The One With All The Snubs: Ranking Friends' 62 Emmy Nominations And 6 Wins (Updated For 2025)

The iconic sitcom Friends remains one of television's most beloved and enduring shows, yet its history at the Primetime Emmy Awards is a fascinating mix of overwhelming recognition and shocking snubs. While the series amassed an impressive 62 total nominations over its ten-season run, its win rate was surprisingly low, securing only six golden statues in major categories. This deep dive, updated for the current date in December 2025, explores the complete Emmy journey of Friends, from its early critical success to its recent, unexpected return to the nominations list with the 2021 reunion special.

From the early days of "The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate" to the emotional finale, the show consistently garnered attention from the Television Academy, often dominating technical and guest star categories. However, the true drama lies in the main cast's individual recognition—or lack thereof—a narrative that has become as famous as the show's catchphrases, particularly the infamous omission of one core cast member.

The Complete Emmy Biography of Friends: Nominations, Wins, and Key Milestones

The story of Friends at the Emmys is a tale of consistent presence but inconsistent success in the major acting and series categories. The show ran from 1994 to 2004, and its Emmy narrative is often used as a case study for the unpredictable nature of TV awards.

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• Total Primetime Emmy Nominations: 62
• Total Primetime Emmy Wins: 6
• Outstanding Comedy Series Nominations: 6 (Seasons 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10)
• Outstanding Comedy Series Win: 1 (Season 8, 2002)

Main Cast Individual Nominations and Wins

The six core actors—Jennifer Aniston (Rachel Green), Courteney Cox (Monica Geller), Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe Buffay), Matt LeBlanc (Joey Tribbiani), Matthew Perry (Chandler Bing), and David Schwimmer (Ross Geller)—were nominated a total of 12 times for their primary roles. The competition in the 1990s and early 2000s, featuring shows like Frasier, Seinfeld, and Sex and the City, was notoriously fierce, which likely contributed to the low win count.

• Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe Buffay): Received 6 nominations (1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001) for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She won once in 1998, solidifying her status as the first of the main cast to take home an Emmy.
• Jennifer Aniston (Rachel Green): Received 5 nominations (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004) for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. She won once in 2002 for the show's eighth season, "The One Where Rachel Has a Baby," a significant moment for the actress.
• Matt LeBlanc (Joey Tribbiani): Received 3 nominations (2002, 2003, 2004) for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. His three consecutive nominations in the final years of the show highlighted his comedic brilliance.
• Matthew Perry (Chandler Bing): Received 1 nomination (2002) for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
• David Schwimmer (Ross Geller): Received 1 nomination (1996) for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
• Courteney Cox (Monica Geller): Received 0 nominations for her acting role in the series. This remains one of the most discussed and controversial Emmy snubs in television history.

The Infamous Courteney Cox Snub and the Reunion Redemption

The fact that Courteney Cox was the only member of the core six never to receive an individual Primetime Emmy nomination for her role as the meticulous, high-strung Monica Geller is a point of contention among fans and critics alike. Cox herself has publicly admitted that the omission "hurt" her feelings, especially as her co-stars were consistently recognized.

The snub is particularly perplexing given Monica’s central role in many of the show's most memorable storylines, from her relationship with Chandler Bing to her career as a chef. Many argue that her comedic timing and ability to ground the ensemble were essential to the show's success.

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A Long-Awaited Nomination for the Entire Cast

Two decades later, the entire main cast, including Courteney Cox, finally received shared Emmy recognition for their work on Friends: The Reunion. The HBO Max special, which aired in May 2021, received four nominations at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards.

The nominations included:

• Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
• Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special
• Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Special
• Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special

Crucially, all six actors—Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, LeBlanc, Perry, and Schwimmer—were nominated as Executive Producers on the special. This nomination, while not for their acting, was a symbolic and collective victory, finally putting Cox's name on an Emmy ballot alongside her co-stars. The special ultimately did not win, but the recognition validated the enduring cultural impact of the Friends franchise.

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Beyond the Core: Guest Star and Technical Emmy Recognition

While the main cast's acting wins were scarce, the show's ability to attract major talent for guest appearances and its high production value were frequently acknowledged by the Television Academy. The guest star category was a consistent source of Emmy nominations and even a few wins for Friends.

The show's guest star excellence is evidenced by the following key nominations and wins:

• Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series:
  • Christina Applegate (Amy Green): Nominated twice (2003, 2004) and won once in 2003 for her performance as Rachel’s self-centered sister. This episode, "The One With Rachel's Other Sister," is a fan favorite.
  • Christina Pickles (Judy Geller): Nominated in 1995 for playing Ross and Monica's mother.
  • Marlo Thomas (Sandra Green): Nominated in 1996 for playing Rachel’s mother.
  • Susan Sarandon (Cecilia Monroe): Nominated in 2001.
• Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series:
  • Gary Oldman (Richard Crosby): Won in 2001 for his two-episode arc as a pretentious actor co-starring with Joey.
  • Brad Pitt (Will Colbert): Nominated in 2002 for his memorable role in "The One with the Rumor."
  • Tom Selleck (Richard Burke): Nominated in 2000 for his recurring role as Monica's older boyfriend.
  • Hank Azaria (David): Nominated in 2003 for his role as Phoebe's scientist boyfriend.
  • Bruce Willis (Paul Stevens): Won in 2000 for his three-episode run as the father of Ross's young girlfriend.

Other technical wins include Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for Michael Lembeck in 1996 ("The One with the Prom Video") and Outstanding Costume Design for a Series in 1998 ("The One With All The Thanksgivings").

The overwhelming number of nominations—62 in total—proves that Friends was a critical success, even if the major acting awards often eluded its main stars. The show's enduring legacy, however, is not measured in golden statues but in its continuous popularity across generations on streaming platforms like Max (formerly HBO Max), cementing its status as a timeless cultural phenomenon regardless of its Emmy scorecard.