Shining a Spotlight: Artios Awards Nominations Unveiled for TV, Theater, and Commercials!

The Casting Society of America has just rolled out its highly anticipated nominations for the Artios Awards, which is a fancy way of saying "Look at us! We recognize those who cast the people we love to watch!" And what’s even more exciting? These nominations span across television, theater, commercials, short films, and even short-form series. If you thought Netflix was just about binge-watching your emotions away, think again—it's leading the charge with a whopping **17 nominations**! Who knew that scrolling through endless options could lead to such accolades?

Behind Netflix is HBO/Max with six nominations, while Prime Video, Apple TV+, and FX each gathered five nods. While we’re busy preparing our watches and snacks for the award night galas scheduled for February 12 in the beloved cities of New York, Los Angeles, and London, let’s take a moment to appreciate the genius of casting professionals—those unsung heroes who bring talent together to create magic. Destiny Lilly, the CSA president, congratulated all nominees for their extraordinary work and emphasized the growing international casting categories, because nothing screams "globalization" like trying to pronounce names from every corner of the earth!

The Artios Awards cover more than 30 categories in film, TV, and theater. Imagine a world where casting directors are revered like the rock stars they actually are! Now, am I disappointed that the Oscars have taken so long—so long, in fact, that I could have finished an entire novel— to honor casting? Yes, indeed! But fret not, dear cinephiles! We have until **2026** to savor the moments until they catch up. Below, we dive into the dazzling nominations, allowing you to fan your inner drama queen.

Now, if you thought the film nominations would be straightforward, think again! With titles like *Flamin’ Hot* (because even casts can be spicy) and *Red, White & Royal Blue*, you can see the mix of flavors they aim to serve. Then, in a delightful twist of genres, there’s *Scoop*— a title that’s not just a verb but a promise of sweet, sweet gossip.

When you move over to comedy, you see shows like *Hacks* which sounds like a peek into my college life with those late-night coding marathons. And don’t get me started on *Only Murders in the Building*; I can’t help but imagine the casting process was like assembling a quirky detective team, complete with all the necessary quirks. *Reservation Dogs* and *The Bear* are simply delightful reminders that the TV landscape has transformed into an artistic smorgasbord.

Switching gears to dramas, with titles such as *The Crown* and *The Morning Show*, who wouldn’t want to throw on their fanciest attire and sip tea while solemnly judging the nominations? Let’s not forget the pilots; a mixture of comedy and drama gives us the enticing taste of what’s to come in the upcoming seasons, and I can hardly contain my excitement!

Limited series have their moment too—*All the Light We Cannot See* is a touching reminder that sometimes, the best things in life are indeed those we can’t see. As the nominations stretch into reality competitions, who would’ve imagined that the glitz of reality TV could also be honored? Show me the sequins, people—bring on *RuPaul's Drag Race* and *The Circle*!

Now, let’s not neglect the enchanting world of children and family series, where the likes of *Goosebumps* and *Avatar: The Last Airbender* tickle our nostalgia. And moving onto animated programs, titles like *Rick and Morty* had better take home trophies because honestly, who else could manage to weave existential crises into such hilarity?

In the grand arena of Broadway, the talent shines brighter than the lights on Times Square. With entries like *Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club* and *Jelly’s Last Jam*, it's like students of drama are showing off their report cards—each with an 'A' shining at the top. Finally, whether it’s from the bustling streets of New York to enduring regional theaters, every nominee adds a sprinkle of brilliance to stagecraft.

So here we are, teetering on the edge of an award season that promises heart, laughter, and a touch of sass. Whether it’s the big stars or behind-the-scenes heroes, let’s celebrate the art of casting—where it all begins and where creativity knows no bounds!