Ranking every Emmy-nominated series from worst to first
Ranking every Emmy-nominated series from worst to first
They are the topic of water-cooler talks across the country. They come into the homes of people all over the U.S. and become a part of their families. Whether binge-watched or viewed on a weekly basis, they provide excitement, laughs, and even a good heartfelt cry鈥攁ll from the comfort of a couch. And on Monday, Sept. 17, they will be honored for their .
The Television Academy's 70th Emmy Awards are right around the corner. With as the format Americans get their quality entertainment fix, it's more important than ever to recognize the achievements of TV's best.
However, there are so many shows available on traditional broadcast networks, cable networks, and , it's difficult to keep track of them all. Therefore, 麻豆原创 has compiled a list of in the Emmys' drama series, comedy series, limited series, reality competition, structured reality program, and unstructured reality program categories. They are ranked based on their IMDb user ratings, with the number of IMDb user votes used to break any ties.
Only time will tell which shows will walk away as winners of the illustrious gold statuettes after "Saturday Night Live's" the 70th Emmy Awards on NBC. However, one thing is for sure鈥攅veryone is a winner when it comes to the quality of entertainment available on the television sets gracing the living rooms of
Read on to see which of your favorite series have been nominated for an Emmy this year.
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#37. The Voice
On air: 2011鈥損resent
Stars: Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Carson Daly, Christina Aguilera
IMDb rating: 6.6
Singers have been battling it out in front of coaches, including Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, on NBC鈥檚 鈥淭he Voice鈥 for 14 seasons. With a 15th season set to debut this fall, the reality talent show鈥攚hich is nominated for 10 Emmys鈥攆eatures five stages of competition, starting with blind auditions and culminating with live performances during which viewers crown a winner. The show and its coaches have helped start modestly strong singing careers for several of its contestants, including season three鈥檚 winner Cassadee Pope, whose 2013 debut album 鈥淔rame By Frame鈥 on Billboard鈥檚 Top Country Album Chart.
#36. United Shades of America
On air: 2016鈥損resent
Stars: W. Kamau Bell, Russell Peters, Mark Nykanen, Chad McMullan
IMDb rating: 6.7
Sociopolitical comedian W. Kamau Bell has been exploring communities across America on CNN鈥檚 鈥淯nited Shades of America鈥 for three seasons. The documentary series鈥攚hich is nominated for three Emmy Awards鈥攁ims to stimulate conversation about race and how differences both unite and divide the country. Its featured visits to the U.S.-Mexico border as well as several historically black colleges and universities.
#35. Naked and Afraid
On air: 2013鈥損resent
Stars: Michael Brown, Amanda Kaye, Amber Hargrove, E.J. Snyder
IMDb rating: 6.7
Discover Channel鈥檚 鈥淣aked and Afraid鈥 has been intriguing viewers for seven seasons with its concept of seeing how two people per episode survive for 21 days in the world鈥檚 harshest environments without any food, water, or clothes. The reality show has been a ratings sensation for the network since debuting in 2013, even scoring the record for the in Discovery Channel鈥檚 history since June 2009.
#34. American Ninja Warrior
On air: 2009鈥損resent
Stars: Matt Iseman, Akbar Gbajabiamila, Jenn Brown, Angela Sun
IMDb rating: 6.9
鈥淎merican Ninja Warrior鈥 has been for seven summers. The reality show, based on the Japanese series 鈥淪asuke,鈥 challenges strong-willed competitors with a number of obstacle courses in qualifying rounds held across the country. The program has 鈥擨saac Caldiero鈥攅arn the $1 million prize for completing all obstacle courses, including a grand finale modeled after Japan鈥檚 Mt. Midoriyama course.
#33. Black-ish
On air: 2014鈥損resent
Stars: Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Marcus Scribner, Miles Brown
IMDb rating: 7.1
Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross have been playing parents trying to raise a black family in an assimilated world on ABC's comedy "Black-ish" for four seasons. Over the course of its run, which continues with a fifth season this fall, the series has tackled a number of issues to critical acclaim鈥攊ncluding , , , and of President Donald Trump. It has since spawned a spinoff called "Grown-ish," which airs on Freeform.
#32. Project Runway
On air: 2004鈥損resent
Stars: Tim Gunn, Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Michael Kors
IMDb rating: 7.3
Supermodel Heidi Klum has been hosting 鈥淧roject Runway鈥 for 16 seasons, which have aired on Bravo and Lifetime. The most recent season of the reality show, in which contestants compete to create clothing, aspired to by incorporating larger-sized models and requiring competitors to design fashionable attire for all body sizes. In addition to its three current Emmy nominations, the series in 2008 for 鈥渦sing the television reality contest genre to engage, inform, enlighten and entertain.鈥
#31. Antiques Roadshow
On air: 1997鈥損resent
Stars: Mark L. Walberg, Simeon Lipman, Lara Spencer, James Supp
IMDb rating: 7.4
Spanning 22 seasons so far, PBS鈥檚 鈥淎ntiques Roadshow鈥 is , earning an average of 8.5 million viewers each week. The reality show documents free appraisals of antiques and collectibles by specialists from auction houses and independent dealers from across the country. on the program was a collection of Chinese cups carved from rhinoceros horns appraised at $1鈥1.5 million.
#30. Lip Sync Battle
On air: 2015鈥損resent
Stars: LL Cool J, Chrissy Teigen, C.J. Tyson, Carlena Britch
IMDb rating: 7.4
Having aired on Paramount Network鈥攆ormerly known as Spike鈥攆or four seasons, 鈥淟ip Sync Battle鈥 sees two celebrities per episode take the stage in a lip sync showdown. featured in the LL Cool J-hosted reality show鈥檚 most recent season include Taye Diggs, Tara Lipinski, Kathy Bates, Rob Schneider, and Michael Bolton. The series has spawned 15 international adaptations as well as on Nickelodeon titled 鈥淟ip Sync Battle Shorties.鈥
#29. Shark Tank
On air: 2009鈥損resent
Stars: Kevin O'Leary, Phil Crowley, Robert Herjavec, Mark Cuban
IMDb rating: 7.5
Aspiring entrepreneurs present business models and products to a panel of five investors who are offered opportunities to become business partners with them in 鈥淪hark Tank,鈥 which will be debuting its milestone 10th season this fall on ABC. Although some of the projects in which the 鈥渟harks鈥 have invested have gone on to see great success, including 鈥攕imply appearing on the program has .
#28. Inside Look: The Assassination of Gianni Versace, American Crime Story
On air: 2017鈥損resent
Stars: Darren Criss, Pen茅lope Cruz, Ricky Martin, Edgar Ram铆rez
IMDb rating: 7.6
FX's true crime anthology series, "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story," is nominated for a whopping 18 Emmys, including Outstanding Original Series. Exploring Andrew Cunanan's murder of designer Gianni Versace, the show made headlines upon its premiere when the Versace family released a statement and Maureen Orth's book "Vulgar Favors" on which it was based. Executive producer Ryan Murphy , defending the show and calling it "a work of non-fiction ... with docudrama elements."
#27. Top Chef
On air: 2006鈥損resent
Stars: Tom Colicchio, Padma Lakshmi, Gail Simmons, Richard Blais
IMDb rating: 7.6
In 鈥淭op Chef,鈥 a reality show that has aired for 15 seasons on Bravo, aspiring chefs compete in various culinary challenges and have their creations judged by professional chefs. The competition has , with seasons eight and nine contestant Carla Hall being the cream that rose to the top after she scored a hosting gig on ABC鈥檚 daytime talk show 鈥淭he Chew.鈥 鈥淭op Chef鈥 has also spawned six spinoffs, with the most successful being 鈥溾 and 鈥,鈥 as well as 21 international adaptations.
#26. The Amazing Race
On air: 2001鈥損resent
Stars: Phil Keoghan, Joyce Agu, Uchenna Agu, Jet McCoy
IMDb rating: 7.6
鈥淭he Amazing Race鈥 has been nominated for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program for the category has been a part of the Emmy Awards. Hoping for its 11th win, the series features 11 teams of two that compete in mental and physical challenges as they travel around the world for a $1 million prize. The show is also in the 89 countries to which its teams have traveled over its 30 seasons on CBS.
#25. RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked!
On air: 2010鈥損resent
Stars: RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Santino Rice, Chad Michaels
IMDb rating: 7.7
鈥淩uPaul's Drag Race: Untucked!鈥 is a behind-the-scenes docu-series that accompanies 鈥淩uPaul鈥檚 Drag Race鈥 and offers viewers a backstage pass to the drama not seen the show. The series as 鈥淯nder the Hood of RuPaul's Drag Race鈥 before being retitled and moved to television, where it airs after each episode of the main show on VH1. It has since to the reality competition.
#24. The Alienist
On air: 2018
Stars: Daniel Br眉hl, Dakota Fanning, Luke Evans, Brian Geraghty
IMDb rating: 7.8
TNT鈥檚 psychological thriller 鈥淭he Alienist鈥 is nominated for six Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited Series. Based on a novel by Caleb Carr, the series stars Daniel Br眉hl and Luke Evans as a criminal psychologist and a newspaper illustrator, respectively, who investigate the gruesome murders of boy prostitutes in 1896 New York City. The show, which including historical figures as characters, has been based on Carr鈥檚 follow-up novel 鈥淭he Angel of Darkness.鈥
#23. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
On air: 2015鈥損resent
Stars: Ellie Kemper, Jane Krakowski, Tituss Burgess, Carol Kane
IMDb rating: 7.8
Netflix's fourth season of "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," nominated for two Emmy Awards, is also its last. The comedy stars Ellie Kemper as a woman who, after having been rescued from a doomsday cult, attempts to successfully navigate not only New York City, but also a world she didn't believe existed anymore. The series has come across its fair share of controversy over its run, including , but it has also been .
#22. Intervention
On air: 2005鈥損resent
Stars: Candy Finnigan, Mark Behar, Jeff VanVonderen, Ken Seeley
IMDb rating: 8
For 19 seasons, A&E鈥檚 鈥淚ntervention鈥 has profiled people whose addiction to drugs, alcohol, or compulsive behavior has destroyed their lives and devastated their loved ones. The docu-series, which follows interventionalists鈥 efforts to encourage the subjects to face their addictions head-on, has for helping people turn their lives around, and remain clean from destructive substances and behavior.
#21. Deadliest Catch
On air: 2005鈥損resent
Stars: Mike Rowe, Sig Hansen, Edgar Hansen, Keith Colburn
IMDb rating: 8
Discovery Channel鈥檚 鈥淒eadliest Catch鈥 has consistently been one of the cable network鈥檚 most popular programs since it debuted in 2005, spawning countless specials, books, and . The docu-series gives viewers a first-hand look at the lives of fishing crews working aboard vessels on the Bering Sea. Its most memorable and heartbreaking moment has been when camera crews documented the 2010 death of one of the program鈥檚 primary personalities Capt. Phil Harris, which resulted in in Discovery Channel history.
#20. Born This Way
On air: 2015鈥損resent
Stars: Sean McElwee, Rachel Osterbach, John Tucker, Hiromi Ashmore
IMDb rating: 8.1
鈥淏orn This Way鈥 is an A&E docu-series that shows how seven young adults born with Down syndrome navigate the world and defy society鈥檚 expectations. The show is currently in its fourth season, which showcases the of two of its cast members Cristina Sanz and Angel Callahan.
#19. Who Do You Think You Are?
On air: 2010鈥損resent
Stars: Mocean Melvin, Ken Rogers, Courteney Cox, Julie Bowen
IMDb rating: 8.1
Each episode of 鈥淲ho Do You Think You Are?鈥 documents the journey of a different celebrity as they research their ancestry with the help of historians and genealogical experts. The docu-series, which aired on NBC for three seasons before moving to TLC for seven more, is adapted from a BBC series by the same title. on the show鈥檚 most recent season include Hilary Duff, Molly Shannon, and Jean Smart.
#18. Barry
On air: 2018鈥損resent
Stars: Bill Hader, Stephen Root, Sarah Goldberg, Glenn Fleshler
IMDb rating: 8.1
In HBO's dark comedy "Barry," Bill Hader plays a depressed, low-rent hitman who travels from the Midwest to Los Angeles to carry out a hit on an aspiring actor only to fall head-first into an acting class that encourages him to leave his old life behind. In addition to scoring 13 Emmy nominations in its first season, the show has also scored a .
#17. GLOW
On air: 2017鈥損resent
Stars: Alison Brie, Marc Maron, Betty Gilpin, Sydelle Noel
IMDb rating: 8.1
Netflix鈥檚 鈥淕LOW,鈥 a 1980s-set comedy about a bunch of misfits that reinvent themselves as the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, scored 10 Emmy nominations for its first season, including Outstanding Comedy Series. The show has since and has been . Real members of the professional wrestling promotion on which the series is based have had mixed reactions to 鈥淕LOW,鈥 with some saying it , while mainstream wrestlers have .
#16. RuPaul's Drag Race
On air: 2009鈥損resent
Stars: RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Santino Rice, Jason Carter
IMDb rating: 8.3
鈥淩uPaul鈥檚 Drag Race鈥 has been entertaining viewers on VH1 for 10 seasons. Contestants on the show compete in various challenges with the hope of winning the title of America's Next Drag Superstar, a $100,000 cash prize, and a one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics. The reality competition is the and, according to host RuPaul, is .
#15. Patrick Melrose
On air: 2018
Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Hugo Weaving, Sebastian Maltz, Jennifer Jason Leigh
IMDb rating: 8.3
Showtime鈥檚 鈥淧atrick Melrose鈥 stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the title character, an Englishman from a privileged family whose traumatic childhood has resulted in substance abuse and eventual recovery. Edward St. Aubyn鈥檚 darkly comic semi-autobiographical novels , which is nominated for five Emmy Awards and has 鈥攑articularly for Cumberbatch鈥檚 stellar performance.
#14. Fixer Upper
On air: 2013鈥損resent
Stars: Chip Gaines, Joanna Gaines, Dustin Anderson, Clint Harp
IMDb rating: 8.4
For five seasons, HGTV鈥檚 鈥淔ixer Upper鈥 has followed married couple Joanna and Chip Gaines as they design and renovate homes in Waco, Texas. The cable channel titled 鈥淔ixer Upper: Behind the Design,鈥 which focuses on Joanna鈥檚 inspiration through the design process. The couple also recently announced .
#13. Godless
On air: 2017
Stars: Jack O'Connell, Michelle Dockery, Scoot McNairy, Merritt Wever
IMDb rating: 8.4
Racking up 12 Emmy nominations, Netflix's "Godless" stars Jeff Daniels as a ruthless outlaw who terrorizes the West while searching for a former member of his gang who has taken refuge in a town populated only by women. The seven-episode limited series has and has even been called .
#12. The Americans
On air: 2013鈥2018
Stars: Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Keidrich Sellati, Holly Taylor
IMDb rating: 8.4
Having recently aired its sixth and final season on FX, period drama 鈥淭he Americans鈥 is nominated for four Emmy Awards鈥攊ncluding Outstanding Drama Series. Stars Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys, who are both nominated for their lead performances on the show, play KGB spies posing as Americans in suburban Washington D.C. during the Reagan administration. The series was created by former CIA officer Joe Weisberg, who to give 鈥淭he Americans鈥 a boost of credibility.
#11. Atlanta
On air: 2016鈥損resent
Stars: Donald Glover, Brian Tyree Henry, Lakeith Stanfield, Zazie Beetz
IMDb rating: 8.6
Boasting a staggering 16 Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Comedy Series, 鈥淎tlanta鈥 stars Donald Glover and Brian Tyree Henry as cousins who are working their way through the Atlanta music scene in an attempt to improve their lives. At last year鈥檚 Emmy Awards, Glover鈥攚ho also serves as a writer and a director on the series鈥攂ecame for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series. The show, which has been on FX, is also notable for promoting diversity in Hollywood by having a nearly unheard of .
#10. The Handmaid's Tale
On air: 2017鈥損resent
Stars: Elisabeth Moss, Max Minghella, Yvonne Strahovski, Joseph Fiennes
IMDb rating: 8.6
Elisabeth Moss plays a woman who, forced into sexual servitude, struggles to survive in Hulu鈥檚 鈥淭he Handmaid鈥檚 Tale.鈥 The dystopian drama, which has been , is nominated for an impressive 20 Emmys including Outstanding Drama Series鈥. That win marked has ever won an Emmy for Outstanding Series.
#9. Silicon Valley
On air: 2014鈥損resent
Stars: Thomas Middleditch, T.J. Miller, Josh Brener, Martin Starr
IMDb rating: 8.6
In HBO鈥檚 鈥淪ilicon Valley,鈥 which is nominated for seven Emmys鈥攊ncluding Outstanding Comedy Series鈥擳homas Middleditch plays a computer programmer with a game-changing algorithm who founds a startup company with four other men. The show was co-created by Mike Judge, who working in the unpleasant culture of a Silicon Valley startup to inject the series with a satirical wit that has offended some businessmen, .
#8. Queer Eye
On air: 2018鈥損resent
Stars: Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski
IMDb rating: 8.7
"Queer Eye," Netflix's reboot of Bravo's reality show of the same title that ran for five seasons, features five gay men who, as experts in food, fashion, culture, interior design, and grooming, offer tips and makeovers to subjects in need of their help. Critics claim the show without losing its charm. Viewers seem to agree since Netflix has already released two seasons and recently .
#7. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
On air: 2017鈥損resent
Stars: Matilda Szydagis, Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, Michael Zegen
IMDb rating: 8.7
鈥淭he Marvelous Mrs. Maisel鈥 stars Rachel Brosnahan as Midge Maisel, a woman who goes from housewife to stand-up comic in 1958 New York. The comedy鈥檚 pilot episode achieved an average viewer rating of 4.9 out of 5 on Amazon鈥 for a pilot on the streaming service. Amazon initially ordered two seasons of the show, which is nominated for 14 Emmys, but has since before the second season has even been released.
#6. The Crown
On air: 2016鈥損resent
Stars: Claire Foy, Matt Smith, Victoria Hamilton, Vanessa Kirby
IMDb rating: 8.7
Claire Foy plays Queen Elizabeth II in 鈥淭he Crown,鈥 a biographical drama that follows the queen鈥檚 political rivalries and romance with Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Nominated for 13 Emmy Awards, the series鈥 first two seasons have despite some journalists . Viewers seem to side with critics as Netflix has renewed the series for .
#5. Curb Your Enthusiasm
On air: 2000鈥損resent
Stars: Larry David, Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman
IMDb rating: 8.7
After a six-year hiatus, 鈥淪einfeld鈥 producer Larry David reprised his role of a fictionalized version of himself on a ninth season of HBO鈥檚 鈥淐urb Your Enthusiasm,鈥 which has been nominated for four Emmys. Critics have consistently called the comedy and have drawn comparisons between David鈥檚 character and that represents a form of resistance to social and cultural norms. HBO has since of the show.
#4. This Is Us
On air: 2016鈥損resent
Stars: Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz
IMDb rating: 8.8
Nominated for eight Emmy Awards, 鈥淭his Is Us鈥 has been a ratings and critical hit for NBC since it premiered in 2016. The drama, which will debut its third season this fall, follows a family across the decades. , which has become known for not only requiring a box of tissues nearby while watching, but also for earning a high-profile fan base that includes Reese Witherspoon, Steven Spielberg, and Oprah Winfrey.
#3. Westworld
On air: 2016鈥損resent
Stars: Evan Rachel Wood, Jeffrey Wright, Ed Harris, Thandie Newton
IMDb rating: 8.9
Scoring an astonishing 21 Emmy nominations, "Westworld" is a science fiction series鈥攂ased on the 1973 film of the same title鈥攕et in a technologically advanced amusement park populated by robots. The show, which was , holds the record for of any HBO original series. Critics and viewers , even though some worry said approach .
#2. Stranger Things
On air: 2016鈥損resent
Stars: Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Winona Ryder, David Harbour
IMDb rating: 8.9
The first two seasons of Netflix鈥檚 鈥淪tranger Things鈥 have riveted viewers with a story about a small town that uncovers a mystery involving secret experiments and terrifying supernatural forces. With 12 Emmy nominations and , viewers and critics are for its resemblance to the classic films of Steven Spielberg and vintage 1980s television. The series鈥 popularity has been so widespread that it has even 鈥攖he favorite food of Millie Bobby Brown鈥檚 creepy character Eleven.
#1. Game of Thrones
On air: 2011鈥損resent
Stars: Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Kit Harington, Lena Headey
IMDb rating: 9.5
鈥淕ame of Thrones鈥 leads not only this list with the highest IMDb rating, but also the number of Emmy nominations with 22, including Outstanding Drama Series鈥攁 category . HBO鈥檚 adaptation of George R.R. Martin鈥檚 fantasy novels is overflowing with magic and dragons, enthralling critics who call it , and amassing a viewer fanbase that may be . The show, with eight seasons under its belt and , is credited with increasing the popularity of the fantasy genre, adding words to everyday vocabulary, and .