Most Shocking Emmy Snubs in TV History

Mar. 15, 2025

Better Call Saul.Photo: Ursula Coyote/AMC

Did you know all but oneFriendsstar has won an Emmy for their work on the show? And neither parent onMarried… with Childrenwon because they were never… even nominated. Make it make sense!

Don’t believe us? Here are some of the biggest Emmy snubs in television history.

01of 15Anthony Anderson,black-ishJay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times via GettyNominations:7Seasons:8Anthony Anderson, who starred on and executive producedblack-ish, told PEOPLE in September 2021 that he had hoped his nomination streak would end.“This is the seventh nomination. Eleven total, but yeah, I’m done with the nomination part,” the actor said ahead of the 73rd Emmys, whereblack-ishwas up for outstanding comedy series for the fourth time. “It’s time for a win. I’ll be honest. It’s time for a win,” he added.That night, Anderson was in the running for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series, but he lost toTed Lasso’sJason Sudeikis.Though still Emmy-less,Anderson is hostingthe 75th Primetime Emmy Awards, which weredelayed from their originally planned air datein September 2023 because of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

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Anthony Anderson,black-ish

Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times via Getty

Nominations:7Seasons:8

Anthony Anderson, who starred on and executive producedblack-ish, told PEOPLE in September 2021 that he had hoped his nomination streak would end.

“This is the seventh nomination. Eleven total, but yeah, I’m done with the nomination part,” the actor said ahead of the 73rd Emmys, whereblack-ishwas up for outstanding comedy series for the fourth time. “It’s time for a win. I’ll be honest. It’s time for a win,” he added.

That night, Anderson was in the running for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series, but he lost toTed Lasso’sJason Sudeikis.

Though still Emmy-less,Anderson is hostingthe 75th Primetime Emmy Awards, which weredelayed from their originally planned air datein September 2023 because of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

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Steve Carell,The Office

NBC

Nominations:6Seasons:9

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Hugh Laurie,House, M.D.

Isabella Vosmikova/FOX

Nominations:6Seasons:8

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Everett

Nominations:2Seasons:8

05of 15Ed O’Neill and Katey Sagal,Married… with ChildrenEverettNominations:0Seasons:11Ed O’Neill may have earned three Emmy nominations for playing Jay Pritchett onModern Family, but the actor first came to viewers’ attention as Al Bundy, the crass but lovable shoe salesman with a miserable life, onMarried… with Children.Though O’Neill starred on the popular sitcom for more than a decade, he never received a single Emmy nod! Just as upsetting,Katey Sagal— despite earning two Golden Globe nominations for portraying Al’s wife, Peggy Bundy — also didn’t win favor at the Emmys, going without a single nomination.In 2015, Sagal won a Golden Globe for playing Gemma Teller Morrow onSons of Anarchy, but continued to receive zero Emmy attention for any of that show’s seven seasons.

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Ed O’Neill and Katey Sagal,Married… with Children

Nominations:0Seasons:11Ed O’Neill may have earned three Emmy nominations for playing Jay Pritchett onModern Family, but the actor first came to viewers’ attention as Al Bundy, the crass but lovable shoe salesman with a miserable life, onMarried… with Children.

Though O’Neill starred on the popular sitcom for more than a decade, he never received a single Emmy nod! Just as upsetting,Katey Sagal— despite earning two Golden Globe nominations for portraying Al’s wife, Peggy Bundy — also didn’t win favor at the Emmys, going without a single nomination.

In 2015, Sagal won a Golden Globe for playing Gemma Teller Morrow onSons of Anarchy, but continued to receive zero Emmy attention for any of that show’s seven seasons.

06of 15Jason Alexander,SeinfeldJan Sonnenmair/NBCNominations:7Seasons:9Jason Alexander’sSeinfeldcharacter, George Costanza, once described himself as “a short bald guy with glasses who suddenly doesn’t seem so funny.” The actor got laughs aplenty as Jerry’s neurotic pal, and with seven consecutive Emmy nominations, clearlysomeoneliked him. Just not enough.

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Jason Alexander,Seinfeld

Jan Sonnenmair/NBC

Nominations:7Seasons:9Jason Alexander’sSeinfeldcharacter, George Costanza, once described himself as “a short bald guy with glasses who suddenly doesn’t seem so funny.” The actor got laughs aplenty as Jerry’s neurotic pal, and with seven consecutive Emmy nominations, clearlysomeoneliked him. Just not enough.

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Courteney Cox,Friends

Nominations:0Seasons:10

08of 15Jackie Gleason,The HoneymoonersEverettNominations:1Seasons:1With the classic comedy lasting only one season as a stand-alone show (Jackie Gleason reprisedThe Honeymoonersyears later as a skit onThe Jackie Gleason Show), the actor didn’t have many opportunities to nab an award. Still, he was considered one of the greatest comedians and a pioneer in the early days of television — you’d think his Ralph Kramden would have been shown some love. “To the moon, Academy!”

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Jackie Gleason,The Honeymooners

Nominations:1Seasons:1

With the classic comedy lasting only one season as a stand-alone show (Jackie Gleason reprisedThe Honeymoonersyears later as a skit onThe Jackie Gleason Show), the actor didn’t have many opportunities to nab an award. Still, he was considered one of the greatest comedians and a pioneer in the early days of television — you’d think his Ralph Kramden would have been shown some love. “To the moon, Academy!”

09of 15Martin Sheen,The West WingNBCNominations:6Seasons:7The political drama nabbed more than two dozen Emmys for the actors and crew — but none for veteran performerMartin Sheen, who portrayed the president of the United States as an intellectual, compassionate Democrat onThe West Wing. We demand a recount!

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Martin Sheen,The West Wing

Nominations:6Seasons:7

The political drama nabbed more than two dozen Emmys for the actors and crew — but none for veteran performerMartin Sheen, who portrayed the president of the United States as an intellectual, compassionate Democrat onThe West Wing. We demand a recount!

10of 15Lauren Graham,Gilmore GirlsFrank Ockenfels/WBNominations:0Seasons:7As Lorelai Gilmore, the plucky single mom raising a teen daughter in small-town Connecticut,Lauren Grahamwas adept at the show’s witty, fast-paced dialogue. But an acting award wasn’t in the cards; in fact, the only EmmyGilmore Girlswas ever nominated for — and won — was for outstanding makeup for a series (non-prosthetic).

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Lauren Graham,Gilmore Girls

Frank Ockenfels/WB

Nominations:0Seasons:7

As Lorelai Gilmore, the plucky single mom raising a teen daughter in small-town Connecticut,Lauren Grahamwas adept at the show’s witty, fast-paced dialogue. But an acting award wasn’t in the cards; in fact, the only EmmyGilmore Girlswas ever nominated for — and won — was for outstanding makeup for a series (non-prosthetic).

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Larry Hagman,Dallas

CBS/Landov

Nominations:2Seasons:14

12of 15Bob Newhart,NewhartCBSNominations:3Seasons:8With his deadpan delivery and uncanny timing,Bob Newhartmade comedy look easy. Maybe that’s why the former stand-up comedian — who had another Emmy-less hit,The Bob Newhart Show, earlier in his career — repeatedly went home empty-handed on awards night. (Though he later won for a guest role onThe Big Bang Theoryin 2013.)

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Bob Newhart,Newhart

CBS

Nominations:3Seasons:8

With his deadpan delivery and uncanny timing,Bob Newhartmade comedy look easy. Maybe that’s why the former stand-up comedian — who had another Emmy-less hit,The Bob Newhart Show, earlier in his career — repeatedly went home empty-handed on awards night. (Though he later won for a guest role onThe Big Bang Theoryin 2013.)

13of 15Michael Landon,Little House on the PrairieNBCNominations:0Seasons:9Beloved actorMichael Landonspent nine years as the wise, warm and persevering patriarch Charles Ingalls, which earned him legions of fans but inexplicably no Emmys. If Pa Ingalls didn’t deserve an award, who did? Surely, Half-Pint wasn’t happy!

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Michael Landon,Little House on the Prairie

Nominations:0Seasons:9

Beloved actorMichael Landonspent nine years as the wise, warm and persevering patriarch Charles Ingalls, which earned him legions of fans but inexplicably no Emmys. If Pa Ingalls didn’t deserve an award, who did? Surely, Half-Pint wasn’t happy!

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Keri Russell,FelicityandThe Americans

WireImage

Nominations:0 (Felicity), 3 (The Americans)Seasons:4 (Felicity), 6 (The Americans)

Thanks to another Emmy nom for her acting onThe Diplomat, 2024 may well be the year Russell walks away with that winged statuette.

15of 15Better Call SaulcastNicole Wilder/AMC/Sony Pictures TelevisionNominations:14 (15 including the nod for outstanding guest actor in a drama in 2019 for Michael McKean)Seasons:6AMC’sBreaking Badtook home 16 Emmys throughout its five-season run, including four outstanding lead actor wins forBryan Cranstonand three outstanding supporting actor trophies for Aaron Paul.So it’s surprising that itsarguably more critically acclaimedspinoff,Better Call Saul, didn’t come away with a win for any of its Emmy nominations for acting — or in any category, as it turns out: The show set a record for losses, having been nominated 53 times total, including seven nominations for its final season, and never taking home a single trophy.Better Call Saul’s lead actorBob Odenkirkwas nominated every season, whileRhea Seehornwas up for her second nomination as outstanding supporting actress in a drama series at the 2023 Emmys.

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Better Call Saulcast

Nicole Wilder/AMC/Sony Pictures Television

Nominations:14 (15 including the nod for outstanding guest actor in a drama in 2019 for Michael McKean)Seasons:6

AMC’sBreaking Badtook home 16 Emmys throughout its five-season run, including four outstanding lead actor wins forBryan Cranstonand three outstanding supporting actor trophies for Aaron Paul.

So it’s surprising that itsarguably more critically acclaimedspinoff,Better Call Saul, didn’t come away with a win for any of its Emmy nominations for acting — or in any category, as it turns out: The show set a record for losses, having been nominated 53 times total, including seven nominations for its final season, and never taking home a single trophy.

Better Call Saul’s lead actorBob Odenkirkwas nominated every season, whileRhea Seehornwas up for her second nomination as outstanding supporting actress in a drama series at the 2023 Emmys.

source: people.com