I don’t watch Sons of Anarchy but I’ve heard good things about it. The subject matter is interesting, but I could easily see how “respectable” (old) Emmy voters would think that bikers and such would be too “downmarket” for their prestigious television awards show. Those are the same Emmy voters that keep nominating Downton Abbey (which I watch and enjoy, but I’m realistic about the diminished quality). Downton is “classy” – SoA is not. So, obviously, Sons of Anarchy has only been nominated for ONE Emmy the entire time it’s been on the air. The one Emmy nomination was for “Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music.” Seriously. Charlie Hunnam has never been nominated, no Katey Sagal, no Ron Perlman, etc. No writing nominations, no directing nominations, nothing. So, obviously, that notable lack was mentioned during the FX panel discussion at the TCA press tour:

FX’s Sons of Anarchy made it nearly all the way through its final panel at the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour before the show’s perennial Emmys snub came up. And when it did, the stars and creators had a good laugh at the TV Academy’s expense. In its seven-season run, the Kurt Sutter drama has never received any Emmy acting attention, including in the best drama race; the outspoken showrunner has been vocal about the series deserving a nomination.

Speaking to reporters Monday afternoon, star Charlie Hunnam expressed how he really feels about the show’s perennial snubs. “Lest we forget, it doesn’t matter at all. I feel there’s this perception that we’re upset about this and.… I really don’t give a sh-t,” he said to laughs from his co-stars and producers. “I make this for the people that watch the show and I really care for me about the work that I do and for my friends that watch it. People don’t appreciate it. You can’t win them all.”

Director Paris Barclay, who is a two-time Emmy winner (NYPD Blue) and a nominee this year for his work on Fox’s Glee, said Sons isn’t the kind of show where new viewers can come in and find it — or one that “appeals to Emmy voters.” “I’m not a biker dude, I’m a Glee dude, but you get sucked into it,” he said.

Sutter, meanwhile, largely refrained from lashing out at the TV Academy as he has done in the past and joked that the Sons snubs were because his characters aren’t wearing costumes on the show. But after hearing both Hunnam and Barclay weigh in, the outspoken showrunner concluded the conversation on a light note.

“I want an Emmy. I’ll be honest. I would like an Emmy,” he said with a smile, before adding that he was so disconnected after seeing Sons ignored again this year that he neglected to congratulate Barclay on his nomination. “I didn’t know Paris was nominated for Glee until four days later,” he said with a laugh. “I didn’t even acknowledge it because I was like, ‘F— that!’ “

[From THR]

I think it would be nice to see Charlie and Kurt Sutter acknowledge that it could totally be a lot worse – SoA could have died on the vine years ago, but they have a loyal fanbase and they have a network (FX) that supports them, year after year. I’m still mourning the loss of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and Life (with Damian Lewis, and GOD THAT SHOW WAS AWESOME). So, yeah, SoA got support in all of the important ways and they got eight seasons and they got to tell the story they wanted to tell. But let’s also be honest – all of these people would love to be recognized with an Emmy nomination. Even Charlie.

Photos courtesy of WENN.