“Atlanta” came back after a four-year break. “Barry” has returned too — after a mere three years. “Stranger Things” will unveil a new season this week after being away since 2019. Comparatively, the two-year gap between “Better Call Saul” seasons feels forgiving. I can kind of, sort of remember where we left off.
If you’re a fan — and you should be, as these are four of the best shows on TV (let’s give “Stranger Things” a pass for its uneven third season) — you’re not going to need to be reminded to tune in to these established hits.
But perhaps a moment of silence is in order for any of the other several dozen series that have landed in the last few weeks (or will soon premiere), just in time to meet the May 31 Emmy eligibility deadline and not long after Netflix revealed it had lost 200,000 subscribers in the most recent quarter and (gulp) projected it would lose an additional 2 million in the current one.
As Emmy season lurches back to normalcy following a couple of virtual years, it would seem that there are too many shows, too many platforms, not enough subscribers … and, frankly, not much in the way of buzzy offerings that might prod people to even sign up for a free trial. I love a horrific detective story about a ritualistic double murder in fundamentalist Mormon country as much as the next guy, but the reviews for Hulu’s “Under the Banner of Heaven” aren’t all that great. Maybe I can just content myself with the warm memories of cannibalism in “Yellowjackets” and sleep easy tonight.
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Or I could try watching “A Very British Scandal,” which is different from “A Very English Scandal” and not at all related to Netflix’s “Anatomy of a Scandal” or, of course, “Scandal,” the Shonda Rhimes TV series that aired forever on ABC and somehow never landed Kerry Washington an Emmy.
You see the problem, right? You live the problem. Remembering that, say, the political thriller “Gaslit” (it’s about a scandal!) is on Hulu and not Apple TV+ or Prime Video or HBO Max or Starz and then trying to recall whether you still have the Hulu subscription your college-age daughter signed up for to watch “Abbott Elementary” because, of course, she doesn’t have cable (“only old people have cable, Dad … not saying you’re old, but …”) can be maddening.
You can understand why Television Academy voters tend to reward the same handful of shows at the Emmys every year. Once you get past the splintered nominations round, the trophies are going to go to the programs — “The Crown,” “Ted Lasso,” “The Queen’s Gambit,” “Hacks,” “Mare of Easttown” last year — that managed, against all odds, to enter the mainstream conversation. It’s why the Disney+ presentation of “Hamilton,” a 5-year-old recording of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s popular musical, won the Emmy for variety special. Voters knew the songs by heart.
So looking ahead to the 74th Primetime Emmys in September, what shows have threaded the needle of art and accessibility? It’s a short list.
Drama
Brian Cox in “Succession.” (Peter Kramer/HBO/TNS)
Season 5 of “The Crown,” last year’s drama series winner, won’t arrive until November, leaving the door open for “Succession,” which won in 2020 and then had its third season delayed by the pandemic. “Succession” delivered a satisfying season, particularly the thrilling finale, which brought an electrifying set of new alliances and betrayals. But the season was also a bit scattered, largely due to restrictions the show had to face while shooting during COVID-19. “Succession” should win, but there’s a case to be made for other shows too.
The most obvious challenger is “Squid Game,” the potent, horrifying Korean import that ruled Netflix in the waning months of 2021 and earned its stars, Lee Jung-jae and Jung Ho-yeon, individual honors at this year’s Screen Actors Guild Awards. The show itself lost the SAG ensemble award to “Succession,” an outcome likely to be repeated at the Emmys. As gripping as it was, “Squid Game’s” relentless carnage and bleakness will alienate some voters. Besides: If people want a survival story that trades in horror, the superior “Yellowjackets” is right here, waiting.
Comedy
Jean Smart, left, and Hannah Eindbinder star in Season 2 of “Hacks” on HBO Max. (Karen Ballard/HBO Max/TNS)
Reigning series champ “Ted Lasso” endured the inevitable backlash when its second season ran last summer, with naysayers finding diminishing returns (and laughs) in the wholesome comedy’s stretched batch of 12 episodes. But there aren’t that many series revolving around decency these days, which makes the Apple TV+ hit stand out among its competitors. Still, it faces many potent challengers, including excellent HBO programs — “Hacks” and “Barry” — that will be running new episodes close to the nominations’ voting window.
“Hacks,” in particular, could leapfrog “Ted Lasso” if it nails its second season, as it hauled in 15 nominations last year, winning three major prizes — for writing, directing and lead actress Jean Smart. The writing and directing honors indicate that support for “Lasso” might be weak, and that once voters move past the feels, their assessment of the show might be a little harsher. (That whole CinemaCon scene with Olivia Wilde being served legal action papers onstage from Ted Lasso himself, Wilde’s ex Jason Sudeikis, might not help, either, even if Sudeikis, per his camp, didn’t direct the papers to be delivered in such an un-Lasso-like manner.)
Limited series
Jennifer Coolidge, left, and Murray Bartlett in the HBO series “The White Lotus.” (Mario Perez/HBO/TNS)
Perhaps it’s inevitable that this year’s contenders can’t come close to last year’s set of nominees — “Mare of Easttown,” “I May Destroy You,” “WandaVision,” “The Underground Railroad” and “The Queen’s Gambit,” which wound up winning. While the limited series format remains the Emmys’ prestige offering, streamers and networks have had a difficult time holding viewers’ interest for the entirety of their series’ often outsize running times. “Scenes From a Marriage,” “The First Lady,” “Impeachment: American Crime Story,” “The Offer,” “Pam & Tommy” offered more frustrations than intrigue. Watching these exercises in endurance often made me long for a resurgence in the two-hour TV movie format.
Look for “Maid,” “The Dropout,” “Dopesick,” “The White Lotus” and “Under the Banner of Heaven” to battle for the top honors. Maybe “The White Lotus” is the favorite, as it managed to tell its story of privilege in a concise six episodes. Plus it had Jennifer Coolidge. What’s not to love?
Most Emmy wins of all time
Most Emmy wins of all time
On July 2, 1928, the first commercially licensed television station in the United States, W3XK, began broadcasting. Though it took some time for the public to catch on to the exciting new medium, television has since become an instrumental part of life for most Americans. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 80% of Americans watch television daily, with the average American spending two hours and 47 minutes of their day in front of the “idiot box.”
Many Americans watch TV to keep up with the news, while others root for their favorite sports teams. For as long as there’s been broadcast television, however, there have been scripted dramas, comedies, and documentary series to entertain and inform viewers. These programs are recognized chiefly by the Emmy Awards, which have been given out every year since 1949. Though Regional and Daytime Emmys are given out to shows that meet those respective requirements, the most cultural discussion takes place around the Primetime and Creative Arts Emmys, which highlight outstanding achievements in the most-watched television programs.
The Primetime Emmys award achievement in overall series quality, lead and supporting acting, directing, and writing. The Creative Arts Emmys recognize achievement in more technical fields, such as costumes, makeup, and special effects, as well as alternative programmings, such as documentaries and variety shows. Despite the many categories, an Emmy win is a lifelong goal for many Hollywood stars, forming the “E” in “EGOT,” or the lifetime achievement of winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.
Looking at the following list, it’s clear to see several distinct eras emerging, from the long-running sitcoms of the ’80s and ’90s to the new golden age of television ushered in by the “Sopranos” and other premium programming. As streaming services like Apple TV+, Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video join HBO in spending exorbitant sums on new content, it remains to be seen where television will go in the coming decade.
To generate a list of the most awarded television shows of all time, according to the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which administers the Emmy awards, Stacker has rounded up the top 25 Emmy-winning shows using the Emmys database. All drama, comedy, competition, variety, and limited series were considered, and shows were ranked by the number of Emmy wins, with ties broken by the number of nominations.
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#25. ‘Mad Men’ (2007–2015)
– Wins: 16
– Nominations: 116
“Mad Men” is widely considered one of the best dramatic TV series of all time, despite being initially passed over by both HBO and Showtime before finding its home at AMC. Responsible for launching the careers of Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, and Christina Hendricks, it won an Emmy for Outstanding Dramatic Series for each of its first four seasons. It won another three Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Writing, and Creative Arts Emmys in categories such as cinematography, art direction, hairstyling, and casting.
#24. ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ (1987–1994)
– Wins: 17
– Nominations: 58
“Space: the final frontier.” Those words, spoken by Patrick Stewart’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard, began every episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” the sequel to the original TV show. “The Next Generation” aired 178 episodes, with stories revolving around the crew of the starship Enterprise finding their place in an impossibly vast universe. “The Next Generation” never won a Primetime Emmy, though it was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series in 1994 for its final season. It did, however, win 17 Creative Arts Emmys in categories such as costume design, makeup, sound editing, and special effects.
#23. ‘Veep’ (2012–2019)
– Wins: 17
– Nominations: 68
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#22. ‘Dancing with the Stars’ (2005–present)
– Wins: 17
– Nominations: 113
The only reality show on this list, “Dancing with the Stars” premiered in 2005 and has aired every year since then, racking up over 450 episodes along the way. An American adaptation of the British TV show “Strictly Come Dancing,” each season sees a celebrity paired up with a professional dancer. Pairs are eliminated by the audience and judges until only one pair remain. Emmy wins for the show include Best Choreography, Outstanding Lighting Design, and Outstanding Technical Direction.
#21. ‘Taxi’ (1978–1983)
– Wins: 18
– Nominations: 34
The winner of three Outstanding Comedy Series awards, the sitcom “Taxi” aired for five seasons from 1978 to 1983, and focused on the lives of New York City taxi drivers and their demeaning dispatcher, Danny DeVito’s Louie De Palma. The show was known for tackling controversial and difficult issues, and won 15 more Emmys in lead and supporting acting, writing, directing, editing, and guest acting.
#20. ‘Murphy Brown’ (1988–1998, 2018)
– Wins: 18
– Nominations: 62
“Murphy Brown,” and its beloved protagonist by the same name played by Candice Bergen, were common sights in American households between 1988 and 1998, airing 247 episodes over that decade, though a 2018 revival was axed following a single season. The sitcom focuses on Brown’s life as an investigative journalist, news anchor, and later, controversially, a single mother. Bergen won the Emmy for Lead Actress five times; the show also won Emmys for guest acting, best comedy series, writing, directing, editing, and costuming.
#19. ‘Will & Grace’ (1998–2006, 2017–present)
– Wins: 18
– Nominations: 96
Like “Murphy Brown,” Eric McCormack’s Will Truman and Debra Messing’s Grace Adler returned to TV screens after a long hiatus, but unlike “Murphy Brown,” the revival of “Will & Grace” was successful and the sitcom will culminate with its 11th and final season next year. The show revolves around the friendship of its titular characters, Will, a gay lawyer, and Grace, an interior designer. The show is notable for its inclusion of a principal LGBTQ+ character and has won Emmys for outstanding show, lead and supporting acting, cinematography, art direction, guest acting, and editing.
#18. ‘American Masters’ (1986–present)
– Wins: 20
– Nominations: 59
The PBS biography series “American Masters” has aired hundreds of episodes on writers, musicians, artists, and other figures who have had distinct impacts on American culture. Across its 35 seasons, past subjects have included Maya Angelou, Aaron Copland, and David Hockney. The show has won the Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series 10 times, along with awards for sound mixing and directing, among others.
#17. ‘Boardwalk Empire’ (2010–2014)
– Wins: 20
– Nominations: 57
One of several HBO shows on this list, “Boardwalk Empire” won 20 Emmys across its five-season run for directing, acting, casting, and art direction, among other categories. The critically acclaimed show followed Steve Buscemi’s Nucky Thompson, a mob boss based on the life of Enoch L. Johnson, who ascends to power in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in the 1920s and ’30s.
#16. ‘24’ (2001–2010)
– Wins: 20
– Nominations: 68
The central conceit of “24” is as well-known as it is outlandish. Each episode tracked an hour of real time and a full season of the show detailed a full day in the life of Kiefer Sutherland’s Jack Bauer, an agent of the fictional Counter Terrorist Unit in Los Angeles. Though the characters rarely ate, slept, or went to the bathroom on camera, the series was praised for its nonstop action and gripping performances; however, it attracted criticism for its favorable portrayal of torture. The series would go on to win 20 Emmys in categories like writing, lead and supporting acting, editing, directing, and sound editing, along with one win for Outstanding Drama Series.
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#15. ‘NYPD Blue’ (1993–2005)
– Wins: 20
– Nominations: 84
The police procedural is an established TV drama, from the long-running “CSI,” “NCIS,” and “Law & Order” franchises to newer comedies like “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” “NYPD Blue” ranks among the most beloved of them all, with critical acclaim spanning its 12 seasons; in 2013, Variety complained that broadcast television “lost its edge” after the show’s cancellation. The show racked up 16 Primetime Emmy wins for acting, writing, and directing, and four Creative Arts Emmy wins for casting, editing, and art direction.
#14. ‘The Sopranos’ (1999–2007)
– Wins: 21
– Nominations: 112
Few television shows have had as transformative an impact on the entertainment industry as “The Sopranos,” which established HBO as a dominating force in culture over its six seasons. Starring James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano, a mob boss balancing the demands of his particular line of work with his obligations to his family, the show was named the best-written TV show of all time by the Writers Guild of America and the best television show of all time by TV Guide and Rolling Stone. The show won Emmy awards for acting, writing, casting, editing, and makeup, winning Outstanding Drama Series in 2004 and 2007.
#13. ‘All in the Family’ (1971–1979)
– Wins: 22
– Nominations: 55
Produced by nonagenarian legend Norman Lear, “All in the Family” was a sitcom that followed a working-class American family as they dealt with controversial issues such as racism, abortion, homosexuality, and the Vietnam War, which were considered taboo for a TV comedy. The series, which starred Carroll O’Connor, Jean Stapleton, Sally Struthers, and Rob Reiner, aired for nine seasons and earned 22 Emmys, including in categories such as acting, writing, directing, and sound mixing.
#12. ‘Modern Family’ (2009–2020)
– Wins: 22
– Nominations: 85
Throughout the ’70s, “All in the Family” presented Americans with an authentic depiction of a working-class family, and “Modern Family” took up that mantle by presenting three different types of families: one nuclear, one stepfamily, and one with same-sex parents. The sitcom was met with critical acclaim for its witty writing and charming performances and has won 22 Emmys for acting, directing, writing, sound mixing, and casting, receiving the Outstanding Comedy Series award five times.
#11. ‘The Daily Show with Jon Stewart’ (1999–2015)
– Wins: 23
– Nominations: 60
Though “The Daily Show” has had three hosts over its tenure as the longest-running show on Comedy Central, all but one of its Emmys were won during Jon Stewart’s tenure as the sardonic, wise-cracking host of the political satire show. The show helped launch the careers of correspondents such as Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, and Samantha Bee, and it won 23 Emmys in categories such as Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program.
#10. ‘ER’ (1994–2009)
– Wins: 23
– Nominations: 124
TV’s counterpart to the police procedural is the medical drama, of which there have been countless iterations and new spins. “ER” is the second-longest-running medical drama—surpassed only by “Grey’s Anatomy”—in the history of television, and helped to launch the career of George Clooney, who received two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor for his work on the show. “ER” won 23 Emmys, seven being Primetime Awards.
#9. ‘The Carol Burnett Show’ (1967–1978, 1991)
– Wins: 25
– Nominations: 70
One of two sketch comedy programs on this list, “The Carol Burnett Show,” helmed by Carol Burnett, ran for 288 episodes (nine from its 1991 return), making Burnett a household name and establishing her as a comedy legend. With 25 Emmy wins, “The Carol Burnett Show” is an important staple of the sketch comedy genre and an honorary lifetime achievement Golden Globe award now bears Burnett’s name.
#8. ‘The West Wing’ (1999–2006)
– Wins: 26
– Nominations: 95
While some shows launch their stars further into stardom, “The West Wing” is perhaps most responsible for the ascendance of Aaron Sorkin—the creator of the show and the lead writer for nearly all of its first four seasons—who’s known for his clever and quick dialogue and has since written for several television shows, movies, and plays. The show followed the cabinet of fictional President Josiah Bartlet and has been influential not just in entertainment, but in the political world too, winning 26 Emmys over its seven-season run.
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#7. ‘Hill Street Blues’ (1981–1987)
– Wins: 26
– Nominations: 98
With over 146 episodes, “Hill Street Blues” followed the lives of workers at a police station on the eponymous road in an unnamed city. Its record of eight Emmy wins for a single season was only beaten by “The West Wing,” with which it tied for Emmy wins overall. Influential for its gritty and realistic portrayal of city life, the series holds several Emmy records; at the 34th Emmy Awards, all five nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actor hailed from “Hill Street.”
#6. Cheers (1982–1993)
– Wins: 28
– Nominations: 117
The bar “where everybody knows your name” became a household staple throughout the ’80s as “Cheers” dominated the airwaves. Led by performances from Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, Woody Harrelson, and Kirstie Alley, among others, the sitcom was nearly canceled during its first season, eventually soldiering on to 28 Emmy wins.
#5. ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ (1970–1977)
– Wins: 29
– Nominations: 67
Candice Bergen has been quoted as saying that there would be no “Murphy Brown” without “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” which starred Moore as Mary Richards, a similarly career-focused, unmarried woman. With support from Edward Asner, Valerie Harper, and Betty White, “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” broke barriers over its seven-season run, and won 29 Primetime Emmys, along with launching three spinoffs.
#4. ‘The Simpsons’ (1989–present)
– Wins: 35
– Nominations: 97
The only animated series on this list, “The Simpsons” has an undeniable place in the pantheon of American television, being the longest-running sitcom of all time. Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie have graced American screens for over 30 years with their satirical depiction of middle-class, middle-American life. “The Simpsons,” helmed by creator Matt Groening, has won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program 10 times and the award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance 16 times.
#3. ‘Frasier’ (1993–2004)
– Wins: 37
– Nominations: 107
It’s not often that a spinoff or sequel becomes even more beloved and successful than the original show, such is the case with “Frasier,” which follows the life of “Cheers” character Frasier Crane, a psychiatrist returning to his native Seattle. Starring Kelsey Grammer in the title role, the show was praised for its wit and comedic timing. “Frasier” held the record for most Primetime Emmy wins until 2016 when it was overtaken by the next show on this list.
#2. ‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)
– Wins: 59
– Nominations: 160
An adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s sprawling, unfinished series, “A Song of Ice and Fire,” HBO’s “Game of Thrones” places among the most beloved fantasy series in television history. Over eight seasons, viewers were introduced to an expansive roster of characters and quickly learned not to get too attached, as even fan favorites weren’t spared from the possibility of sudden death and destruction. The series has won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series three times out of eight consecutive nominations and has also been recognized for its acting performances, directing, writing, costumes, makeup, and many more Creative Arts fields.
#1. ‘Saturday Night Live’ (1975–present)
– Wins: 73
– Nominations: 296
Thousands of sketches. Hundreds of unique celebrity guests. Countless laughs. This is the legacy of “Saturday Night Live,” NBC’s decades-long sketch show that has launched superstars in acting, writing, and music. From controversial events broadcast live to millions of viewers to presidential elections being satirized by the show’s ever-changing cast, Lorne Michaels’ “SNL” has established its place as a top influence on American culture for more than 45 years and across 900-plus episodes, winning more Emmy awards than any other television show in history.
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