‘Three Billboards,’ ‘Big Little Lies,’ ‘Stranger Things’ and ‘GLOW’ Lead 2018 SAG Awards Nominations

Tony Sokol

The SAG Awards will be hitting a quarter century in another year and they are already looking at legacy. December releases and inappropriate headline grabbers won’t be taking home many trophies in 2018. The nominations for the 24th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were by announced by Olivia Munn and Niecy Nash from the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood. They were joined by SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris, SAG Awards committee chair JoBeth Williams, and SAG Awards committee member Elizabeth McLaughlin. The Screen Actors Guild Awards is the only major awards show that only honors actors.

Stephen Spielberg’s “The Post” and Christopher Nolan’s war epic “Dunkirk” are on the short list for the top Academy Awards, but came up short on votes for the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Fox Searchlight’s “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” directed by Martin McDonaugh, topped the movie categories with four nominations, including ensemble cast and individual nods for Woody Harrelson, Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell. Tying the top TV spots with four nominations each were HBO’s “Big Little Lies,” Netflix’s “Stranger Things” and “GLOW,” which earned Marc Maron his first nomination for playing the wrestling troupe director, as well as nominations for leading lady Alison Brie, and the series’ stunt team.  

In the film category, Daniel Kaluuya got a SAG best male actor nomination for his frightening turn in Jordan Peele’s civil thriller “Get Out.” Kaluuya was nominated for a Golden Globe earlier this week. Dame Judi Dench was nominated for the best female actor trophy for reprising her part as Queen Victoria in Focus Features’ “Victoria & Abdul.” Guillermo Del Toro’s monster love story “The Shape of Water” scored a best actress nomination for Sally Hawkins, and a best supporting actor nod for Richard Jenkins, but  was also snubbed for best ensemble awards.

For television, the HBO comedy “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” returning after a long absence, was nominated for ensemble cast, as well as picking one up for its star, “Seinfeld” co-creator Larry David. Sean Hayes was the only member of the cast of the “Will and Grace” to earn a nomination.

There were no nominations for Kevin Spacey or Jeffrey Tambor, both accused of sexual harassment this year. Tambor was accused of inappropriate behavior by his former personal assistant, a trans woman named Van Barnes, and by his “Transparent” guest star Trace Lysette.  Tambor won the outstanding performance by a male actor in a comedy series award in 2016 and was nominated in 2017. “House of Cards” star and producer Spacey was accused of sexually harassing and assaulting several men after “Star Trek: Discovery” actor Anthony Rapp came forward. Spacey won the outstanding performance by a male actor in a drama award in both 2015 and 2016, and was nominated in 2014 and 2017. Robin Wright, who plays the new president on “House of Cards,” was nominated for outstanding performance by a female actor in a drama series.

December releases like Steven Spielberg’s Pentagon Papers chronicle “The Post” were ignored by the SAG Awards, as were stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Tom Hanks, and Meryl Streep. Christopher Nolan’s war epic “Dunkirk” is a Best Picture Oscar frontrunner, but was only nominated for a stunt team trophy by SAG.

Amy Sherman-Palladino’s “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” which runs on Amazon, and Showtime’s “SMILF” were ignored in spite of multiple Golden Globe nominations. SAG ignored Kyle MacLachlan’s performance in David Lynch’s revival of “Twin Peaks.” Carrie Coon didn’t get nominated for her turns on either HBO’s “The Leftovers” or FX’s “Fargo.”

Kristen Bell will host the SAG Awards on Jan. 21. The ceremony will air live at 8 p.m. ET on both TNT and TBS.