Golden Globe nominations were announced early Monday morning, and though the breakout dramedy This Is Us scored a handful of nods in its still-in-progress first season, a core member of the ensemble didn't get any love from the Hollywood Foreign Press. Milo Ventimiglia didn't get a Golden Globe nomination for his work as Jack Pearson in This Is Us. And since Jack is the patriarch of that messy, lovable family, the lack of recognition has the whiff of a snub. This news is especially noteworthy since both Mandy Moore (Rebecca) and Chrissy Metz (Kate) scored Best Supporting Actress nominations, and the series is in the running for Best TV Series, Drama.
The Best Supporting Actor category is crowded with talented performers, so it would have been a feat to crack it. The nominees in what would have been Ventimiglia's This Is Us category include his co-star Sterling K. Brown for The People Vs. O.J. Simpson; Hugh Laurie for The Night Manager; John Lithgow for The Crown; Christian Slater for Mr. Robot, and John Travolta for The People Vs. O.J. Simpson. It's tough to argue against any of those nods, but it's worth pointing out that all of these shows are cable or streaming. Ventimiglia would have been a representative for network drama, which is still around and still — on occasion — really great.
The Globes do tend to jump on new series as they spring out of the gate, and This Is Us is no exception. (See also Stranger Things, Atlanta, Westworld, and The Crown.) If This Is Us holds onto its momentum and keeps the HFPA interested, it could be back with even more nominations in the years to come. But if you've been watching the show religiously, you know that there's no guarantee that Ventimiglia will always be a part of it. It's been revealed that Jack Pearson passes away at some point during his children's lives. And though the show loves the flashback, conceivably, Ventimiglia could leave completely at some point or be retained in more of a guest actor capacity.
The future is uncertain, which is why it's frustrating to have to wait and see when it comes to seeing good work recognized. This Is Us has a huge heart, and Ventimiglia's performance as a devoted dad of three deserves a lot of the credit for that. He's responsible for some of the show's most emotionally resonant moments, like when he proves he'll always be there for his son by doing push-ups with Randall on his back at the dojo and when he reminds Kate of her princess status after some mean girls mocked her at the pool.
Milo Ventimiglia was ignored by the Golden Globes, but This Is Us remains his best and most mature work to date.
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