Let’s be honest—if you’re a TV junkie, the Emmys are basically the championship game for the small screen. Nabbing one Emmy is a huge deal, but stacking them up year after year? That’s how a series cements itself as legendary. So, which shows climbed the highest on Emmy Mountain? Let’s count them down, starting from number 10 and working our way up to the reigning champ.
10. The Carol Burnett Show (25 wins)
This variety show classic made Carol Burnett TV royalty and established the template for subsequent variety shows. With 25 Emmys, including three for Outstanding Variety/Musical Series, it left a legacy that’s felt through comedy today. And Burnett continues to make history: in 2024, she was the oldest woman ever nominated for comedy acting for her performance in Palm Royale.
9. The West Wing (26 wins)
Dreaming of a White House filled with brilliant, empathetic leaders? That’s what Aaron Sorkin delivered with The West Wing. The show accumulated 26 awards, including four straight Emmys for Outstanding Drama Series. Its cutting dialogue, all-star cast (Martin Sheen, Allison Janney, Bradley Whitford), and impact on political dramas render it one of the greats of TV.
8. Hill Street Blues (26 wins)
Prior to gritty cop shows becoming ubiquitous, Hill Street Blues changed the game. Its gritty, street-level observation of city life and emphasis on ensemble storytelling made it earn 26 Emmys. The show opened the door for almost every police procedural that came after and introduced a new standard of dramatic television during the 1980s.
7. Cheers (28 wins)
What began as a stumbling first-season sitcom became one of TV’s favorite shows. With 28 Emmy wins, Cheers made a Boston tavern the most renowned watering hole in America. Stars Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, and Kelsey Grammer became household names—and Grammer’s character even fronted Frasier, another Emmy giant.
6. The Mary Tyler Moore Show (29 wins)
Mary Richards wasn’t only hilarious—she was a trailblazer. During the 1970s, her character addressed topics such as equal pay and independence and redefined what women could be on television. With 29 Emmys and an incredible supporting cast (Edward Asner, Betty White, Cloris Leachman), the show showed that sitcoms could be both progressive and funny.
5. RuPaul’s Drag Race (29 wins)
Few programs have transformed pop culture like RuPaul’s Drag Race has. With 29 Emmys, it didn’t merely entertain—it brought drag artistry to the world. RuPaul himself is the most awarded reality host with the most wins, and the legacy of the show can be observed on the runway, in music, and even in everyday slang.
4. The Simpsons (37 wins)
Homer’s catchphrases, Lisa’s sax, Bart’s pranks—The Simpsons has been a part of our pop culture landscape for over three decades. In that time, the longest-running animated sitcom has won 37 Emmys, 12 of them for Outstanding Animated Program. And with new episodes continuing to air, Springfield isn’t going out of style on television anytime soon.
3. Frasier (37 wins)
Spin-offs rarely outdo their progenitors, but Frasier is the exception to this rule. After following Kelsey Grammer’s finicky psychiatrist to Seattle, the show was an Emmy titan with 37 victories. Its witty repartee and urbane humor made it a critical darling and enduringly popular—so much so that it recently was revived.
2. Game of Thrones (59 wins)
Few programs have dominated television the way Game of Thrones has. It won 59 Emmys, sweeping categories from acting to special and visual effects. Although Peter Dinklage was the sole actor to win for his performance, the sweeping storytelling and sprawling cast made it one of the most Emmy-honored dramas ever.
1. Saturday Night Live (90 wins)
No surprise here—SNL is the king of the Emmys, with a staggering 90 wins. For nearly 50 years, it’s been a launching pad for comedic legends like Gilda Radner, Chevy Chase, Kate McKinnon, and Maya Rudolph. Only a handful of cast members have taken home acting Emmys, but hosting the show after moving on often leads to gold.
What distinguishes these series is not merely the hardware—they revolutionized television. From redefining genre to producing cultural touchstones, they rewrote the way we watch and what we demand from television. And as newer players such as Shōgun and The Bear broke through during recent Emmy seasons, the history of TV greatness continues to be written.