Wrapping up with its season one finale, and already greenlit for season two before the premiere even aired, “Your Friends & Neighbors” has ended on a high note, with Jon Hamm’s New York hedge fund manager turned neighborhood thief, Andrew Cooper, showing no signs of slowing down in his new scheme of stealing from his elite friends and neighbors. With a cast that includes Emmy winner Hamm, Amanda Peet, Olivia Munn, Mark Tallman, Aimee Carrero, Hoon Lee, and Lena Hall, the Apple TV+ series boasts a packed ensemble that delivers on the show’s inventive premise: making the best of your circumstances in the worst of situations. But will it be enough to crack this year’s Emmy field?
Hamm, an eighteen-time Emmy nominee and winner for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for “Mad Men” in 2015, returns as both executive producer and lead in “Your Friends & Neighbors,” turning in a remarkable performance that reminds audiences why he’s one of the most captivating and charming screen presences working today. His voiceover narration throughout the season sets the tone and offers a deep dive into Cooper’s unraveling psyche. Amanda Peet and Olivia Munn also shine as two women entangled in Cooper’s tumultuous personal life, both romantically and within the upper echelon of Westmont Village’s elite society.
After being humiliatingly fired from his hedge fund manager position, Cooper’s lavish lifestyle begins to crumble. To make matters worse, he discovers his wife, Mel (Peet), is having an affair with his best friend and former professional basketball player, Nick Brandes (Tallman). In a desperate attempt to maintain appearances, Cooper resorts to robbing his wealthy neighbors—only to learn that he’s not the only one hiding secrets. The murder of Paul Levitt (Jordan Gelber), whose wife Samantha (Olivia Munn) is having an affair with Cooper, adds another layer of chaos to the storytelling as Cooper’s heists become more ambitious and the suspicions of those in the neighborhood begin to grow. He’s aided in his heists by Elena Benavides (Aimee Carrero), a Dominican-American maid who is living a tougher life than Cooper but with insider access to the homes of the one percent.
So what makes “Your Friends & Neighbors” competitive this Emmy season? Apple TV+ is mounting a strong campaign, submitting Jon Hamm as the sole lead for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series while everyone else is going supporting. Amanda Peet will be submitted for Supporting Actress in a Drama, alongside Olivia Munn, Aimee Carrero, and Lena Hall. Supporting Actor submissions will include Hoon Lee and Mark Tallman, who play Cooper’s friends Barney Choi and Nick Brandes, respectively. Only Corbin Bernsen, who portrays Cooper’s former boss, Jack Bailey, will be submitted in the Guest Actor category. This leads the field wide open for Hamm to be nominated if Emmy voters still have residual love for him.
The show currently holds an 82% critic and 81% audience scores, a rare alignment reflecting critical acclaim and viewer enthusiasm. It has been a solid performer for Apple TV+, topping the platform’s charts during its weekly rollout and standing firm against other flagship dramas like “The Studio” and “Murderbot.” Strategically, its finale dropped on May 30th, just days before the Emmy voting window officially opens tomorrow on, June 12th, placing it squarely within eligibility and keeping it top of mind for voters.
Apple TV+ enters this year’s Emmy race with a crowded slate of contenders. Adam Scott (“Severance“) and Gary Oldman (“Slow Horses”) are both expected to return in the Lead Actor category, while Jake Gyllenhaal could earn his first Emmy nomination for “Presumed Innocent.” However, Jon Hamm has remained a consistent Emmy presence even beyond “Mad Men” with last year’s dual nominations for “Fargo” and “The Morning Show” proving that he’s an industry darling who can lead this show to further success outside of his category, especially with a robust streamer such as Apple behind the campaign.
So, will “Your Friends & Neighbors” emerge as another Emmy hit for Apple TV+? Or is their slate already too crowded this year between “Severance,” “Slow Horses,” “Presumed Innocent,” and many other shows they are juggling, seeking Emmy voters’ attention? Now fully available to binge, time will tell if viewers catch up or if it gets lost in the shuffle. With the Emmy voting window opening tomorrow, all eyes are on whether Jon Hamm and his friends will land even more nominations for Apple this year. It could be just him or nothing at all. In a crowded field this season, it’s anyone’s for the taking.
Do you think “Your Friends & Neighbors” will be an Emmy contender? Will Apple TV+ be able to push another show in its heavy arsenal of contenders? With the show now available to binge, will it be caught up by viewers or lost in the shuffle? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below or on our X account, and be sure to check out our latest Emmy predictions here. Please also be sure to subscribe to the Next Best Series Podcast, where we are conducting a number of interviews with Emmy contenders throughout the awards season and discussing the race.
