'The Wire' May Finally Win the Emmy It Deserves

This year’s Emmy telecast will introduce a new award for the first time in 20 years. It’s called the Legacy Award, and it will honor a “long-running show that has demonstrated continued or sustained relevance, influence, or inspiration.” They probably should have just called it The Wire Award.

In fact, the Television Academy’s president, Maury McIntyre, all but acknowledged that reality. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, McIntyre was asked directly whether the award was meant to correct past oversights. “Are we trying to correct The Wire? Is that what you’re asking? That was not necessarily the intent, but it obviously is something that we see as an opportunity,” he said.

Then it really ought to be the first recipient. The eligibility requirements are very specific: at least 60 episodes across five seasons. The Wire ran for five seasons and exactly 60 episodes. It is hard to imagine a more on-the-nose fit. If this award was not designed with The Wire in mind, it was at least reverse-engineered to accommodate it.

That said, there are plenty of other shows that could benefit from a category meant to acknowledge cultural impact rather than Emmy-night dominance. Grey’s Anatomy qualifies. Survivor qualifies. I would also put forward Friday Night Lights, which never received a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series despite its influence and also ran for five seasons.

I would even suggest Better Call Saul, which amassed 53 nominations over its run without winning a single Emmy. Although given that show’s history with the Academy, I suspect it would somehow manage to lose one more time anyway.