5 shocking Emmy wins from the last 10 years

Isabella Vosmikova  /  FOX

Primetime Emmy nods: 6

He’s been nominated practically every year since Fox's “House” first opened its hospital doors, but Laurie — the Brit with a way with an American accent — routinely gets ignored for flashier names and those with an intellectual cable following (we’re looking at you, Bryan Cranston, though you are deserving). Meanwhile, voters seem to forget that Laurie’s subtly empathetic curmudgeon Dr. House practically rewrote the concept of the antihero on television.

Robbed! While Laurie puts on a full-court press each season, 2009 arguably should have been his year. Dr. House was recovering from a full-on mental breakdown caused by his abuse of painkillers, and he brought audiences through the looking glass with him during his illness and recovery. That had its unexpectedly hilarious moments, in part thanks to House's prickly relationship with just about everyone.

Will Hart  /  NBC Universal, Inc.

Primetime Emmy nods: 1

He’s the strong, sexy, sometimes silent (though usually brooding) partner of Mariska Hargitay’s Det. Olivia Benson on NBC’s “Law & Order: SVU,” the now longest-running “L&O” show on television. Hargitay gets to play more sensitive, emotionally damaged and does it so well she earns regular nominations and has one win. Meanwhile, Meloni, who does believable repressed and expressed anger better than anyone on TV, has received only one nomination.

Robbed! Meloni got the nod in the right year — 2006 — and deserved it for performances like the episode in which he and Benson chased an escaped criminal/serial killer played by Lou Diamond Phillips, who slashes Benson's throat. Stabler had to decide whether he could abandon his injured partner to save kidnapped children and apprehend the killer, and his choice is clear agony. Again, not the flashy half of the duo, but just as deserving.

Paramount Pictures  /  Getty Images

Jackie Gleason, left, in his role as bus driver Ralph Kramden, on "The Honeymooners."

Primetime Emmy nods: 4

“The Great One,” as Gleason was known, was one of television’s earliest stars, creating the iconic blowhard Ralph Kramden of CBS’ “The Honeymooners.” Versatile and verbose, he could play both a serious dramatic persona and a comedian, yet never won an Emmy, though his “little buddy” on “Honeymooners,” Art Carney, won seven.

Robbed! “Honeymooners” fans would point to what are called the “classic 39” episodes of the series that ran from 1955-56, when Gleason had his true moment in the sun. In just that handful of episodes, Gleason embodied a character that would define him for the rest of his life while creating a template for other legendary TV characters, from Fred Flintstone to Archie Bunker. That said, Gleason’s Kramden did get one statue: It stands outside New York’s Port Authority Bus Terminal, a monument to the character’s job as a bus driver.

Gus Ruelas  /  Reuters

Primetime Emmy nods: 6

One of TV’s preeminent funnymen, the dry, deadpan Newhart is not only beloved by generations of audiences, but is considered a comedian’s comedian. Largely known for the two series bearing his moniker, Newhart generally played versions of himself surrounded by quirky weirdos to hilarious effect (Jerry Seinfeld, in particular, owes much to Newhart). This is the guy that Emmy voters will really regret not honoring, and now that he’s in his 80s, they’d better get cracking.

Robbed! Newhart went overlooked for acting on CBS’ “The Bob Newhart Show,” though he did score his first nomination for writing. Later, during “Newhart” he picked up his acting nominations, but never won. The ideal time for a prize would have been as the series ended: The finale for “Newhart” is considered one of the best inside jokes in history. In it, Newhart wakes up next to the woman who had played his wife on “The Bob Newhart Show” (Suzanne Pleshette) and makes it evident that the entire “Newhart” series was just a very long, bizarre dream.

Everett Collection

Farrah Fawcett in "The Burning Bed."

Primetime Emmy nods: 4

Fawcett got her truly big break as one of “Charlie’s Angels,” then sold millions upon millions of copies of her classic 1970s swimsuit poster. But for many years she was seen simply as one of producer Aaron Spelling’s “jiggle” gals — pretty to look at, but not a lot of substance underneath. She started taking on more substantive roles in the 1980s and first earned Emmy attention in 1985 for “The Burning Bed” on NBC. She followed it up with two other films and a project that documented her battle with cancer, which ultimately took her life in 2009.

Robbed!  At the time “Bed” came out, Fawcett was considered a serious candidate for the win — she’d surprised everyone with her ability to dig deep into the psyche of an abused woman. Alas, the Emmys overlooked her, just as the Oscars would in 2010 by leaving her off the list of “In Memoriam” tributes.