With the recent Emmy awards, many TV shows gained glory while others went home empty-handed. It’s safe to say that many well-deserving shows have been robbed of the glory of television’s biggest award. The most recent snub would be Better Call Saul, ending a 6-season run with 53 Emmy nominations and 0 wins. This has left many fans of the series outraged, including myself.

Estrakt has taken this opportunity to list 10 such TV Shows that have had the misfortune of not receiving a single Emmy award after great respective runs. However, the lack of silverware doesn’t take away from the greatness of each of these silver screen series.

10. The Good Place

Across its 4 seasons, The Good Place secured 13 nominations but sadly, the Emmys proved to be The Bad Place for the hit comedy show. Ted Danson was nominated 3 consecutive times between 2018 and 2020 but sadly, was unable to get what would have been a deserving Emmy. Numerous other nominations were also entertained around the same time but unfortunately, the show walked into the afterlife, empty-handed.

9. Chappelle’s Show

Critically acclaimed yet highly controversial comedian, Dave Chappelle, hosted this cult classic sketch comedy for 3 years during which it was hugely popular. Despite the heavy criticism that Chappelle faces in the modern era due to unfavourable comments and insensitive jokes, Chappelle’s Show remains a certified cult classic that people enjoy thoroughly even today. While shows like SNL and The Daily Show took home huge accolades, Chappelle’s Show received no such glory from its 3 Emmy nominations.

8. BoJack Horseman

Not only one of the greatest Netflix originals ever but one of the best adult-animation TV shows ever. The Hollywood-parodying Bojack Horseman did score 3 total Emmy nods, however, lost out to The Simpsons, Rick and Morty, and Seth MacFarlane. Despite this, its intoxicating theme song and distinct animation style kept viewers hooked throughout the 6-season run.

7. Parks and Recreation

It seems like Emmy voters sure do have a grudge against Michael Schur. Before getting snubbed for The Good Place, his widely acclaimed, upbeat sitcom, Parks and Recreation had fallen victim to an Emmy-less run. Despite the first season being below par, the next 5 seasons were absolute comedy masterclasses and established the show as one of the best sitcoms of the 21st century. The Emmy Academy may not see its brilliance but we sure do.

6. Peaky Blinders

The widely beloved Netflix original recently came to an end after a fantastic 6-season run. The English gangster show starred the charismatic Cillian Murphy, who gave a breathtaking performance as protagonist, Thomas Shelby. While it can not be said that Peaky Blinders was undeserving of an Emmy, its run was marred by various brilliant shows such as Breaking Bad, Succession, Mad Men, and Game of Thrones, which were perhaps seen as more deserving by the Academy. However, a Peaky Blinders movie is currently in the works and may finally earn the franchise some Emmy glory. Cillian may have missed out on an Emmy but could very well be at the receiving end of an Academy Award in a few months for his brilliant performance as Oppenheimer.

5. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

The record-setting, long-running sitcom starring the likes of Charlie Day and Danny DeVito has been on the receiving end of mounds of praise and various awards during its ongoing 17-season run. However, none of those awards were given by the Emmy Academy. It’s insane how the beloved sitcom has not received a single Primetime Emmy award, as many fans would see it as deserving of it, if not for the later seasons, than the earlier seasons that boasted some of the best comedic writing ever witnessed.

4. Star Trek

The original Sci-Fi show of the ’60s sparked a science fiction renaissance and gave birth to one of the most beloved franchises of all time. While many reboots and spin-offs have since been released, it is safe to say that the original series is one of the best, if not the best of the lot. Despite its huge mark on pop culture, the innovative tale of an interstellar spaceship led by Captain Kirk and his loyal crew was unable to bag itself a single Primetime Emmy. What it lacks in silverware, it makes up for its immense effect on pop culture that exists even today, nearly 60 years since its release.

3. The Wire

A major part of the HBO Golden Era of Television that started with The Sopranos, The Wire also gained a huge fanbase during its 5-season run. The show that focused on the Baltimore drug scene is considered by many to be one of the greatest shows of all time, and by some, the greatest ever. However, the Emmy Academy thought differently as the show’s overarching themes and masterful storytelling failed to capture the silverware that every show hopes to earn. However, the show boasts an IMDB rating of 9.3, putting it only behind Breaking Bad as far as audience score is concerned.

2. Better Call Saul

The most recent addition to the list, Better Call Saul, the greatest spin-off of all time and one of the greatest television shows of all time, followed lawyer Saul Goodman, originally Jimmy McGill before the events of Breaking Bad. Unlike its predecessor, Emmy Glory was not written in the future of the show. Being shunned for the likes of the widely hated Game of Thrones final season, and numerous other snubs caused the show to earn the record for most Emmy nominations without a single win, with 53 nominations. This one is bound to sting for a while as for many, the show equaled the greatness of its predecessor, which is the highest-rated show of all time. Bob Odenkirk and Rhea Seehorn’s brilliant performances seem to have gone unrewarded by the Emmy voters, which has outraged numerous fans of the show.

1. The Leftovers

The irresistible weird show based on Tom Perrotta’s novel of the same name, The Leftovers follows a world after a rapture-like catastrophe in which 2% of the world disappeared. While the show went under the radar, people who watched the show are well aware that they have witnessed a masterpiece. 3 seasons of intense brilliance, The Leftovers proved that awards don’t always equate to the greatness of a show. With only one Emmy nomination, it deserved more from the Emmy voters but may have seemed like too small of a name to be a big candidate for the awards. Nonetheless, the show was a masterpiece through and through and the only ones missing out were the Emmys for not giving glory to a brilliantly unique show that we might never see the likes of again.

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