25 Biggest Emmy Nomination Snubs

Aaron Sorkin’s dramedy about a struggling cable sports program had it all: a swoon-inducing central romance (between Peter Krause’s sly anchor and Felicity Huffman’s brainy producer); a stunning supporting cast (including the awesome Robert Guillaume); and lightning-quick dialogue that ranged from heartbreaking to hilarious. And funny enough, we reacted to Sports Night‘s lack of Emmy recognition much the same way we would to a typical episode — by laughing out loud and reaching for the Kleenex. —Michael Slezak

Michael Chiklis garnered most of the award attention for his bulldog-on-steroids performance as Vic Mackey, the head of a stop-at-nothing L.A. police squad. But as his onetime right-hand man and best friend Shane Vendrell, Goggins also proved he’s an acting force to be reckoned with. A loose cannon whose messes kept getting bigger and stickier and more dangerous each season, Shane spun out of control in season 6, playing all sides against each other and becoming hell-bent on self-destruction after dropping a hand grenade in the lap of his squad mate at the end of season 5. (Thankfully the academy recognized his good work in Justified this year with a supporting actor nod.) —Erin E. Stevenson

Okay, so it only lasted one season. And while ”the Academy” didn’t know it then, this critically acclaimed ratings bust has since become one of the most beloved cult-classics to ever hit the tube. It not only captured teen angst in a way few series have been able to replicate, but it also showed the softer side of trying to figure out who you are. Although I may never forgive Claire Danes (she admitted to EW in 2004 that she had a hand in the show not returning for a second season) at least they didn’t go with their first rumored pick — Alicia Silverstone. Cher pining over brooding Jordan Catalano? Whatever! —Loren Lankford

Can you believe it!? The closest this classic ever got to a major nomination was a writing nod for the genius Joss Whedon (and the poor guy didn’t even win). But if there was one person that deserved that little golden angel it was Gellar (duh), who played Buffy Summers as a high school girl all high school kids could relate to. Sure, the goths may have claimed her, but Buffy blurred the lines of cliques and social circles and played into a fantasy any high schooler would envy: superpowers + important mission in life. —Loren Lankford

When it premiered in January 1993, Homicide was a meticulously bleak show — morose, cynical, and allusive in a way nothing else on prime time was even trying to be. Critical raves poured in for these tales of the Baltimore homicide division; viewers, correctly suspecting a downer, stayed away in droves. Sadly, the Academy didn’t bestow the Best Dramatic Series love either. And that’s a crime. —Ken Tucker

Twelve episodes. One family. A 20-year-old gay man. And more than 10 million viewers. Long before The Real World, The Osbournes, and Wife Swap, filmmakers Susan and Alan Raymond gave America a peek inside the lives of a normal clan, the Louds, in An American Family. PBS’ documentary series was so ahead of its time that no Emmy category existed in 1973 to accommodate it. (Sure, it might have qualified for Outstanding Documentary, but that category was filled with news-division shows on such topics as Watergate.) Among the first ”ordinary people” to become ”celebrities,” the Loud family appeared on the cover of Newsweek and son Lance became something of a gay icon. Little did they know what they had wrought. —Ari Karpel

With a cigarette dangling from one hand and the remote control from the other, Sagal’s sex-obsessed Peggy ruled the suburban middle-class wasteland that was the Bundy household. It was the actress’ own idea to outfit her character in ’60s- and ’70s-style TV-housewife garb — a hilarious move, as it further highlighted the divide between those women’s devotion to homemaking and Peg’s refusal to ever lift a fake nail…unless it was to eat a bonbon. —Annie Barrett

Don’t you wish there was a ”Best Narration” category? Because Ron Howard would’ve cleaned up for Arrested Development. Sticking to his on-screen appearances, the Academy dissed Howard in his six seasons as Howdy Doody look-alike Richie Cunningham on Happy Days. But how could little Ronny not have scored a nod for the episode ”Opie the Birdman” from The Andy Griffith Show? Not many child stars can communicate a dawning youngster’s awareness of the value of life, the importance of parenting, and the pain of separation as he did in this episode, a performance mature in its innocence. —Christian Blauvelt

Just how crazy a weave must Tyra don before Emmy takes notice of ANTM? The supermodel’s modeling competition may not score the ratings of some other reality juggernauts, but when it comes to entertainment value, the show never disappoints (see: every cycle’s makeover episode). And unlike some other reality shows, ANTM actually does produce some success stories (e.g. Eva Pigford, Danielle Evans, Adrianne Curry…kinda). C’mon Emmy, you know that ANTM deserves to still be in the running to become Best. Reality. Competition. Show. —Kate Ward

From home, we all followed Kristin Davis’ Park Avenue princess Charlotte York as she went through the same big-girl realizations as the rest of us. Discarding Prince Charming fantasies and big-city illusions, Charlotte developed throughout the series into the sweet but strong woman we later saw on the big screen. —Lisa Raphael

Dr. James Wilson is one half of the bromance that’s made House work for so long — the longtime enabler who remains the narcissist’s best friend. Robert Sean Leonard has kept Wilson from simply being House’s foil by playing him with such lovely layers and imbuing him with internal life that almost makes him as complex as the show’s main character. —Abby West

While it’s slightly shocking to see indie fashionista Chloë Sevigny so comfortable in the conservative skin of Mormon Nicki on HBO’s Big Love, the actress’ portrayal of the second wife is believable far beyond her single braid/turtleneck/long skirt ensembles. She gives an honest glimpse into the struggles facing a fundamentalist polygamist gal trying to survive in a world where her belief system is illegal. —Lisa Raphael

Sure, we all know that the real star of I Love Lucy was comedy legend Lucille Ball, but Lucy wouldn’t have been half as funny without her heavy-accented, bongo-banging, disciplinarian foil/husband Ricky Ricardo, played by real-life spouse Arnaz. In fact, out of the show’s four regular cast members — Ball, Arnaz, William Frawley, and Vivian Vance — Arnaz was the only one never recognized during its six-year run. Emmy, you got some ‘splainin’ to do. —Kate Ward

For 10 years he ruled his roost (not really) as the crass but lovable Al Bundy. Yet no matter how many yucks he delivered, Ed O’Neill couldn’t land an Emmy nomination. He earned multiple Golden Globe nods but that Emmy remained elusive. (O’Neill got no Emmy love this year with his Modern Family debut either.) Just makes you want to sink into a couch and stick your hand down your pants…or is that just me? —AW

We can almost convince ourselves that there were too many fantastic actors on David Simon’s Baltimore threnody for Emmy to get around to them all (though how one overlooks Dominic West or Michael K. Williams, we’ll never know). But that a series routinely hailed as one of the best shows ever on television — if not the best — never even garnered a dramatic series nod? Shameful. —Alynda Wheat

How was Cox — who aced her half of the Chandler-Monica affair — the only Friend ignored? —Alynda Wheat

Three noms for Newhart’s next sitcom didn’t make up for earlier snubs. —Alynda Wheat

Her hilariously bitchy stroll on Melrose turned a snooze into a must-watch. —Alynda Wheat

The only thing lovable about wife-hating homophobe Mr. Roper? Fell’s perfect timing. —Alynda Wheat

Ignoring the beloved star for his two seminal series, Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie, is like never sending your dad a Father’s Day card. —Alynda Wheat

One of the best sitcoms on TV, and prototype for the rest of the best. Pity Emmy voters never noticed. —Alynda Wheat

Put those hyperliterate scripts in a lesser actress’ hands — see what hash they make of them. —Alynda Wheat

Believe it or not, kids, before Lost, Emmy didn’t always understand shows with fanciful premises. —Alynda Wheat

Don Knotts nabbed four trophies, but not one nod for the sheriff? A crime! —Alynda Wheat

Emmy loved the sitcom’s actors but never acknowledged the show or its writers. So the stars did an amazing job saying…nothing worthwhile? —Alynda Wheat

Want more? See part 1 of our Emmy Snubs countdown (Nos. 50-26)