emmys 2024
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Awards

Emmy Awards’ most outrageous snubs in TV history

If it were up to us, allꦫ of these 💮shows would be winners.

Throughout the years, there have been countless jaw-dropping Emmy snubs. Whether a nominee didn’t win or an actor was never up for an award, there is a long list of missed opportunities.

The Television Academy honors the best on 🍌televi🦩sion every year, and the competition is stiff. While snubs are expected, fans will still demand explanations for why their favorite shows and stars were left out.  

Angela Kinsey as Angela, Kate Flannery as Meredith, Steve Carell as Michael Scott, Phyllis Smith as Phyllis, Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesley.

Do you remember the one “Fಞriends” cast member who never won an Emmy despite 10 seasons on the iconic sitcom? Or, that Steve C꧋arell never took home a tiny gold statue for his work on “The Office?”

Can’t believe it? Keep scrolling to see some of television’s most shocking Emmy snubs.

Steve Carell – “The Office”

The manager at Dunder Mifflin was never recognized for his socially inept personality despite “The Office” winning multiple Emmys. Carell, 62, was nominated six times over his nine seasons b♏ut never took home the coveted award.

His co-star Rainn Wilson took issue with this outcome, : “The world of TV should be ashamed of itself that Steve Carell never won an Emmy for Michael Gary Scott.” 

Steve Carell as Michael Scott on “The Office.”

Anthony Anderson – “Black-ish”

Another sitcom that was nominated seven times over its eight seasons but didn’t strike gold? Freefor🎉m’s “Black-ish,” starring Tracee Ellis Ross, Anthony ဣAnderson, Marcus Scribner and Yara Shahidi.

Anderson, 54, was not only the show’s leading✅ man but also served as an executive producer on the series. He told People in September 2021 that he had hoped his st😼reak of nominations but no wins was at an end.

“This is the seventh nomination. Eleven total, but yeah, I’m done with the nomination part,” Anderson confessed ahead of the 73rd Emmys, where “Black-ish” was 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.”

That year, Anderson was in the running for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series⭕, bu🤡t lost to Jason Sudeikis from “Ted Lasso.”

Though the star still remains without an Emmy, he returned to host the 75th Primetime Em♏my Awards in January. The ceremony was originally set to happen in September 2023 but was delayed due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Anthony Anderson and Laurence Fishburne in “Black-ish.” ABC
Anthony Anderson in “Black-ish.” ABC

Amy Poehler – “Parks and Recreation”

Fan-favorite comedy “Parks and Recreation” didn’t get the kudos it deserved when it came to it൲s ꧂leading lady, Amy Poehler.

The 52-year-old was nominated six times for playing Leslie Knope, the beloved protagonist ofꦕ the NBC series. Much like Carell, Poehler is comedy royalty and was never recognized by the academ𓆏y for her long-running role. Instead, there was an overlap with HBO’s “Veep,” which saw Julia Louis-Dreyfus enjoy a winning streak for her role as former Sen. Selina Meyer.

Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope. é NBC Universal, Inc.

P𒁏oehler and Dreyfus went on to💧 arrange a comedy sketch at the Emmys based around Poehler getting snubbed in 2012. Poehler has been nominated for an Emmy over 20 times but only won once, for her guest appearance on “SNL” alongside bestie Tina Fey in 2016. 

Hugh Laurie – “House, M.D.”

Moving onto medical drama, Fox’s “House” saw Hugh Laurie’s Dr. Gregory House save lives for eight seasons. Despite his✱ quick-witted bedside manner, it wasn’t enough to secꩲure a win.

Laurie was nominated — and lost — six times in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama category. The 65-year-old also lost once as an executive producer whe𒁃n “House, M.D.” was nominated but did not w🃏in Outstanding Drama Series in 2009.

“House” (Hugh Laurie) and his baseball player patient, Hank Wiggen (Scott Foley.)
The team (Omar Epps, Jennifer Morrison, Jesse Spencer and Hugh Laurie) treats a famous cancer researcher in the “House” episode. Isabella Vosmikova/FOX

Ed O’Neill – “Married… with Children”

It’s evident that Ed O’Neill has more than made up for being snubbed by the Emmys earlier in his career since earning three Emmy nominations for playing Jay Pritchett on “Modern Family.”

But the actor first caught the viewers’ eyes on “Married… with Children” as Al Bundy, the blunt and lovable patriarch of a Chicago family constantly at each other’s throats.

O’Neill, 78, starred on the popular sitcom for over a decade but never received a single Emmy nod in any of the 11 seasons!

Christina Applegate and Ed O’Neill on “Married… with Children.” Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

His co-star Katey Sagal, who portrayed Al’s wife, Peggy Bun♛dy, also went without a single nomination fro🍃m the Television Academy.

In ๊2015, Sagal, 70, took home a Golden Globe for playing Gemma Teller Morrow on “Sons of Anarchy,” but continued to receive zero Emmy attention throughou🅰t the seven seasons.

“Married… with Children” stars Ed O’Neill and Katey Sagal. ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Charlie Hunnam – “Sons of Anarchy”

Charl♏ie Hunnam, the series’ resident bad boy, who played Jax Teller for seven seasons, was also snubbed. Zero noms and therefore zero&❀nbsp;wins.

Charlie Hunnam as Jax Teller on “Sons of Anarchy.” (3080)

Courteney Cox – “Friends”

Despite still bringing us jo🐠y 30 years later, Courteney Cox was nev𒆙er nominated for her time as Monica on “Friends.”

All of her co-stars received at least one Emmy nod and a couple of wins throughout the years. Being shut out in 2001 was especially hard on the actress, 60, who confessed to TV Line, : “I had a hard time not taking it personally when it was both Lisa and Jennifer [getting nominated] at the same time. … Both girls and not me? It hurt.”

Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry are shown in a scene from the NBC series “Friends.” Getty Images

Lauren Graham – “Gilmore Girls”

For seven seasons, Lauren Graham brought to life Lorelai Gilmore, ꦡthe witty single mom raising a teen daughter in small-town Connecticut. Still, it wasn’t enough to garner her an acting award.

The only Emmy “Gilmore Girls” was ever nominated for was☂ Outstanding Makeup for a Series (Non-Prosthetic), for which they 🃏took home the award.

“Gilmore Girls” stars Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore, Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore. The WB/Jeffrey Thurnher

Michael Landon – “Little House on the Prairie”

The classic series, which aired from 1974 to 1983, saw beloved actor Michael Landon portray the warm patriarch Charles Ingalls alongside Melissa Gilbert, Karen Grassle, Melissa Sue Anderson, a🎀nd many others over nine yeꦑars.

But, inexplicably, he earned zero Emm♊y nominations.

Michael Landon on “Little House on the Prairie.” Courtesy Everett Collection

Sandra Oh – “Grey’s Anatomy”

Paജging the Television Academy… what were you thinking with this one?

Sandra Oh was nominated for an Emmy five times for playing ” but never won. The s𝕴erie🍎s took home other awards, including  in 2010 and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series in 2011, which was awarded to Loretta Devine, who played Adele Webber.

T.R. Knight and Sandra Oh on “Grey’s Anatomy.” ABC / Retna Ltd.

Diana Rigg – “Game of Thrones”

Lastly, Diana Rigg was up for the statue four separate timesജ for her guest performance as Lady Olenna Tyrell, the matriarch of House Tyrell, in “Game of Thrones,” but sadly neve🎃r walked away with the award.

Diana Rigg on “Game of Thrones.” HBO

The late icon first appeared in Season 3 and was wickedly good until her last scene in Season 7. The cast of the HBO drama was regularly nominated for Emmy Awards during the show’s eight-season run, but Peter Dinklage was the only actor to win.