Over the years, the shows that aren’t officially honored for their contributions to our late night binge-watching sessions have become almost as important as the programs that are. As with any awards show, we pine to see our favorite nominees receive the accolades they deserve, so when someone else goes home with that winged gold statue at the end of the night, you better believe we’ll have something to say about it.
Don’t get us wrong, it’s not like we necessarily envy the Academy of Television of Arts & Sciences ‘s daunting responsibility of picking a single winner out of a massive pool of well-deserving hopefuls. But even so, there’s quite a few TV classics that have been mistakenly left empty-handed.
For all intents and purposes, we’re talking strictly acting and ensemble snubs. In honor of the 2016 telecast being right around the corner, we’ve rounded up seven shows we just can’t shake never won Emmys:
AMC
When this zombie apocalypse drama first premiered in 2010, it didn’t take long for the series to become the highest-viewed show of all time in cable television. We’re talking history-making records, people.
This year, The Walking Dead was up for two awards, one for Outstanding Prosthetic Make-up for a Series, Limited Series, Movie, or Special (it’s previously won two in this category) and another for Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series. Unfortunately, the show was defeated in both categories.
Prashant Gupta/FX
Across its seven seasons, the Kurt Sutter-helmed crime series that followed Charlie Hunnamand his character’s rough-and-tumble motorcycle gang had its loyal followers on the damn near edge of their seats throughout every episode.
The closest SOA ever got to winning the coveted award was in the music, makeup and stunt coordinating categories in 2009, 2014 and 2015. And the FX series’ critically-acclaimed breakout star Katey Sagal was even honored with a Best Actress award at the 2011 Golden Globes. Ouch.
Warner Bros. Entertainment
We have this UPN/CW mystery series to thank for the effortlessly wonderful talent that isKristen Bell, who starred as a college student moonlighting as a private investigator in its three-season run.
Despite never earning so much as a nomination, it’s almost always heralded as one of the most timeless cult classics across TV history, and in 2013, a fan-funded Kickstarter helped a film adaptation of Veronica Mars make it to the big screen. Take that, Emmys.
BBC
Diehard viewers of the BBC series applauded the ATAS when Tatiana Maslany finally received the 2015 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series nomination they felt she’d long been snubbed of starring as several versions of her cloned self. Unfortunately, the actress fell short, losing to Viola Davis in How to Get Away With Murder.
The actress has another shot to bask in Emmy-winning glory on Sunday, where she’ll go up against Davis once again, as well as Taraji P. Henson, Claire Danes, Keri Russell and Robin Wright.
HBO
Even eight years after the wildly popular HBO mainstay wrapped its final season, critics and viewers alike still consider it one of the greatest television dramas of all time.
So how did The Wire’s harrowing portrayal of crime-ridden Baltimore fail at winning any Emmy? We’ll have to chalk it up to yet another one of life’s greatest mysteries.
The WB
Starz
For some, the Starz historical drama ranks right up there with fantasy counterpart Game of Thrones, which has taken home a staggering 35 Primetime Emmy awards over the years.
In 2016, Outlander stood to win two awards in the costuming and production design categories. Spoiler: Outlander was foiled once again. There’s always next year!
CREDITS TO E!
