Seriously, the history of TV is full of amazing and innovative shows that have been overlooked by the Emmys for no apparent reason. Some of the best television creations have not been acknowledged due to genre prejudices, tough rivalries, or being forgotten. Below are ten of the most infamous Emmy snubs that continue to cause upset.
10. Andy Griffith: Mayberry’s Sheriff Without a Badge
Andy Griffith infused The Andy Griffith Show with warmth and sincerity, creating an American institution. The show won six Emmys, but Andy Griffith himself was never nominated for even one. Co-stars Don Knotts and Frances Bavier did win statues, but the man who carried the entire show didn’t get a mention. A mind-boggling snub.
9. Martin Sheen: Commander-in-Chief Without the Gold
As President Josiah Bartlet on The West Wing, Martin Sheen turned in one of television’s greatest performances. He was nominated six times but went empty-handed each year, even though the series received a total of 26 Emmys. If anyone was worthy of Oval Office attention from the Academy, it was Sheen.
8. Roseanne: A Working-Class Story Without a Seat at the Table
Roseanne turned the sitcom on its head, capturing the humor and struggle of working-class life. Despite good ratings and cultural relevance, the show never received an Outstanding Comedy Series nomination. A glaring omission for a show that redefined comedy on television.
7. Craig Ferguson: Too Original for Late-Night Awards
With his irreverent Late Late Show—whose robot skeleton sidekick and otherwise ad-libbed interviews broke the late-night status quo—Craig Ferguson took some risks. But Emmy voters weren’t quite so bold. Being experimental is a formula for being left out sometimes.
6. Battlestar Galactica: When Sci-Fi Gets Sidelined
A heck of a lot more than a space epic, Battlestar Galactica pounced on war, politics, and the survival of humanity with uncommon regularity. Although critics praised it, the Emmys never even granted it a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series. To this day, fans are left to speculate about what the Academy has against outer space.
5. Sandra Oh: Nine Tries, No Wins
Sandra Oh’s work on Grey’s Anatomy and Killing Eve made her a TV powerhouse, earning nine nominations. Yet, she’s never won. From Cristina Yang’s fiery brilliance to Eve Polastri’s haunted complexity, Oh consistently delivered—but voters never sealed the deal.
4. Angela Lansbury: The Eternal Nominee
For 12 years, Murder, She Wrote made Jessica Fletcher, played by Angela Lansbury, appointment viewing. She raked in 12 nominations for the role (plus six other nods during her career), but nary a single win. No one has been snubbed as much. If anyone deserved Emmy justice, it was Lansbury.
3. Steve Carell: The Boss Who Got Nothing
Michael Scott on The Office is a comedy icon—cringeworthy, earnest, and unstoppable. Steve Carell was nominated six times but never won. Considering the show’s staying power and cultural relevance, it’s surprising he never won an award.
2. Giancarlo Esposito: The Villain Voters Overlooked
As Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul’s Gus Fring, Giancarlo Esposito gave us one of television’s greatest and scariest villains. He earned three nominations without a win. Fring may have chilled viewers’ spines, but he never scared up Emmy dollars.
1. The Wire: The Greatest Show That Never Won
Billed as the best drama in television history, The Wire was never nominated for Outstanding Drama Series. None of its incredibly talented cast members ever received acting nominations. Other shows of its era won awards, but The Wire remains the ultimate Emmy blind spot.
The Emmys may purport to celebrate television’s finest, but experience has proved they don’t always manage. These snubs serve as a reminder that awards are not the be-all and end-all, and sometimes the true legacy of a performance or show continues with audiences long after the trophies are handed out.