14 Biggest Emmy Snubs for 2016
The 2016 Primetime Emmy nominations were announced on Thursday, and, as usual, there are a lot of great surprises (Yay, The Americans! Hurrah, Laurie Metcalf for Getting On, Horace and Pete and TBBT!) but there even more deserving people and shows that should have gotten a nod. Since we’re firmly in the era of “Peak TV,” that list grows bigger every year.
Here are the 14 biggest snubs we could think of immediately after the nomination announcement.
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
The wickedly funny Bee and her new TBS show made an immediate impact not only on the late night landscape but on discussions of political issues such as gun control and women’s rights. To see Jimmy Fallon’s light gameplay on The Tonight Show get yet another Variety series nod instead of Bee makes little sense.
The Good Wife
Even though The Good Wife aired its final season this year, it didn’t get a nod. There goes the theory that the Academy likes to pay tribute to shows as they go off the air. Considering it’s generally the only network show recognized in any of the Drama categories, that means that the networks were also shut out this year, at least in the series category. Also not nominated: star Juliana Margulies and Emmy favorite Christine Baranski. Michael J. Fox did get a guest actor nod, however.
Horace and Pete
Louis C.K. was taking a chance putting his self-released show in the Drama category, and except for Laurie Metcalf's guest appearance, it got shut out, despite all the critical attention it got. C.K. didn't even get nominated in the writing or directing categories, where he had gotten attention (and Emmys) while Louie was on the air.
Orange Is the New Black
Another perennial nominee, the Netflix series didn't get any nods this year, even for two-time winner (in two different genres!) Uzo Aduba. This is despite a third season which was well received.
The Big Bang Theory and Jim Parsons
Perennial nominees in the Outstanding Comedy Program and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy categories, respectively, both got overlooked this year. While TBBT continued its ratings dominance, it wasn't its best year creatively, but Parsons always deserves a nod as he navigates Sheldon Cooper through his slow transformation into a caring human being.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Colbert has had a bumpy first year on CBS, so it's not a huge surprise to see his show not in the Variety category. But considering his previous show, The Colbert Report was an Emmy favorite, it's a shock that the Academy didn't throw the show a bone just out of habit.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Rachel Bloom
Bloom won the Golden Globe for outstanding comedy actress, but Globe success almost never translates into Emmy nods. The critically-acclaimed but little-seen CW show didn't get any recognition in the major categories.
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
When Jon Stewart hosted TDS it won Emmys virtually every year for over a decade. But Noah's first year has been even bumpier than Colbert's, and the show's low profile during this year's crazy election cycle didn't help it much.
Billions
It wasn't everybody's favorite, but there's no denying that the co-stars of the Showtime drama, Damian Lewis (left) and Paul Giamatti, put in powerful performances. Neither got nods this year.
Shoukath Ansari (Master of None)
Aziz Ansari's father stole every scene he was in during the first season of his son's show, and it would have been a fun story to see a non-actor get a Guest Actor nod.
T.J. Miller (Silicon Valley)
While his show got a nod, as did star Thomas Middleditch, the hilarious heart and soul of Silicon Valley didn’t. Miller just commits to playing the obnoxious Erlich Bachman, as evidenced by the four solid minutes of old man jokes he came up with for the Season 3 premiere.
Christian Slater (Mr. Robot)
Another Globe winner this year, Slater didn’t get nominated, even though the show and co-star Rami Malek did. His turn as the mysterious title character is one of his best performances in ages.
Alison Wright (The Americans)
While her show got more recognition than ever (acting nods for Matthew Rhys and Keri Russel, and a series nod), Wright's portrayal of the loyal but lonely Martha was passed over. This year would have been the year, as the walls closed in on her as the truth about her "husband" Clark was revealed and she left the US for good.
Outlander
The Starz period drama has its loyal followers, who thought both Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe should be nominated, for their chemistry alone. But they didn't get any nods for the show in the major categories this year.RELATED:
