We all know the truth: there aren’t many events that excite TV fans as much as the Emmys do. Whatever your preference is – serious dramas, comedies that make you burst out laughing, or late-night shows full of mayhem – this is the place where the most powerful wins of the industry are bragged about the most. But what TV shows hold the records of the biggest wins? Below is a countdown of the top Emmy-winning shows in the history of TV, starting from the least.
10. Veep (17 wins)
Politics never got this humorous—or this brutal. Veep made Julia Louis-Dreyfus the Emmys’ reigning queen, winning six years in a row for her performance as the elegantly execrable Selina Meyer. Throw in Tony Hale’s two awards and several series prizes, and it’s obvious this wickedly incisive satire dominated Emmy night as thoroughly as it dominated HBO.
9. Star Trek: The Next Generation (17 wins)
The Enterprise crew didn’t merely revolutionize sci-fi—but also tidied up behind the scenes. Though TNG wasn’t a heavy hitter in the major categories, it dominated the technical categories with awards for makeup, costumes, sound, and effects. In 1994, it even managed to receive a Drama Series nomination, demonstrating genre TV could join the big kids’ table.
8. Shōgun (18 wins)
Discuss a breakdown! FX’s Shōgun set Emmy records by taking home 18 awards in one year. Among them were Best Drama, lead acting nods for Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai, and a record-breaking 14 Creative Arts awards. It became a record-breaker in just one season.
7. Will & Grace (18 wins)
This groundbreaking sitcom not only broke history in LGBTQ+ representation, but it also accumulated Emmys like candy. All four leads—Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally, and Sean Hayes—went home with awards, while guest stars such as Leslie Jordan aided the show in racking up even more.
6. The Simpsons (37 wins)
America’s longest-running animated show is also one of its most decorated. With more than a dozen wins for Outstanding Animated Program, as well as solo awards for voice talents like Hank Azaria and even Kelsey Grammer as Sideshow Bob, The Simpsons illustrated that satire wears a whole lot better than Homer’s diet.
5. Frasier (37 wins)
When Dr. Frasier Crane broke off from Cheers, no one thought he’d surpass the original. However, Frasier became one of the most awarded sitcoms in Emmy history, with Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce sweeping acting categories and the show itself receiving Comedy Series five consecutive times.
4. Game of Thrones (59 wins)
Say what you will about the last season, but Emmy voters genuflected before HBO’s fantasy behemoth. Thrones took Best Drama four times, Peter Dinklage won four acting awards, and the production values of the show won it a heap of Creative Arts awards. Winter arrived, and so did the Emmys.
3. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (30 wins)
Infrastructure gags? Chicken farming revelations? Some way, John Oliver made them Emmy gold. His HBO show cleaned up Variety Talk categories for years, then leapt into a new category and kept winning right along. Clever, witty, and strangely informative—that’s Emmy catnip.
2. The Crown (24 wins)
Leave it to the British monarchs to rule the Emmys. The Crown on Netflix achieved a historic sweep of acting categories, with its stars, such as Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Josh O’Connor, all taking home awards. It is currently the most Emmy-awarded streaming drama so far, demonstrating that monarchy dramas continue to be the crown jewels.
1. Saturday Night Live (90+ wins)
No debate—SNL is the preeminent Emmy king. Since 1975, it has won more than 90 and been nominated more than 300 times, a record. From Gilda Radner to Kate McKinnon, the writers and cast have set the standard for comedy as they sweep Emmy night. In short,t: no program has done it longer or better.
And there you have it—the series that made Emmy night all about their own victory lap. Whether sketch comedy, epic fantasy, or satirical wit, these winners show that staying power and innovation are the ultimate secret weapons.