As a longtime enthusiast of television and its captivating narratives, I find myself frequently astounded by the unpredictable twists that the awards season often brings. These unexpected moments, much like the plotlines in our favorite shows, are what make the journey of recognition for exceptional performances so thrilling.
Regardless if you watch the entire Emmy Awards or merely the key moments, it’s the unforeseen surprises that usually make the event thrilling – these are the unexpected upsets that happen during the night.
For several months leading up to the event, experts and enthusiasts speculate about who will win the prestigious trophies and explain why they are worthy winners. However, even the most experienced award prognosticators can’t anticipate every unexpected turn of events, making each ceremony unpredictable and full of surprises. Who could forget the time when Jodie Comer was announced as the winner instead of her co-star Sandra Oh for “Killing Eve,” or when “Schitt’s Creek” made history by winning all four major acting awards, along with accolades for directing, writing, and Outstanding Comedy Series?
Each upcoming Emmy ceremony, including the one on the horizon, is shaping up to be as unexpected as ever. Although certain categories may appear to be decided in advance, numerous others are still up for grabs. Could there possibly be more surprising moments to enrich the growing collection of shocking events?
As a lifelong TV enthusiast and avid Emmy Awards follower, I must say that I find it absolutely fascinating to look back at some of the most surprising upsets in the history of the Primetime Emmys. These moments have left me stunned and often reevaluating my own predictions for future awards. Here are 16 of the most shocking upsets, ranked by their level of astonishment. Don’t forget to click on the images to relive these memorable moments!
Notable Recognitions:
Bobby Cannavale’s ‘Boardwalk Empire’ Sneaks Past Jonathan Banks for ‘Breaking Bad’ (2013)
Kerry Washington has twice surprised the acting world with supporting roles in dramatic series. The most recent instance was her nomination over Tobias Menzies (“The Crown”) instead of the late Michael K. Williams (“Lovecraft Country”). Earlier, in 2013, many anticipated Jonathan Banks would finally win for his role as Mike Ehrmantraut on “Breaking Bad” following his submission for the episode “Say My Name.” However, it was Bobby Cannavale who took home his first leading acting award for portraying Gyp Rosetti in the third season of “Boardwalk Empire,” a series where he had previously been recognized for guest comedy roles.
Michael Emerson Winning for ‘Lost’ One Season Too Late (2009)
Michael Emerson’s performance in ABC’s “Lost” is highly admired, but his nomination here doesn’t imply he was an undeserving winner. Rather, it seems that his prime moment as Ben Linus occurred at a time when the series wasn’t recognized by the Emmy voters. In 2007 and 2008, he lost to his fellow cast member Terry O’Quinn and surprisingly to Željko Ivanek from “Damages.” It appeared that Emerson’s opportunity for a golden Emmy moment had passed. However, the Emmy voters unexpectedly chose him over Aaron Paul’s Jesse Pinkman in the second season of “Breaking Bad” and John Slattery’s Roger Sterling in the second season of “Mad Men,” indicating that they still recognized his talent despite the earlier losses.
Jeff Daniels’ Will McAvoy Gets Past Walter White and Nicholas Brody (2013)
As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I’ve got to share my thoughts on HBO’s “The Newsroom.” While it sparked quite a debate among critics and viewers alike, one thing that stood out was the undeniable industry-wide respect for the brilliant Jeff Daniels. The excitement was palpable when he received his first career Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Will McAvoy.
At the Emmys, he finally clinched his first career victory – a moment Daniels hadn’t experienced since winning an award at the AARP Awards previously.
James Spader Beats James Gandolfini’s Final Outing as Tony Soprano (2007)
In 2007, the last season of “The Sopranos” on HBO was a highly anticipated and memorable event in the world of television drama. Critics had high expectations that the actors would be honored with awards, either as repeat winners or first-time recipients. However, surprisingly, although “The Sopranos” won the award for outstanding drama series, none of its actors were recognized for their performances in the final season. Particularly noteworthy was James Gandolfini’s performance as Tony Soprano, but he lost to James Spader for his role in “Boston Legal” on NBC, which earned Spader his third win.
Olivia Colman’s Queen Elizabeth Over Emma Corrin’s Princess Diana (2021)
On Emmy night, a surprising turn of events occurred within “The Crown” itself. While many anticipated Emma Corrin’s acclaimed portrayal of Princess Diana to win lead actress in a drama series following her victories at Critics Choice and Golden Globes, it was Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth I who took the prize instead. Interestingly, Colman had lost the previous year to Zendaya from “Euphoria.”
Tatiana Maslany Beats Annalise Keating and Cookie (2016)
As a devoted fan of “Orphan Black,” I was ecstatic when Tatiana Maslany earned her second consecutive Emmy nomination for the BBC America series in 2016. It was a thrill to see her recognized alongside past winner Claire Danes from “Homeland.” That year’s competition for lead actress in a drama series was particularly exciting, pitting former winner Viola Davis from “How to Get Away with Murder” against the formidable Cookie Lyon, portrayed by Taraji P. Henson in “Empire.” It felt like another epic showdown in the category!
In simpler terms, Maisel was the only actress nominated for her TV series in the lead category of the dramas, making her the first one to win this award since Patricia Arquette received it for “Medium” back in 2005.
Jim Parsons Denies Steve Carell’s Final Michael Scott Season (2011)
It was disheartening to see Steve Carell depart from “The Office,” as the series went on without him. What made it even more disappointing was that he, a legendary figure in television comedy, hadn’t received an Emmy award despite his iconic character. This was surprising given his frequent losses to Tony Shalhoub, Alec Baldwin, Jim Parsons, and Ricky Gervais in various shows over the years.
As a devoted fan, I have to admit that while I was rooting for Carell’s “Goodbye, Michael” episode submission in the fourth season of “The Big Bang Theory”, it seems my favorite character, Sheldon Cooper (Parsons), once again stole the show. Despite my fervent hopes, the voters chose to award Sheldon a second consecutive award for his outstanding performance in that season.
It’s a travesty.
‘My Name Is Earl’ Wins Writing and Directing Without Comedy Series Nom (2006)
Back in 2006, I was thoroughly hooked on “My Name is Earl,” a TV gem featuring the charismatic Jason Lee, airing on NBC. This show was both critically acclaimed and popular among viewers, but unfortunately, it seemed to fly over the heads of the TV Academy during its inaugural season. Consequently, the series was only recognized with five Emmy nods – for directing (Marc Buckland), writing (Greg Garcia), editing, casting, and supporting actress in a comedy series (Jamie Pressly). Shockingly, it missed out on major categories such as lead actor in a comedy series (Lee) and outstanding comedy series.
In a surprising turn of events, the “Pilot” episode garnered four awards, leaving TV Academy voters apparently disappointed, as it was actress Pressly who lost to Megan Mullally in the final season of “Will & Grace.” Notably, this episode managed to secure victories for both writing and directing, an achievement shared by only a few episodes. Remarkably, it also became the first show to triumph in both categories without being nominated for the comedy series category.
Jon Cryer’s Leading Man ‘Winning’ Moment for ‘Two and a Half Men’ Post-Charlie Sheen Departure (2012)
Charlie Sheen had an outburst after being let go from “Two and a Half Men.” At that point, Jon Cryer stepped into the lead role. Since Jim Parsons and Alec Baldwin were doing well on their shows, people expected one of them to win again. However, instead, the TV Academy recognized Cryer’s improved performance as Alan Harper with an Emmy award.
‘Modern Family’ Wins Comedy Series for the Fifth Time (2014)
“ABC’s ‘Modern Family’ was often praised at the Emmys, claiming four straight awards for best comedy series (each win deserved). During that period, it matched ‘All in the Family’ and ‘Cheers’ with the title of the second most award-winning TV show.”
As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I found myself in a rather competitive scenario when our series entered its fifth season. We were squaring off against the debut seasons of Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black,” HBO’s “Silicon Valley,” and the third season of HBO’s “Veep.” Not to mention, the fourth season of “Louie” was also in the mix. To add fuel to the fire, even the venerable CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory,” wrapping up its seventh season, was touting its status as the most-watched show on television at that moment, hinting it was due for recognition. It was a tough battle, but we were ready to hold our own!
As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I must confess that some critics weren’t entirely convinced about the ongoing excellence of “Modern.” On Emmy night, however, an unexpected twist unfolded. Ty Burrell managed to edge out Tony Hale (“Veep”) in a surprising turn of events, allowing our show to secure a victory for directing (Gail Mancuso), despite stiff competition from Jodie Foster’s “Lesbian Request Denied” episode of “Orange.”
Jodie Comer Beats Her ‘Killing Eve’ Co-Star Sandra Oh (2019)
In 2009, Sandra Oh shone particularly bright. Following her co-hosting of the Golden Globe Awards with Andy Samberg, she received a nomination for lead actress in a drama series for the second time for BBC America’s “Killing Eve,” also serving as an executive producer for the show. Her successes at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, and SAG Awards almost made her a clean sweep during the TV awards season.
In an unexpected turn of events, I found myself stunned when, without a moment’s notice, presenter Gwyneth Paltrow announced Jodie Comer as the victor in that category. This twist has left ripples throughout the industry, going down in history as one of the most jaw-dropping surprises ever.
Kyle Chandler’s Farewell Season of ‘Friday Night Lights’ Beats Jon Hamm’s ‘Suitcase’ Episode (2011)
In 2011, “Mad Men” clinched the outstanding drama series award for a fourth time, much to the anticipation of critics and viewers, hoping Jon Hamm’s character Don Draper would hold an Emmy statuette aloft. The episode “The Suitcase,” widely regarded as one of the best in the show’s history, had been submitted. It seemed inevitable, but then Kyle Chandler submitted the final episode “Always” from “Friday Night Lights.” In a shocking turn of events announced by the cast of the brief-lived “Charlie’s Angels” reboot, they cheered for Kyle Chandler. Many viewers, including myself, were left exclaiming at home as well.
Considering Hamm finally got his due for his final season — no harm, no foul.
Ricky Gervais’ No-Show Win for ‘Extras’ Beats Steve Carell’s Michael Scott (2007)
At the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards, some of the most shocking upsets in Emmy history unfolded. Notable winners like Sally Field (“Brothers & Sisters”) and Jaime Pressly (“My Name is Earl”) made the event memorable. However, a year after “The Office” won for outstanding comedy series without acknowledging Steve Carell’s performance as Michael Scott, it felt inevitable that he would claim his first acting trophy during the show’s third season. This season was particularly notable for episodes like “A Benihana Christmas,” “Branch Closing,” and the critically acclaimed “Gay Witch Hunt,” which eventually won for writing.
Unfortunately, Ricky Gervais’ “Extras” was chosen instead of his, and since Gervais wasn’t present, he missed out on accepting the award. However, a humorous moment arose when Carell playfully took Gervais’ Emmy at one ceremony and returned it to him at the next.
Merritt Wever’s ‘Gotta Go’ Win for ‘Nurse Jackie’ (2013)
It’s uncommon for Emmy awards to honor an actor during later seasons of a show. Merritt Wever’s fans were thrilled when she got her first Emmy nomination in 2013 for portraying Zoey Barkow on “Nurse Jackie.” Although Julie Bowen had won two years in a row and her fellow cast member Sofia Vergara hadn’t yet taken home an award, Wever was seen as one of the “happy to be here” nominees. However, she surprised everyone when Tina Fey and Amy Poehler presented her with her first Emmy statuette that year. Overwhelmed, Wever thanked the audience twice before quickly saying “I gotta go, bye.”
‘Schitt’s Creek’ Becomes First Emmy Sweeper (2020)
During the unprecedented times of COVID-19, I found myself tuning into the Emmy Awards, a ceremony that, despite not setting record-breaking television ratings, still held immense significance. This was largely due to “Schitt’s Creek” from Pop TV sweeping all seven comedy categories, an impressive feat never before achieved by any series. While many pundits anticipated this outcome, there was uncertainty about whether first-time nominee Annie Murphy could outshine veterans like Alex Borstein (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) and Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”). However, she proved everyone wrong, securing the win in her category.
Katherine Heigl Becomes the First and Only ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Main Cast Member to Win (2007)
Since its debut on ABC in March 2005, the medical drama created by Shonda Rhimes has left an indelible impact. Spanning 18 seasons and more than 400 episodes, it has showcased beloved characters such as Sandra Oh’s Cristina Yang and Chandra Wilson’s Miranda Bailey. A striking detail is that Katherine Heigl remains the sole main cast member to have won an Emmy for acting, which she achieved in 2007. During her time in the spotlight, with a successful movie like “Knocked Up,” she outshone her fellow cast members Oh and Wilson, as well as Lorraine Bracco and Aida Turturro during the final season of HBO’s “The Sopranos.”
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2024-08-12 21:49