These Shows Deserved At Least One Emmy
Awards season is supposed to be about celebrating excellence. The Emmys, in theory, exist to honor the best television has to offer. In practice? They also have a long, storied tradition of leaving absolute masterpieces out in the cold. Whether it’s genre bias, bad timing, network politics, or voters simply missing the point, some shows just never got the love they deserved. Grab your pitchforks, TV lovers — here are the most egregiously snubbed shows in Emmy history.
The Wire
Let’s just get this out of the way: The Wire might be the most famous Emmy snub of all time. Widely regarded as one of the greatest TV shows ever made, HBO’s Baltimore-set crime epic received just two total Emmy nominations over its entire five-season run. Zero wins. None. Zilch. The Emmys simply failed to understand its slow-burn brilliance, layered storytelling, and devastating social commentary. History has since corrected the record — but the Emmys never did.
Screenshot from The Wire, HBO (2002–2008)
Better Call Saul
How does a show rack up 53 Emmy nominations and walk away with zero wins? Ask Better Call Saul. The critically adored Breaking Bad prequel somehow became the Emmys’ favorite punching bag, especially for Bob Odenkirk and Rhea Seehorn. Year after year, voters nodded politely… and then handed trophies to someone else. It’s borderline cruel.
Screenshot from Better Call Saul, AMC (2015–2022)
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Genre bias strikes again. Buffy the Vampire Slayer was witty, emotional, feminist, groundbreaking — and largely ignored. Aside from a few technical nods, the Emmys pretended this cultural phenomenon didn’t exist. Sarah Michelle Gellar’s complete lack of nominations remains one of the most baffling oversights in awards history.
Screenshot from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The WB (1997–2003)
Parks And Recreation
Parks and Rec was beloved, endlessly rewatchable, and packed with iconic performances — yet it constantly lived in the shadow of The Office. Amy Poehler received multiple nominations but never won, and the ensemble was routinely ignored. Justice for Leslie Knope.
Screenshot from Parks and Recreation, NBC (2009–2015)
The Leftovers
Few shows were as emotionally ambitious and spiritually devastating as HBO’s The Leftovers. Critics adored it. Fans were obsessed. The Emmys? Mostly uninterested. Carrie Coon’s total shutout — not even a nomination — is especially infuriating.
Screenshot from The Leftovers, HBO (2014–2017)
Veronica Mars
Teen noir, razor-sharp writing, and one of TV’s most compelling female leads — and the Emmys barely noticed. Kristen Bell never received a nomination during the show’s original run, despite carrying every scene with charisma and emotional depth.
Screenshot from Veronica Mars, Warner Bros. Television (2004–2019)
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Seventeen seasons. Hundreds of episodes. Countless iconic moments. And just three Emmy nominations — all for stunt coordination. Comedy doesn’t get much darker or funnier than Sunny, but the Emmys have always acted like it doesn’t exist.
Screenshot from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, FX Networks (2005–present)
The Good Place
A philosophical sitcom about ethics, morality, and what it means to be a good person should’ve been catnip for awards voters. Instead, The Good Place earned nominations but no wins, despite stellar performances from Kristen Bell and Ted Danson and one of the best series finales ever.
Screenshot from The Good Place, NBC (2016–2020)
Hannibal
Visually stunning, daringly weird, and led by Mads Mikkelsen’s mesmerizing performance, Hannibal was prestige TV before prestige TV was cool. The Emmys rewarded it with a handful of technical nods — and ignored literally everything else.
Screenshot from Hannibal, NBC (2013–2015)
Community
Ahead of its time and criminally misunderstood, Community was doing meta-comedy years before it was trendy. Despite episodes that are now considered all-time greats, the Emmys barely acknowledged it. Six seasons and a movie — but no Emmy love.
Screenshot from Community, NBC (2009–2015)
Jane The Virgin
Gina Rodriguez won once — and then the Emmys largely checked out. Jane the Virgin blended comedy, drama, romance, and telenovela absurdity with ease, delivering consistently inventive storytelling that deserved far more recognition.
Screenshot from Jane the Virgin, The CW (2014–2019)
The Americans
Yes, The Americans eventually won some Emmys — but for years, it was shockingly overlooked. Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell delivered two of the most complex performances on TV, and the show spent too long flying under the radar.
Screenshot from The Americans, FX Networks (2013–2018)
Twin Peaks
David Lynch’s surreal masterpiece changed television forever, but the Emmys were never quite sure what to do with it. While it earned some early nominations, its influence far outweighs the awards it actually received.
Screenshot from Twin Peaks, ABC (1990–2017)
Freaks And Geeks
One season. Zero Emmy wins. A launchpad for future superstars. Freaks and Geeks was too honest, too real, and too good for its time — and the Emmys barely noticed before it was gone.
Screenshot from Freaks and Geeks, NBC (1999–2000)
The Haunting Of Hill House
Mike Flanagan’s emotionally rich horror series terrified audiences and shattered hearts — but horror remains Emmy poison. Victoria Pedretti’s haunting performance? Ignored. The Bent-Neck Lady episode alone deserved a trophy.
Screenshot from The Haunting of Hill House, Netflix (2018)
Mad Men (In Its Later Seasons)
Early on, Mad Men dominated the Emmys. Then, inexplicably, voters cooled off — even as the show continued delivering masterful writing and performances. Jon Hamm eventually won, but the later seasons deserved far more love.
Screenshot from Mad Men, AMC (2007–2015)
The X-Files
Despite being a cultural juggernaut, The X-Files struggled to get consistent Emmy recognition. Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny were often overlooked, and the show’s genre roots didn’t help its case.
Screenshot from The X-Files, Fox Broadcasting Company (1993–2018)
Orange Is The New Black
Initially embraced by the Emmys, Orange Is the New Black later fell out of favor despite evolving into one of TV’s most powerful ensemble dramas. Its later seasons tackled urgent social issues — and were rewarded with silence.
Screenshot from Orange Is the New Black, Netflix (2013–2019)
BoJack Horseman
An animated comedy about depression, addiction, and self-loathing shouldn’t work — but BoJack Horseman was a revelation. The Emmys rarely acknowledged its brilliance, reinforcing their ongoing bias against animation.
Screenshot from BoJack Horseman, Netflix (2014–2020)
The Shield
Raw, intense, and morally complicated, The Shield pushed the boundaries of television drama. While it earned some nominations, its overall legacy far outweighs its awards haul.
Screenshot from The Shield, FX Networks (2002-2008)
The Good Wife
Critically acclaimed and consistently excellent, The Good Wife often lost out to flashier competitors. Julianna Margulies won once — but the show deserved far more sustained recognition.
Screenshot from The Good Wife, CBS (2009–2016)
The Expanse
Sci-fi fans know the pain. The Expanse delivered complex world-building, rich characters, and jaw-dropping visuals — yet the Emmys mostly ignored it outside of technical categories.
Screenshot from The Expanse, Amazon Prime Video (2015–2022)
Reservation Dogs
One of the most original and heartfelt shows of recent years, Reservation Dogs earned critical praise but limited Emmy attention. Its cultural impact and storytelling ambition deserved more than a handful of nominations.
Screenshot from Reservation Dogs, FX on Hulu (2021–present)
Schitt’s Creek (Before The Final Season)
Yes, it eventually swept — but for years, Schitt’s Creek went unnoticed. The show had to become a global phenomenon during a pandemic before the Emmys finally paid attention.
Screenshot from Schitt’s Creek, CBC Television (2015–2020)
Friday Night Lights
Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t win… Emmys. Despite incredible performances and emotional storytelling, Friday Night Lights was largely overlooked, especially early in its run.
Screenshot from Friday Night Lights, NBC (2006–2011)
The Case Against The Emmys
If nothing else, this list proves one thing: the Emmys are often late, biased, and wildly inconsistent. Fortunately, great TV doesn’t need trophies to stand the test of time — but we’re still allowed to be mad about it.
Bill Ingalls, Wikimedia Commons
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