Bob Odenkirk never won an Emmy for playing Saul Goodman on Better Call Saul. Over the years, he lost to names like Josh O’Connor, Lee Jung-jae, and Matthew Rhys. The show itself went 0 for 53, leaving both Odenkirk and the series shut out completely. | © Sony Pictures Television
The Wire is often called one of the best shows ever made, but the Emmys never gave it much love. In 2005, it lost Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series to House, and its only other writing nod later went to Mad Men. The show was never even nominated in the top categories, which makes its lack of wins stand out even more. | © HBO
BoJack Horseman earned two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Animated Program with “Free Churro" and “The View From Halfway Down.” Both episodes were hailed as some of the best in TV animation, but the show lost to The Simpsons in 2019 and Rick and Morty in 2020. Fans still see those back-to-back losses as major snubs. | © Netflix
Game of Thrones still holds the record for the most Emmy wins of any scripted series. The shock came when its divisive final season won Outstanding Drama Series, despite heavy criticism from fans and critics. Many expected a different show to take the crown, making this one of the most debated wins in Emmy history. | © HBO
In 2024, Jeremy Allen White took the comedy actor Emmy for The Bear, beating Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Matt Berry. The upset sparked debate since many see the show as more of a drama than a straight comedy. It also meant comedy legends once again went home empty-handed. | © Hulu
Schitt’s Creek made history at the first COVID-era Emmys by sweeping all seven comedy categories. The biggest shock came when Annie Murphy won over veterans like Alex Borstein and Kate McKinnon. Nobody predicted a clean sweep, but the little Pop TV sitcom pulled it off. | © CBC Television
Sandra Oh looked unstoppable after winning at the Globes, Critics Choice, and SAG for Killing Eve. When it came time for the Emmys, though, presenter Gwyneth Paltrow called Jodie Comer’s name instead. The co-star stunned everyone and instantly became one of the show’s most talked-about twists. | © BBC America
Everyone expected Emma Corrin to win for her powerful turn as Princess Diana in The Crown. She had already taken home trophies at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, making her the clear favorite. Instead, her co-star Olivia Colman snuck in with the Emmy for Queen Elizabeth, turning the night into one of the show’s biggest surprises. | © Netflix
Michael Emerson finally got his Emmy for Lost, but the timing made it feel like an upset. After earlier losses, most thought his window had closed, especially with Aaron Paul and John Slattery both turning in standout seasons. Instead, voters circled back to reward Ben Linus, surprising just about everyone. | © ABC
In 2013, most people thought Jonathan Banks would finally win for his unforgettable exit as Mike in Breaking Bad. He lost to Bobby Cannavale, who took home the Emmy for his role as Gyp Rosetti in Boardwalk Empire. It was Cannavale’s first big Emmy win, and it came at the expense of a fan favorite’s long-awaited recognition. | © HBO
One of the biggest shocks came when The Practice beat The Sopranos for Best Drama in its first season. The Sopranos had just kicked off HBO’s golden age and changed TV with Tony Soprano’s rise as the ultimate anti-hero. Instead, voters went with David E. Kelley’s legal drama, leaving fans stunned that the mob classic lost so early. | © 20th Television
Modern Family winning its fifth straight Emmy was a shocker. By that point, the show wasn’t as sharp as it had once been, and competition from Veep, Louie, Silicon Valley, and Orange Is the New Black looked tough to beat. Voters didn’t agree, handing the family sitcom yet another trophy when most expected a change. | © Disney Entertainment
Jeff Daniels pulled off one of the biggest Emmy surprises when he won for The Newsroom. He beat Bryan Cranston at the height of Breaking Bad, along with Jon Hamm, Kevin Spacey, Damien Lewis, and Hugh Bonneville. Nobody saw it coming, which made the win stand out even more. | © HBO
Kyle Chandler won his Emmy for Friday Night Lights as Coach Taylor, a role he completely owned. The surprise came because he beat Jon Hamm, who had just delivered one of the best episodes of Mad Men in “The Suitcase.” Hamm got his win the following year, but Chandler’s upset was the moment that defined him. | © Universal Television
Katherine Heigl’s win for Grey’s Anatomy shocked just about everyone, including her. She beat out two powerhouse Sopranos actresses, Aida Turturro and Lorraine Bracco, as well as her own co-stars Sandra Oh and Chandra Wilson. Heigl admitted she hadn’t expected it, which made the surprise feel even bigger. | © 20th Television
The Emmys are supposed to honor the best in television, but every year brings at least one result that leaves fans stunned. Some actors and shows walk away with trophies nobody thought they’d win, while others go home empty-handed despite critical acclaim. These are 15 of the biggest Emmy upsets that still spark debate today.
