The Emmys aim to award those TV stars and shows who make an impact on screens.Â
But sometimes worthy recipients are overlooked time and time again. For instance, take Ed O'Neill from Modern Family, whose castmates were all nominated in 2010 but he failed to land a nod.
Let's take a look at the other stars and series that got robbed.Â
Starred in: The Office
The snub: Despite being one of the most recognisable TV characters in the 2000s, Steve Carell not once received an Emmy for his role as Michael Scott.
Though the show has been awarded multiple Emmy's, the actor himself was not rewarded for being the centre of the show with his portrayal of the inept boss of Dunder Mifflin.
This enraged his co-star, Rainn Wilson, who plays Dwight Schrute, with the actor tweeting in 2011, "The world of TV should be ashamed of itself that Steve Carell never won an Emmy for Michael Gary Scott."
Ran from: January 2024
The snub: Despite Aussie actress Nicole Kidman becoming somewhat of a connoisseur in prestige television dramas – having helmed series like Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers – neither the actress nor the show got it's flowers for the upcoming Emmy awards.
Some critics, such as Joel Keller of Decider, believed that while Kidman's acting is as good as always, the trope of the "depressed, wealthy, touched-by-tragedy middle-aged wife" has gotten old, adding that it's the "same story in a different locale."
Ran from: 1988 to 1997.
The snub: Though both Roseanne Barr and co-star Laurie Metcalf won acting awards during the show's run and many of the supporting cast scored nominations, the show itself – a breakthrough in terms of portraying a realistic, working-class family and its upfront portrayal of many taboo social issues – never received a single nomination for Best Comedy.
Starred in: Modern Family (2009 to 2020).
The snub: In 2010, every adult member of the Modern Family cast was nominated for an acting award... except for sitcom veteran Ed O'Neill, who played Jay Pritchett, patriarch of the titular clan. Ouch.
"Very disappointed about Ed O'Neill," series creator Steve Levitan told E! News at the time. "I don't want to say he got robbed. He makes it look so effortless that perhaps he got overlooked."
O'Neill came back stronger in 2011, 2012 and 2013, when he was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series three years in a row.
Starred in: Seinfeld (1989 to 1998).
The snub: Jason Alexander – who played compulsively selfish Manhattanite George Costanza – was nominated for an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy for seven years running (from 1992 to 1998), yet he never took the award home.
His co-star Michael Richards (who played Kramer) won the award three times, while Julia Louis-Dreyfus won for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy. Jerry Seinfeld was also nominated (for Best Actor in a Comedy) and he never won either.
Ran from: 1997 to 2003.
The snub: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a supernatural drama about student-turned-superhero Buffy Summers, was praised by critics and fans alike for its powerful storytelling and sharp writing, reinventing the fantasy genre with its clever mix of drama, comedy and horror.
Though it received a few nominations for make-up and music, it was never nominated for Best Drama or Comedy. Fans speculated that Emmy bigwigs simply refused to take the show's surreal concept seriously.
Starred in: Friends (1994 to 2004).
The snub: While every other Friends actor received an Emmy nomination over the show's 10-year run, Courteney Cox missed out. Her character, Monica Gellar, may have been a little obsessive, but she was a key part of the show's success.
Cox's performance over the years delivered some genuinely funny moments – surely she deserved a nomination.
Ran from: 2004 to 2009.
The snub: This cult sci-fi drama was based on the (much sillier) 1970s series. This science-fiction drama rightly received widespread critical acclaim for its mix of multifaceted, complex characters, political storylines and delicious plot twists.
Time magazine even named Battlestar Galactica one of the 100 Best Shows of All Time, but it was never nominated for Best Drama (though it did win an Emmy for Outstanding Visual Effects and Sound).
Starred in: Murder, She Wrote (1984 to 1996).
The snub: Angela Lansbury, who played meddlesome writer/detective and murder-solver Jessica Fletcher, solved countless murder mysteries over Murder, She Wrote's 12-year run.
Although Lansbury was nominated each and every year, she never won a single award – setting a record for the highest number of consecutive nominations without a win. As for why she never won, that's one case that will remain unsolved.
Ran from: 2008 to 2014.
The snub: Telling the story of the lives of those involved in the Sons of Anarchy outlaw motorcycle club and its rivals, this drama – starring the likes of Ron Perlman, Katey Segal and Charlie Hunnam – has developed a devoted following.
Despite critical praise, it failed to receive a single Emmy acting nod – it did, however, get recognised for Outstanding Music and Lyrics, Stunt Coordination and Makeup.
When questioned about the snub at the TCA press tour, Perlman said: "F--k 'em".
Hunnam added that he doesn't mind being overlooked, as the Emmys "have the potential to ruin a good thing. So as [Perlman] said, 'F--k 'em.'"
Ran from: 1999 to 2000.
The snub: This short-lived comedy/drama series, set in the early '80s about two siblings and their social outcast friends, rapidly picked up a cult following because of its delightfully quirky characters and unique plot.
Though it was produced by Judd Apatow (who's since become a Hollywood power player) and boosted the fledgling careers of actors like Seth Rogen, Jason Segal, Linda Cardellini and James Franco, the Emmys completely overlooked its brilliance. So did TV execs – it was axed after just 12 episodes.
Ran from: 2000 to present.
The snub: A comedy about the awkward life of loveable comedian Larry David, this critically acclaimed comedy about the life of Seinfeld co-creator has been nominated for Best Comedy many times since its debut in 2000, but has never won.
Curb Your Enthusiasm has been praised for its improv-style performances and politically incorrect humour, taking Seinfeld's show-about-nothing concept to a whole new level.