25 Most Binge-Worthy Shows That Won Emmys
/granite-web-prod/3f/cc/3fccac510e1a4d56ab771e7d3ca2b740.jpeg)
Just finished binging an amazing series, and now you're not quite sure what to do with your life? You could become a productive member of society. Or you could just choose another show.
Since you're here, we're assuming you've chosen the latter. Picking a show that's worth watching can be annoying. Some shows take a few episodes to get into. Others never get there. Lucky for you, we came up with a list of the most addictive shows that have won TV's most impressive award: the Emmy.
Warning: These 25 Emmy winners are impossible to stop watching once you start. So watch responsibly.
25. Born This Way
/granite-web-prod/7d/17/7d177ff436b246308b1e8443c8178a27.jpeg)
Years won: 2016, 2017
No. of Emmy Awards: 3
Addictive score: 3 (out of 10, 10 being the most addictive)
Why we can’t stop watching it: Success stories are so much more satisfying if they're real. "Born This Way" follows seven young adults with Down syndrome in their quest to achieve their dreams and break down stigmas.
We have Rachel, the girl who seriously wants a boyfriend. We have Sean, a "ladies' man" and athlete who hopes to one day live on his own, and John Tucker, a talented musician and performer. We also have Steven, a young man with a unique form of the syndrome that leaves him stuck somewhere in the middle, and Elena, a girl who struggles to embrace her disability.
It's raw, it's real and it's inspiring. If you're in the mood for something authentic and eye-opening, "Born This Way" is worth watching.
24. Shark Tank
/granite-web-prod/53/c8/53c81a96e40545f080ee4c44ce84f499.jpeg)
Years won: 2014-2017
No. of Emmy Awards: 4
Addictive score: 4
Why we can’t stop watching it: "Shark Tank" has absolutely nothing to do with sharks, but it's even more addictive than Discovery's Shark Week.
The premise involves a panel of investors, or "sharks," who evaluate the ideas and business plans of wannabe entrepreneurs. If they're impressed, they come up with an investment offer. In the process, they offer their expert opinions to help lead the budding business people to success.
Watching people "make it" with fun and functional inventions is totally addictive. The inventions include so many crazy and cool items, including dessert hummus, a baking pan that makes every piece an edge piece and an authentic record player that streams music via Bluetooth. Once you get into it, you won't run out of episodes any time soon. There are 269.
23. The Office
/granite-web-prod/da/fa/dafaa792ff344c35a33211ea85b0f12e.jpeg)
Years won: 2006, 2007, 2009, 2013
No. of Emmy Awards: 5
Addictive score: 10
Why we can’t stop watching it: Combine Steve Carrell's comedic existence with an average paper company called Dunder Mifflin and what do you get? One of the best shows of all time.
"The Office" follows the everyday lives of the company's staff, including a barely competent boss, a talented salesman and resident prankster, a salesman who's a little too Type A and the receptionist everyone can't help but love. There are also a handful of characters the audience loves to hate.
The 201 episodes of "The Office" are full of hilarious antics, comedic drama and just the right amount of heart-warming romance. And by the time you finish watching them all, you'll probably be ready to start the series over again. It's that good.
22. Fleabag
/granite-web-prod/7e/f7/7ef7a51d856a4f668dab64fea13f99a6.jpeg)
Years won: 2019
No. of Emmy Awards: 6
Addictive score: 6
Why we can’t stop watching it: The brainchild of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, a British comedian, "Fleabag" is one of the most authentic comedy shows we've encountered.
Known only as Fleabag, Waller-Bridge's character is dry-witted, filter-free and absolutely hilarious. She's seen her share of tragedy, but that doesn't stop her from moving on with life, complete with terrible dates, rejection and amusing adventures.
21. Arrested Development
/granite-web-prod/e8/8e/e88e7ff2d7a14a058cbe80a15bba6b98.jpeg)
Years won: 2004, 2005
No. of Emmy Awards: 6
Addictive score: 7
Why we can’t stop watching it: Riches to rags stories are always amusing. Something about watching arrogant millionaires come back down to earth is satisfying, particularly when it's paired with a hearty dose of humor.
The five seasons of "Arrested Development" follow the (very dysfunctional) Bluth family after the family's patriarch is arrested for fraud. The family's assets are frozen, and each member of the family copes with their internal panic in their own way.
There's drama, there's angst, and there's murder. But somehow all of it is hilarious.
20. Queer Eye
/granite-web-prod/c0/bc/c0bcd4e07b7548d996b73a9268219c30.jpeg)
Years won: 2018-2020
No. of Emmy Awards: 8
Addictive score: 7
Why we can’t stop watching it: "Queer Eye" isn't a new show. It went off the air over a decade ago, but Netflix decided it deserved a reboot. They were right.
The show follows five gay men known as the Fab Five who help transform the lives of people who are in desperate need of a lifestyle makeover. Each of the Fab Five specializes in a different area, from hair care and style to culture and nutrition. Together, they connect with individuals from all walks of life, even those who are very different than themselves.
It's one of the few reality shows that isn't about fake fights and dramatized love lives. If you're looking for an easy-to-watch, feel-good show that's also surprisingly moving, "Queer Eye" is a great pick.
19. Homeland
/granite-web-prod/ff/15/ff15691e6e9b4673b07416ad8d4638e2.jpeg)
Years won: 2012, 2013
No. of Emmy Awards: 8
Addictive score: 7
Why we can’t stop watching it: The winner of eight Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series, "Homeland" is a real nail-biter.
It follows CIA officer Carrie Mathison and Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody. Mathison is amazing at her job, but she's also bipolar. Sergeant Brody is an experienced war hero, but he's also a threat to national security.
The eight seasons of Homeland are grippingly dramatic, so don't start watching it if you don't have an entire Friday night to kill.
18. Schitt's Creek
/granite-web-prod/a5/95/a595cbbbbf674f90ba69adc56ace9f50.jpeg)
Years won: 2020
No. of Emmy Awards: 9
Addictive score: 9
Why we can’t stop watching it: The first episode of Schitt's Creek feels over the top. It starts when Johnny Rose, the owner of a massive video store chain, loses everything. It's through no fault of his own, but his family is still left with virtually nothing.
Evicted from their mansion, they travel to the only home they have left: a rundown town in the middle of nowhere that they purchased as a joke. It's called Schitt's Creek, and it's just the nightmare they needed.
We won't spoil the rest, but just take it from us, once you start watching, you'll breeze through all six seasons in a week, tops.
17. Succession
/granite-web-prod/4a/43/4a4300c21a2c4caf847fdb2faf1f6a96.jpeg)
Years won: 2019, 2020
No. of Emmy Awards: 9
Addictive score: 6
Why we can’t stop watching it: The Roy family runs the biggest entertainment company worldwide, but things change drastically when their father falls ill and has to step down from the help.
It's categorized as a drama, but it's actually very, very funny. Fans of dark comedy will adore this Emmy winner. There are only 20 episodes out so far, but more are expected to come later in 2021.
16. Lost
/granite-web-prod/9f/6a/9f6a8b4d16fc4b0fac09328a45958b10.jpeg)
Years won: 2005, 2007-2010
No. of Emmy Awards: 10
Addictive score: 8
Why we can’t stop watching it: A plane crashes, but when the survivors come to on an unknown island, things seem twisted. Their past, present and future selves are bizarrely tangled.
Their fight to survive morphs into a search for answers, since the island seems to be filled with more mystery and danger than hope. Will they ever get home? Or was the island home all along?
To find out, you'll just have to watch all 119 episodes.
15. The Handmaid's Tale
/granite-web-prod/ef/d6/efd6990e37784e26872ba244d3503d98.jpeg)
Years won: 2017-2020
No. of Emmy Awards: 15
Addictive score: 6
Why we can’t stop watching it: We're not going to lie. This one's dark. Really, really dark.
"The Handmaid's Tale" tells the story of Offred, a woman living in the shattered remains of what was once the United States of America. The country has been taken over by a religious autocracy and renamed Gilead. In Gilead, women's rights aren't really a thing, and escaping is illegal.
One young woman named June tries to flee with her husband and daughter, but she's captured by the government. They rename her Offred and force her to be a handmaid, producing heirs for government officials with barren wives. It's a terrifying yet captivating watch.
14. Mad Men
/granite-web-prod/2e/36/2e36bff984ed4782bf3c22a05f4f0354.jpeg)
Years won: 2008-2011, 2015
No. of Emmy Awards: 16
Addictive score: 9
Why we can’t stop watching it: Ninety-two episodes of dapper men in suits trying to run the world from inside the walls of a 1960s advertising firm are way more entertaining than they sound.
Donald Draper is the man at the head of it all, and he's far from perfect. The cocky, brilliant marketing exec is all about appearances. He sells himself to the world just as much as any product.
Beneath the surface, however, he's brimming with vices, a depressing backstory and a nasty habit of having affairs. It's an intriguing drama, and the costumes will make you want to trade in your wardrobe for some vintage style.
13. Breaking Bad
/granite-web-prod/10/d2/10d257535c8448e0935d24843189463b.jpeg)
Years won: 2008-2010, 2012-2014
No. of Emmy Awards: 16
Addictive score: 10
Why we can’t stop watching it: We'd all like to think that we have a secret, dark side. It's not that we want to go off the deep end, but being edgy is fun, right?
Chemistry teacher Walter White starts out as anything but dangerous. He lives a very ordinary life with his wife and teenage son, who has cerebral palsy. Then, he's hit with a cancer diagnosis. With only two years to live, he's determined to protect his family's future.
So what's a chemistry teacher to do? Use his skills to become the biggest meth manufacturer in New Mexico. Despite his noble intentions, the path he follows is littered with drugs, crime and chaos. How will it all end? You'll just have to watch Breaking Bad's 62 episodes to find out.
12. 30 Rock
/granite-web-prod/39/d9/39d91821e41d41af8a59b7e4350fbb36.jpeg)
Years won: 2007-2009, 2013
No. of Emmy Awards: 16
Addictive score: 8
Why we can’t stop watching it: Elizabeth "Liz" Lemon, played by Tina Fey, is the relatable, comedic heroine that we all aspire to be. She is the main character.
In "30 Rock," Fey's character is the executive manager of a late-night comedy show called "The Girlie Show," known affectionately as TGS. TGS has been struggling for years, but when Jack Donaghy (played by Alec Balwin) comes aboard as NBC's VP, he's determined to turn it around.
His methods are unconventional and drive Liz crazy. Between a chaotic writing room and ongoing drama between costars, Liz spends most of her days putting out fires (including a few she started herself). Let's not even get started about her love life. The 138 episodes are laugh-out-loud funny, and they earned every one of their 16 Emmys.
11. Veep
/granite-web-prod/27/da/27da155b2de8498f8bc56feeeac3dba9.jpeg)
Years won: 2012-2017
No. of Emmy Awards: 17
Addictive score: 6
Why we can’t stop watching it: In 65 episodes of utter hilarity, former Senator Selina Meyer ventures deeper into the world of politics as the vice president of the United States.
"Politics is about people," she likes to say. People are a little less predictable than she thought, however.
Her life is one disaster after another, both in office and in her private life. It's like a train wreck you just can't help but look at.
10. Will and Grace
/granite-web-prod/47/96/4796d5eee37147a9a07352da0b2ba3be.jpeg)
Years won: 2000-2003, 2005, 2006, 2018
No. of Emmy Awards: 18
Addictive score: 4
Why we can’t stop watching it: Gay lawyer Will Truman (Eric McCormack) is the gay best friend every woman wants, and interior designer Grace Adler (Debra Messing) has snagged him. When she breaks it off with her jerk of a fiance, Will agrees to let her move in until she finds a place of her own. They're not quite sure how it happens, but she never does.
The dynamic duo are joined by Grace's assistant, the bubbly socialite Karen Walker (Megan Mullally) and Will's flamboyant and fiery friend Jack McFarland (Sean Hayes). The show was on the air for an incredible 246 episodes, so you won't run out anytime soon.
9. RuPaul's Drag Race
/granite-web-prod/ef/b3/efb3655bbddc406382b07f567154eba6.jpeg)
Years won: 2016-2020
No. of Emmy Awards: 19
Addictive score: 6
Why we can’t stop watching it: If you somehow missed it, RuPaul is the most famous drag queen on the planet. He's also the host of his own show, "RuPaul's Drag Race."
On the show, he serves as both judge and adviser. He helps prepare contestants to perform the wildest, most unique drag acts in the nation, all in the name of becoming the top drag queen in America.
The contest show eliminates one contestant per week until a superstar is chosen. There are 179 episodes, and we highly recommend starting at the beginning to catch all of the coolest acts.
8. 24
/granite-web-prod/92/7f/927fc7ae2b9142ff8014b4af6f57be69.jpeg)
Years won: 2002-2007, 2009, 2010
No. of Emmy Awards: 20
Addictive score: 5
Why we can’t stop watching it: One hundred and ninety-five episodes of intense drama is a lot, but "24" wears it well. Every season is set in a single 24-hour period.
In the first season, protagonist Jack Bauer heads an elite team of CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit) agents who are tasked with thwarting a plan to assassinate presidential nominee David Palmer. At the same time, his teenage daughter vanishes, and his relationship with his wife is hanging on by a thread.
Much of the pull of each episode is the character's likeability. With lines like, "The only reason that you're conscious right now is because I don't want to carry you," how could you not like him?
7. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
/granite-web-prod/b8/84/b8841bb564c945cd960edf90131f9de1.jpeg)
Years won: 2018-2020
No. of Emmy Awards: 20
Addictive score: 7
Why we can’t stop watching it: Turn back the clock to 1950s Manhattan. There, Miriam "Midge" Maisel begins as a bright, witty, Jewish housewife living her best life. That is, until her husband, frustrated with his failed standup act, leaves her for another woman.
Like any sane person, Midge is thrown for a loop. She heads to the local nightclub for a drink (as is appropriate when one's spouse has run off with his secretary), and that's when things start to get a little less predictable. She drunkenly stumbles onto stage and spews her most honest, real thoughts into the microphone. Unlike her ex-husband, her accidental act is a hit.
The dramatic comedy is both empowering, hilarious and impossible to stop watching. There are only 32 episodes so far, and we are dying for more.
6. The Sopranos
/granite-web-prod/ef/2d/ef2dfe107e50465faf715cbc9a2db309.jpeg)
Years won: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007
No. of Emmy Awards: 21
Addictive score: 5
Why we can’t stop watching it: The Sopranos is timeless. In 86 episodes set in North Jersey, mob boss Tony Soprano does the unthinkable: He starts going to therapy.
He's trying to handle a spirited teenage daughter, a frustrated wife, a nasty mother and an elderly uncle who wants to kill him. He's stressed, and therapy seems to help.
He can't, however, let the rest of the mob know that he's seeing a psychologist. Can he keep the big secret?
5. Modern Family
/granite-web-prod/68/c8/68c8ae394cd442f0a9742e64a62bcdd5.jpeg)
Years won: 2010-2015
No. of Emmy Awards: 22
Addictive score: 6
Why we can’t stop watching it: One of the most recent Emmy hits, "Modern Family" is one of a handful of award winners that the entire family can watch.
It follows the lives of a multigenerational family, including parents Phil and Claire, who try to foster a functional relationship with their rapidly growing teenagers, Claire's dad Jay and his (much) younger second wife, Gloria, and her son Manny, and Claire's brother Mitchell with his husband Cam and their adopted daughter Lily.
It's a big, eccentric, authentic family. A modern family, and a hilarious one at that. The show's 250 episodes are easy to watch, perfect for throwing on while you're doing the laundry or making dinner.
4. ER
/granite-web-prod/f9/8a/f98aa7c5c6c844b58d36715a155d422a.jpeg)
Years won: 1995- 2003, 2005, 2009
No. of Emmy Awards: 23
Addictive score: 4
Why we can’t stop watching it: Michael Crichton's medical masterpiece lasted for more than a decade and 331 episodes for a reason.
It was one of the first medical dramas that made it big, featuring the life and death events of a fictional Chicago emergency room. It's a fast-paced nail-biter and some of it is decidedly dated, but what do you expect from a show that premiered in 1995?
As America's second-longest-running prime-time medical drama, right behind "Grey's Anatomy," it's definitely worth a watch.
3. The Carol Burnett Show
/granite-web-prod/98/ae/98aedeeace584849a2a6450e85acff97.jpeg)
Years won: 1969, 1971-1978
No. of Emmy Awards: 25
Addictive score: 3
Why we can’t stop watching it: The myth of "women aren't funny" was always ridiculous, but it stubbornly persisted for decades. Carol Burnett was one of the women who helped bust it.
The comedian launched her own variety/sketch comedy show starring herself, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence and Lyle Waggoner back in the 1970s. Tim Conway later became a regular on the show, and Dick Van Dyke appeared for a few episodes as well.
It's light, funny, and historic all in one. You may not want to watch all 288 episodes in a row, but you'll definitely enjoy at least a few.
2. The West Wing
/granite-web-prod/d0/e2/d0e22de9aedb4039a97907c33e34d302.jpeg)
Years won: 2000- 2004, 2006
No. of Emmy Awards: 26
Addictive score: 6
Why we can’t stop watching it: Remember the show "Scandal"? "The West Wing" is like an early version of that.
Fictional President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet has little patience for people lacking in common sense. That turns out to be a bit of a challenge as he tries to formulate policies that serve the needs of his country while working within the rigid realities of Washington politics.
There are plenty of scandals, of course, along with death threats and heated campaign races. With 26 Emmys, and 155 episodes, "The West Wing" is one you can pick through for a while.
1. Game of Thrones
/granite-web-prod/a3/72/a372b8bfe65a4a8fa8cc9dbab4e103ed.jpeg)
Years won: 2011-2016, 2018, 2019
No. of Emmy Awards: 59
Addictive score: 10
Why we can’t stop watching it: Last but not least, the addictive, Emmy winner king of kings: "Game of Thrones." Based on the book series by George R.R. Martin, "Game of Thrones" is set in the fictional land of Westeros. There, nine different royal families struggle to control the Seven Kingdoms. But when a dark, less-than human enemy resurfaces from ancient times, none of them are safe.
The 73 episodes are dark and often disturbing, but impossible to stop watching. It's worth noting that the show has been criticized for its frequent use of violence and nudity, so read up about how intense it gets before you start watching.
With 59 Emmys, it has many redeeming qualities that make it so binge-worthy, including remarkably complex storylines, entrancing character development and mind-blowing costume design.