Frenemmys: A Closer Look at ‘Friends’ and The Emmy Awards

Friends is one of the best, most iconic television shows of our time. The majority of the population understands and subscribes to this notion. Monica, Chandler, Ross, Phoebe, Joey and Rachel were the original #squad, and 12 years after the show left the air, it’s somehow as popular as ever?
However, this is not the case for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the group that determines who goes home with the gold Emmy Awards statues. You would think that for each of the 10 seasons this show was on the air, they would sweep every category at the Emmys, probably even the drama categories (Were they on a break or not?!). This is not the case.
We took a closer look at all 10 years of Friends at the Emmys, from 1995-2004: who was nominated, who beat them (how dare they) and how many total nominations the show racked up. Here’s a hint: Bruce Willis has more Emmy awards for Friends than most of the actual Friends.

Season 1 (1994-1995)

Who Was Nominated:
Outstanding Comedy Series: Friends (Beaten by Frasier)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: David Schwimmer as Dr. Ross Gellar in “The One With the Sonogram at the End” and “The One with the Blackout” (Beaten by David Hyde Pierce, Frasier)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay, “The One with the Monkey” (Beaten by Christine Baranski, Cybill)
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Christina Pickles as Judy Gellar, “The One Where Nana Dies Twice” (Beaten by Cyndi Lauper, Mad About You)
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Comedy Series: James Burrows, “The One with the Blackout” (Beaten by David Lee, Frasier)
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Comedy Series: Jeff Greenstein and Jeff Strauss, “The One Where Underdog Gets Away” (Beaten by Chuck Ranberg and Anne Flett-Giordano, Frasier)
Outstanding Main Title Theme Music: Friends (Beaten by Star Trek: Voyager)
Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Series: Andy Zall, Friends (Beaten by Janet Ashikaga, Seinfeld)
Outstanding Art Direction for a Series: Greg Grande and John Shaffner, Friends (Beaten by Garvin Eddy and Rochelle Moser, Cybill)
So let’s recap:
Nominated: 9
Won: 0
Total Nominations: 9
Total Wins: 0
Hey, it takes a full season for most shows to settle in, maybe they’ll have better luck with their second season!

Season 2 (1995-1996)
Who was nominated:
Outstanding Comedy Series, Friends (Beaten by Frasier)
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Marlo Thomas as Sandra Green, Friends, “The One with the Lesbian Wedding” (Beaten by Betty White, The John Larroquette Show)
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Comedy Series: Michael Lembeck, Friends, “The One After The Superbowl” (WON!)
Nominated: 3
Won: 1
Total Noms: 12
Total Wins: 1
Ok, so they got even less nominations in their second year? No acknowledgements for the main cast members is sort of lame for a year that gave us “The One with the Prom Video”. But hey, maybe the Academy just hasn’t caught on to the brilliance yet. It’s nice that they got a statue for directing.

Season 3 (1996-1997)
Who was nominated:
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Lisa Kudrow as Phoeoe Buffay, Friends, “The One with the Flashback”, (Beaten by Kristen Johnston, 3rd Rock From The Sun)
Nominated: 1
Won: 0
Total Noms: 13
Total Wins: 1
Could this BE any more disrespectful to Friends? Season 3 includes “The One Where No One’s Ready” and “The One Where Ross and Rachel Take a Break”, only a couple of episodes that changed the pop culture landscape forever, is all.

Season 4 (1997-1998)
Who was nominated:
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Lisa Kudrow as Phoeoe Buffay, Friends, “The One with Ross’s Wedding”, (WON!)
Nominated: 1
Won: 1
Total Noms: 14
Total Wins: 2
Wow. Our children will never believe that season 4 of Friends only received one one Emmy nomination. A worthy one, sure, and it’s lovely that Kudrow walked away with the win for their sole nom as well. But this season had the start of the London trip. Does that mean nothing to the Academy?

Season 5 (1998-1999)
Who was nominated:
Outstanding Comedy Series, Friends (Beaten by Ally McBeal)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay, Friends, “The One Hundredth” and “The One Where Everybody Finds Out”, (Beaten by Kristen Johnston, 3rd Rock From The Sun)
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: Michael Lembeck, Friends, “The One Where Everybody Finds Out” (Beaten by Thomas Schlamme, Sports Night)
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: Alexa Junge, Friends, “The One Where Everybody Finds Out” (Beaten by Jay Kogen, Frasier)
Outstanding Multi-Camera Sound Mixing for a Series or Special: Dana Mark McClure, Charlie McDaniel, Kathy Oldham and John Bickelhaupt, Friends, “The One With All The Thanksgivings” (Beaten by Peter R. Kelsey, Paul M. Lewis, and Nello Torri for Ally McBeal)
Outstanding Costumes for a Series: Debra McGuire, Friends, “The One With All The Thanksgivings” (Beaten by Melina Root, That ’70s Show)
Nominated: 6
Won: 0
Total Noms: 20
Total Wins: 2
Ok, the Emmys are starting to take note. Maybe it took Monica and Chandler’s relationship for them to finally wake up? Or perhaps it was Phoebe giving birth to triplets or Ross’s Thanksgiving sandwich or the group’s trip to Vegas? Either way, it’s nice that the show is starting to pick up recognition. How none of those moments equal the gold, we’ll never know.

Season 6 (1999-2000)
Who was nominated:
Outstanding Comedy Series: Friends (Beaten by Will & Grace)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay, Friends, “The One That Could Have Been”
AND!
Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, Friends, “The One With Rachel’s Sister” and “The One Where Chandler Can’t Cry”
(Beaten by Megan Mullally, Will & Grace)
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Tom Selleck as Dr. Richard Burke, Friends, “The One with the Proposal”
AND
Bruce Willis as Paul Stevens, Friends, “The One with the Ring” (WON!)
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: Michael Lembeck, Friends, “The One That Could Have Been” (Beaten by Todd Holland, Malcolm in the Middle)
Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Series: Stephen Prime, Friends, “The One with the Proposal” (Beaten by Scott Maisano and Ron Volk, Frasier)
Outstanding Multi-Camera Sound Mixing for a Series or Special: Dana Mark McClure, Charlie McDaniel, Kathy Oldham and John Bickelhaupt, Friends, “The One After Vegas” (Beaten by Peter R. Kelsey, Paul M. Lewis, and Nello Torri for Ally McBeal)
Nominated: 8
Won: 1
Total Noms: 28
Total Wins: 3
This is more like it! Friends picked up an Emmy win for…Bruce Willis! Ok. We’ll take it. It’s nice to see Aniston joining the race, as well as double noms in the Supporting Actress and Guest Actor categories.

Season 7 (2000-2001)

Who was nominated:
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, Friends, “The One with Rachel’s Assistant” and “The One Where They All Turn 30”
AND
Lisa Kudrow as Phoeoe Buffay, Friends, “The One with Phoebe’s Cookies” and “The One with Joey’s New Brain”
(Beaten by Doris Roberts, Everybody Loves Raymond)
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Gary Oldman as Richard Crosby, Friends, “The One with Monica and Chandler’s Wedding” (Beaten by Derek Jacobi, Frasier)
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Susan Sarandon as Cecilia Monroe on Friends, “The One with Joey’s New Brain” (Beaten by Jean Smart, Frasier)
Outstanding Art Direction for a Multi-Camera Series: John Shaffner, Joe Stewart and Greg J. Grande, Friends, “The One with Chandler and Monica’s Wedding” (Beaten by Melinda Ritz and Glenda Rovello, Will & Grace)
Nominated: 5
Won: 0
Total Noms: 33
Total Wins: 3
Sigh. This was the year the main cast decided to submit as Lead actors instead of Supporting, which was a smart strategy overall. But the ratio of nominations to wins is feeling a little uneven, wouldn’t you say? “It’s an honor just to be nominated” or something.

Season 8 (2001-2002)
Who was nominated:
Outstanding Comedy Series, Friends (WON!)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing, Friends, “The One Where Chandler Takes a Bath”
AND
Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribiani, Friends, “The One Where Joey Tells Rachel”
(Beaten by Ray Romano, Everybody Loves Raymond)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Jennifer Anison as Rachel Green, Friends, “The One Where Rachel Has a Baby” (WON!)
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Brad Pitt as Will Colbert, Friends, “The One with the Rumor” (Beaten by Anthony LaPaglia, Frasier)
Outstanding Multi-Camera Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special: Dana Mark McClure, Charlie McDaniel, Kathy Oldham and John Bickelhaupt, Friends, “The One Where Rachel Has a Baby” (Beaten by Andre Caporaso, Robert Douglass, Thomas J. Huth, Dana Mark McClure, Frasier)
Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Series: Stephen Prime, Friends, “The One with the Rumor”
AND
Kenny Tintorri, Friends, “The One with the Halloween Party”
(Beaten by Ron Volk, Frasier)
Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series: Nick McLean, Friends, “The One with the Rumor” (Beaten by Tony Askins, Will & Grace)
Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series: Leslie Litt and Barbara Miller, Friends, (Beaten by Jennifer McNamara, Sex and the City)
Outstanding Art Direction for a Multi-Camera Series: John Shaffner, Joe Stewart and Greg J. Grande, Friends, “The One Where Rachel Has a Baby” (Beaten by Melinda Ritz and Glenda Rovello, Will & Grace)
Nominated: 11
Won: 2
Total Noms: 43
Total Wins: 5
Big year for Friends at the Emmys! Aniston nabs a trophy, Perry nabs a nom, and the series wins for best comedy. Duh! All hail, “The One with the Rumor”.

Season 9 (2002-2003)

Who was nominated:
Outstanding Comedy Series: Friends (Beaten by Everybody Loves Raymond)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Matt Leblanc as Joey Tribiani, Friends, “The One in Barbados” (Beaten by Tony Shaloub, Monk)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, Friends, “The One Where Monica Sings” (Beaten by Debra Messing, Will & Grace)
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Hank Azaria as David, Friends, “The One with the Donor” (Beaten by Gene Wilder, Will & Grace)
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Christine Applegate, a Amy Green, Friends, “The One with Rachel’s Other Sister” (WON!)
Outstanding Multi-Camera Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special: Dana Mark McClure, Charlie McDaniel and John Bickelhaupt, Friends, “The One in Barbados” (Beaten by Rick Himot, Kathy Oldham, Brentley Walton, Everybody Loves Raymond)
Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Series: Stephen Prime, Friends, “The One in Barbados”
AND
Kenny Tintorri, Friends, “The One With Ross’s Inappropriate Song”
(Beaten by Ron Volk, Frasier)
Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series: Nick McLean, Friends, “The One in Barbados” (Beaten by Tony Askins, Will & Grace)
Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series: Leslie Litt and Barbara Miller, Friends, (Beaten by Jennifer McNamara, Sex and the City)
Outstanding Art Direction for a Multi-Camera Series: John Shaffner, Joe Stewart and Greg J. Grande, Friends, “The One in Barbados” (Beaten by Melinda Ritz, Glenda Rovello, Will & Grace)
Nominated: 11
Won: 1
Total Noms: 54
Total Wins: 6
Hooray for Christina Applegate! 11 noms for the season ain’t nothing to sneeze at and they crossed the 50 nom mark for the entire series. Still deserves more, but this is a nice sign of confidence from the Academy.

Season 10 (2003-2004)
Who was nominated:
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribiani, Friends, “The One Where the Stripper Cries” (Beaten by Kelsey Grammer, Frasier)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, Friends, “The One with Rachel’s Going Away Party” (Beaten by Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City)
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Danny DeVito as Roy, Friends, “The One Where the Stripper Cries” (Beaten by John Turturro, Monk)
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Christina Applegate as Amy Green, Friends, “The One Where Rachel’s Sister Babysits” (Beaten by Laura Linney, Frasier)
Outstanding Multi-Camera Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special: Dana Mark McClure, Charlie McDaniel and John Bickelhaupt, Friends, “The Last One” (Beaten by Andre Caporaso, Robert Douglass, Thomas J. Huth, Dana Mark McClure, Frasier)
Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Series: Stephen Prime, Friends, “The Last One” (Beaten by Ron Volk, Frasier)
Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special: Sven Nilsson, Stephen Prime, Todd Felker and Kenny Tintorri, Friends, “The One Before The Last One – 10 Years of Friends” (Beaten by Lance Cain,
Zoran Jevremov, A&E in Concert: Paul McCartney in Red Square)
Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series: Nick McLean, Friends, “The One with Phoebe’s Wedding” (Beaten by Bruce Finn, 8 Simple Rules)
Nominated: 8
Won: 0
Total Noms: 62
Total Wins: 6
Shame on you, voters. No wins for their final season? Way harsh. It’s fine we’ll just be over here watching the series again and again and again, which is what really matters.
So that brings us to:
Comedy Series: 6 nominations, 1 win
Courteney Cox: 0 nominations, 0 wins
Matthew Perry: 1 nomination (Lead Actor), 0 wins
David Schwimmer: 1 nomination (Supporting Actor), 0 wins
Matt LeBlanc: 3 nominations (Lead Actor), 0 wins
Jennifer Aniston: 5 nominations (2 Supporting, 3 Lead Actress), 1 win
Lisa Kudrow: 6 nominations (Supporting Actress), 1 win
Source: Emmys.com
[Watch Friends on Netflix]