is to our protagonist Dr. Robby, her empathy and sensible leadership gradually won fans over. Moafi has a certain gravitas to her that grounds the entire show, which only makes her performance in the finale that much more impressive. What’s interesting about Moafi is that even those who are vocally not fans of this season of “The Pitt” find her to be deserving of an Emmy nomination or even a win. I do wonder if this means that those who are diehard fans of this season would be more inclined toward other performances, but I choose to believe it’s a reflection of how much passion this performance has. I would be shocked to see her miss, at this point.

Tal AndersonThere are a lot of people competing in Guest Actress for “The Pitt,” but Tal Anderson plays one of the only characters I think every viewer can name. She’s incredibly winning as Dr. King’s sister Becca, portraying a confidence and independence that shocks her sister but feels entirely earnest to viewers. I don’t see why she’d miss Guest Actress; this category was made for scene stealers whose impact on the season far outclasses their screentime, and that description fits her to a T.

Jeff KoberWhile the Duke storyline was a bit more divisive amongst fans versus something like the Louie storyline, it’s absolutely pivotal to Robby’s arc this season. Jeff Kober’s dynamic with Wyle reveals much about Robby’s character that he tries to suppress. His high amounts of screentime shared with the show’s protagonist should be enough for a Guest Actor nomination.

Taylor DeardenTaylor Dearden plays perhaps the most fan favorite character on “The Pitt.” Viewers absolutely fell in love with Mel for her awkward heart of gold, with many identifying with the character’s neurodivergence. Dearden especially shines opposite Anderson, as this pairing gives new depth to her character and allows Dearden to showcase what Mel’s brand of hurt and anger feel like. Perhaps best of all, Mel is one of the characters whose arc most clearly completes by the finale.

Gerran HowellTo address the elephant in the room: Gerran Howell doesn’t have the flashiest material as Dr. Whitaker. However, he does have incredibly memorable dynamics with Robby and Santos, two of the show’s most prominent characters. Whitaker is another fan favorite on the show, and the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama category is not terribly stacked. “The Pitt” could feasibly get three nominations in this category, and he seems like an actor comfortably third in line.

Tina IvlevOne of the most heartbreaking storylines in “The Pitt” Season Two is that of Ilana, a woman who comes to the ER after being raped by her friend. Tina Ivlev brings to life how soul-crushing that traumatic violation could be while never losing sight of her character’s individuality. Almost all of her screen time is with Katherine LaNasa, who does some of her best work all season when beside Ivlev. If LaNasa’s Emmy is as secure as we all think it is, I think Ivlev gets nominated in Guest Actress.

Brittany AllenOne of the most memorable patients in Season 2 is Roxie, a wife and mother who reckons with her terminal illness and makes a heartbreaking decision. She might be the guest with the most episodes, coming in just under the cutoff with seven episodes. Brittany Allen gives Roxie so much grace, strength, and exhaustion, and is a crucial part of why that storyline has stuck with so many. The only problem she faces is that she wasn’t submitted by HBO and instead has to run her own campaign. That being said, Gwendoline Christie received a Supporting Actress nomination for “Game of Thrones” under the same circumstances, so Allen could absolutely do the same.

Ernest Harden Jr.The only returning patient from Season 1, Louie was a fan favorite for his sweet but humorous way of looking at the world. His scenes with Langdon and Whitaker are pivotal for each character’s arc this season, and Ernest Harden Jr. has a presence that lingers long after he leaves the show. While I’m not confident in his nomination due to how in flux the Guest Actor category is, he remains a strong possibility due to Louie being a beloved character whose story was quite emotional.

Isa BrionesWhile some actors were shafted to the sidelines at various points throughout the seasons, Isa Briones as Dr. Santos was consistently at the forefront of the story. Her dynamics with Langdon, Whitaker, and Garcia were often spotlighted in the back half of the second season, and her delightful karaoke scene with Mel bookends the entire season. Briones shines in her portrayal of the tough exterior her character puts up to shield her vulnerabilities and has many of the show’s funniest line deliveries. There’s only reason why I’m not currently predicting Briones to be nominated: Santos is perhaps the most disliked principal character on “The Pitt.” She certainly has her fans, myself included, but unfortunately the likability of female characters plays a huge factor at the Emmys. It’s part of why I suspect Sarah Snook only won her Emmy for the final season of “Succession” when she was just as deserving for Seasons 2 and 3.

Fiona DourifRather than having any particularly flashy scenes, Fiona Dourif was a reliable part of the ensemble whose empathy as Dr. McKay became a source of comfort for many other characters. Dourif is one of the actors who got a bit sidelined during the last few episodes of “The Pitt” Season 2, but she does have the advantage of being more experienced than the costars against whom she’s contending. Should actors prefer a more seasoned performer to grace their ballots, Dourif is an easier mention than Dearden, Briones, or Ganesh.

Ayesha HarrisThe only guest actor who was nominated last year for “The Pitt” was one who played a likable, scene-stealing night shift doctor who fans clamored to see more of. Ayesha Harris fits that description perfectly as Dr. Ellis, a tough but kind doctor who memorably encourages Mel before her deposition. She’s also being upgraded to a series regular next season, so HBO could potentially prioritize her more in their campaign in hopes of making the Guest Actress to Supporting Actress jump easier. While other guest actresses have more material, her character’s recognizability could help her get nominated.

Supriya GaneshSupriya Ganesh has been all over the trades for both the right and wrong reasons. The actor is fantastic as the caring but overwhelmed Dr. Mohan, and particularly shines after the various stressors in her life outside and inside of work compound on one another and push her to a breaking point. But to much outrage, Ganesh was announced to not be returning for a third season shortly before the season finale of “The Pitt” aired. Fans were outraged by this, which kept Ganesh’s name in the press, but also likely means that HBO will not give her the campaign she deserves for this performance. Considering that there are already five supporting actresses from the show in contention, I doubt that we will be seeing much FYCing for Ganesh in particular.

Which actors from “The Pitt” do you think stand the best chance at being Emmy nominated? Please let us know in the comments section below or over on our X account and check out our latest Emmy nomination predictions here.