Since the unexpected breakthrough of hockey romance series Heated Rivalry late last year, the show's stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie have skyrocketed into overnight household names. From magazine covers, fashion shows, and new roles, they are everywhere. On Feb. 28, Storrie will make his Saturday Night Live hosting debut, and it could be historic for him in more ways than one.
Even though Heated Rivalry quickly became a critically acclaimed series that garnered Emmy buzz for Storrie and Williams' dazzling performances, the fully Canadian produced and funded original series won't be eligible to receive nominations from the Emmy Awards. As the Academy's rules state and haven't been changed, a series must be co-produced by an American studio or network in order to be in consideration for a nomination.
Storrie and Williams won't receive the recognition they rightfully deserve from the Emmys since Heated Rivalry isn't co-produced by HBO Max, but Ilya Rozanov's alter ego could still manage to score his first Emmy Award nomination this year thanks to SNL. The sketch comedy series is a lightning rod at the Emmys, often scoring nods for its own cast members and various hosts.
After Storrie's SNL promo dropped, the internet went wild. The video has over 10 million views on Instagram alone and features Storrie having an accent battle with cast member James Austin Johnson. The promo's digital short approach allowed Storrie to showcase his talent for transforming himself and further endearing the new star to viewers. It's not surprising that he already started getting Emmy buzz before the episode even aired.
What Emmy Award could Connor Storrie find himself up for at the 78th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards later this year? He could very well be a shoo-in for the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series category, given SNL's history of scoring its funniest and most memorable hosts multiple nominations and wins. Truly, it's not out of the realm of possibility by any stretch of the imagination.
Last season, for SNL's landmark 50th season, the series wasn't able to sneak any host in the Guest Actor or Guest Actress category at the Emmys. Jerrod Carmichael, Pedro Pascal, and Ryan Gosling are the three most recent nominees (2022, 2023, and 2024 respectively) in the Guest Actor category for SNL, with Dave Chappelle being the most recent SNL host to win the award back in 2021. (Chappelle, Eddie Murphy, Jimmy Fallon, and Justin Timberlake are the only wins in the category to date, with Chappelle, Fallon, and Timberlake each winning twice.)
While last season was much more competitive for the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series category with The Bear and The Studio in season, it's game on for Saturday Night Live to reclaim its glory, and there's no one better to do that with than Connor Storrie. Based on the the digital short promo alone, the series and its writers proved they will take full advantage of his charm and skills.
The 2026 Emmy Award nominations will be announced on July 8, and there are still plenty of episodes left to air of SNL season 51. Storrie will have to contend with the likes of Bad Bunny, Glen Powell, Alexander Skarsgård, Harry Styles, and former nominee Ryan Gosling for a slot in the category, but I really believe that before the end of the year, he could be an Emmy nominee.