The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards are set to air on September 12th, and viewers everywhere are excited to see if their favorite shows will earn recognition. After all, hundreds of shows have come home with trophies through the years, and viewers always love seeing fantastic productions get the honors they deserve.
Yet sometimes, the Emmys fail to deliver that earned recognition. Some shows slip through the cracks, while others are set against competition that is simply too steep to rival. Still, fans on Ranker have found that there are countless excellent and deserving shows that miraculously failed to win a single Emmy.
Oz
Available To Stream On HBO Max
Although some people may believe that Oz would appear to be a spin-off of The Wizard of Oz, it was anything but. In reality, Oz was a show that focused on life inside of the Oswald State Correctional Facility (which is known as "Oz"). The show ran for six seasons and received incredible critical acclaim, but failed to earn a single Emmy in the process.
While a snub that lasted only a single season would have been understandable, the fact that the Emmys failed to give it anything more than a nomination after six seasons on air is shocking. It just goes to show how poorly the major awards made an effort to recognize HBO's first major drama.
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Available To Stream On Hulu
A comedy series that has managed to stay on the air for over 15 years, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia isn't exactly the optimistic show that its title paints it as. While many parts of It's Always Sunny can be cringeworthy, it's almost always exceptionally hilarious and never fails to draw a laugh from fans.
Yet, despite having been nominated three times over the course of its 15 seasons, It's Always Sunny has failed to win a single trophy from the Emmys. Given the recent interpretive dance performance that Mac put on for his father in season 13, is an incredible shame, as the show proved it can be touching even when the comedy is temporarily dropped.
Doctor Who
Available To Stream On HBO Max
As a show that has aired since 1963, fans are often incredibly surprised to hear that Doctor Who has never earned a single Emmy. In fact, for many years, it was one of the most iconic shows that didn't earn even a nomination. The show, which centers around a time-traveling alien with various traveling companions, has redefined science fiction countless times, yet it has never truly been recognized.
While it initially couldn't qualify, thanks to Emmy rules regulating that the shows must be American productions, the show has recently been affiliated with BBC America and could qualify. Yet, still, the show has only received one nomination in 2020 and has never actually taken home the crown.
Battlestar Galactica
Available To Stream On Apple TV+
A show that has had numerous remakes through the years, Battlestar Galactica was originally not the beloved and wide-spanning franchise that it is today. Instead, it aired for a single season, with only 24 episodes, and was canceled after it failed to compete with other programs.
Likely part due to criticism that it was too similar to the Star Wars franchise, the show didn't manage to earn a single Emmy, leaving it without any recognition until the later reboots and sequels earned it the acclaim that the series deserved.
Hannibal
Available To Stream On Hulu
There are few shows as brutal as Hannibal, and the few that are have failed to draw the unquestionable acclaim that the program received. Following FBI Agent, Will Graham, as he desperately tries to uncover the secrets behind numerous unspeakable crimes, Hannibal also depicts its titular character as a brilliant figure toying with Graham's mind.
A show just as good as the movie it's based on, Hannibal deserved as many awards as it had gory scenes. Unfortunately, it failed to win a single Emmy, despite receiving a nomination in honor of its visual effects. But the incredible acting, writing, and visual effects failed to receive their deserved honor.
Sons Of Anarchy
Available To Stream On Hulu
A show that depicts a wide variety of excellent characters, Sons of Anarchy introduced fans to a gang of bikers that often took the law into their own hands. Modeled off of the Hell's Angels, the titular Sons of Anarchy dealt weapons and fought opposing biker gangs as they tried to make their way through life outside of the reach of the law.
Yet, despite its subversive nature and the difficult topics it often covered, Sons of Anarchy never won an Emmy. Though it was a critical and commercial success — beloved long after it concluded — the series was nominated only for its soundtrack and never actually took home a win.
Better Call Saul
Available To Stream On Netflix
A show that spun off of the hit show Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul is a prequel series that depicts the rise of Saul Goodman, a lawyer that appears in the original series. Depicting just how Goodman managed to get into helping protect narcotics dealers, the series really shows just how he got to where he was in Breaking Bad.
Yet, for all its clever writing and high emotional stakes, the Emmys refused to grant a win for any of the series' many nominations. Other drama shows, like Game of Thrones, were just too steep competition, and Better Call Saul unfortunately wasn't able to clear the hurdle.
Parks And Recreation
Available To Stream On Peacock
A comedy show filled with more than its share of improvisation, Parks and Recreation follows the adventures of small-scale politicians trying (and failing) to manage their personal political spheres. The show lasted 7 seasons before its ending, and each explored the ever more ridiculous problems the characters stumbled across in the town of Pawnee.
Yet, though it was nominated numerous times, the show never received that ever-elusive Emmy. Despite being loved by critics, fans, and its own cast, the show couldn't manage it in the end. Still, it received other awards, like the Golden Globe, so it isn't all bad news.
Star Trek: The Original Series
No Streaming Information Available Yet
While it broke barriers, helped to define science fiction on television, and made incredible progress possible through the years, there is one thing Star Trek: The Original Series failed to do: Win an Emmy.
As a truly profound show, Star Trek used its science fiction premise to present real-world concepts in new and engaging lights. Each adventure to discover another world brought with it new themes and messages for both young and old audiences. Yet, though it was nominated often, the Emmys declined to give it any well-deserved recognition by sending the series home with the win.
The Wire
Available To Stream On HBO Max
One of the best-written TV shows of all time, The Wire lasted five seasons and blew it out of the park with each. Depicting an in-depth examination of each aspect of Baltimore through the use of its law enforcement, the series touched on numerous real-world issues and explored each in considerable depth.
Yet, while often regarded today as a masterpiece, the Emmys nominated it only twice, and the series won neither award. Fans were sorely disappointed — and for good reason. The show certainly deserved better, and it's tragic to see just how badly the show was snubbed.