Jeff Hiller Receives His First Emmy Nomination for Role in HBO’s ‘Somebody Somewhere’

Jeff Hiller, longtime character actor, received his first Emmy nomination for his supporting role as Joel in HBO’s critically acclaimed dramedy series ‘Somebody Somewhere.’ The show, which concluded its third season this year, follows a group of outsiders in rural Kansas, exploring themes of friendship, faith, and identity. Despite the show’s critical success and Peabody Award win, it was considered a long shot amidst competition from more prominent shows like ‘The Bear’ and ‘Abbott Elementary.’ Hiller was genuinely surprised by the nomination, learning about it while preparing to board a flight, and credits the timing of his recent memoir release as a possible factor in gaining recognition. Alongside Hiller, the show’s lead Bridget Everett and co-creators Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen also received nominations for writing. Hiller relishes the opportunity the show has provided to portray a nuanced, well-observed character and sees the nomination as an unexpected but gratifying milestone in his career. The nomination also highlights increasing recognition of diverse stories and queer representation in Emmy categories.