Heated Rivalry has captivated audiences this past month, with many advocating for stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams to receive Emmy nominations for their performances!
Connor, who portrays Ilya Rozanov, impressed viewers in the show’s fourth episode with his emotional monologue in Russian. Hudson even commended his co-star’s performance, stating, “Give my baby that weighty golden winged woman holding the atom statue already.”
While their acting and the show itself are receiving accolades, Heated Rivalry is unfortunately not eligible for Emmy Awards – Here’s why!
Continue reading to discover more…
The Crave original series debuted in the 2026 eligibility window, which spans from June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026; however, it faces a significant hurdle as it is not an American series.
Although the show aired on HBO Max in the US, the streamer did not contribute to its production in any way other than purchasing licensing rights to broadcast it.
Heated Rivalry was entirely funded by Bell Media, Crave’s parent company in Canada. According to the Emmy eligibility rules stated by Variety, a “foreign television production is ineligible unless it is the result of a co-production (both financially and creatively) between U.S. and foreign partners, which precedes the start of production, and with a purpose to be shown on U.S. television.”
The show may not qualify for the regular Emmys, but there is potential for the International Emmys, with a submission deadline at the end of January.
Season two is also unlikely to be eligible for the Emmys since it will continue to be a fully Canadian-produced series. Although HBO Max has agreed to distribute the series in the US, they will not participate in the creative process or act as a producer. This allows the original creative team, led by series creator, writer, and director Jacob Tierney, to oversee the next season without external input, addressing concerns from many fans.
Heated Rivalry and its stars could still receive nominations for awards like the Canadian Screen Awards, which honors Canadian film, television, and digital media.
While not an official award, the series achieved the highest-rated TV episode of 2025 on IMDb!
