EMMYS’ BIGGEST Snubs

Courteney Cox, George Burns, Angela Lansbury, Steve Carell, Don Cheadle, Jackie Gleason! How could these amazing stars on top-notch shows never win an Emmy? Here’s what you need to know about 25 of the Emmy Awards’ most surprising never-wons.

Fair warning: When you watch the 73rd annual Emmy Awards (Sept. 19 on CBS), prepare for some of your favorite stars to go home empty-handed—again. That’s because the show remains a tough competition for even the most established TV actors and actresses. “It’s frustrating,” says TV Guide senior critic Matt Roush. “Some people do their best work and yet just don’t get in the winner’s circle.” The reasons vary, from rotten timing (“Imagine going against Julia Louis-Dreyfus every year,” says Roush) to being on the “wrong” network—one without the clout to swing big votes—or on a traditional broadcast platform in the age of powerhouse streaming services like Netflix and Amazon.

But while some TV legends have never been ushered into the winner’s circle, here’s hope for other also-rans: Amy Poehler earned 18 nominations before snagging her first trophy in 2016 (for co-hosting Saturday Night Live with Tina Fey), and Henry Winkler made six visits before finally taking home his award in 2018 (for Barry). Here are 25 stars who have gone unrewarded—plus our predictions on who will strike Emmy gold this year.