The acclaimed HBO Max series Heated Rivalry received no nominations at the 78th Emmy Awards, a surprise given its status as one of the platform's most-watched shows and a breakout pop culture hit of 2025. The article clarifies that the snub was not a judgement on the show's quality but the result of a technical eligibility rule.

Under the Emmys' regulations, a series made in another country cannot be nominated unless it is financially and creatively co-produced for US television. Heated Rivalry was originally created for the Canadian streamer Crave and is produced in Canada, rendering it ineligible — unlike Netflix's Lord of the Flies, made by a British company owned by Sony Pictures Television. The show has nonetheless thrived elsewhere, sweeping the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards with 16 wins and taking Outstanding New TV Series at the GLAAD Media Awards. It may also compete at the International Emmys against Hulu's Rivals, and has been renewed for a second season.