The 2016 Emmys suffered a very problematic failing this year: the dismal treatment of History channel's Roots. The fact that it didn't win a single award when it's such an exceptional series is beyond comprehension.
It's been one of the two best series of the year, sitting alongside The People v. OJ Simpson as the Top 2 shows of the year, and yet it was ignored in the strictest sense of the word.
The problem started with the nominations when it was only nominated for one non-creative category: Outstanding Limited Series. It was obvious that The People v. OJ would win this because of the hype surrounding it so its shot at a win was thwarted from the start.
And it was left out of all of the acting categories. None of the outstanding cast members were nominated in the acting categories despite the fact they were highly deserving.
It was also snubbed in the rest of the headline categories with not a mention of it for directing or writing, which was mind-boggling because both were instrumental in the resounding impact it had on audiences.
The only other nominations it received were for arbitrary categories that don't have a popular resonance or large scale meaning. It was nominated for seven awards in these categories:
- Outstanding Casting for a Limited Series, Movie Or Special,
- Outstanding Costumes for a Period/Fantasy Series, Limited Series Or Movie,
- Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series Or Movie,
- Outstanding Makeup for a Limited Series Or Movie (Non-Prosthetic),
- Outstanding Narrator,
- Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction Or Reality Series,
- Outstanding Sound Editing For A Limited Series, Movie Or Special.
And it didn't win one. NOT
one. A truly criminal state of affairs.