Earlier this year, the Television Academy announced a new award for its annual Emmy Awards ceremony. The Legacy Award has been created for TV programs that have made a “profound and lasting impact” on audiences. It is the organization’s first new major award in nearly 20 years.

To be eligible, a TV series must have run for at least five seasons and have had a minimum of 60 episodes; the shows must have “demonstrated continued or sustained relevance, influence or inspiration to a genre of television, or an existing or new audience or society and culture,” The Hollywood Reporter stated.

There are a few television series that immediately come to mind that fit that criteria — there’s “The Wire,” which has never won an Emmy but is often touted as one of the best TV series of all time. Or comedies like “Martin” and “Living Single” that through syndication and streaming have built loyal audiences over several decades and never received an Emmy. Then, there are the shows that we all know and love that have received a handful of wins but deserve to be acknowledged for their lasting impact.

So, in case the Television Academy is looking for any help, HuffPost compiled a few TV series that fit the bill. As a bonus, we also added a few individual names who deserve high honors and recognition at the Emmys ceremony. We pulled together this list with the help of several of our devoted readers and social media fans. Take a look at who deserves their rightful place among the Emmys’ Legacy Award.

Few sitcoms have left a cultural imprint as deep and lasting as “A Different World.” The rise in HBCU enrollment in America alone is enough to prove how profoundly influential the “Cosby Show” spinoff was in showcasing a Black educational experience that, even today, is rare to see on television. Unlike other sitcoms, “A Different World” wasn’t afraid to tackle the serious issues — the ’92 Los Angeles riots, racism, domestic violence, sexual harassment, HIV/AIDS, apartheid, etc. — or lead tough conversations through comedy. Those feats may not have earned the show any Emmys during its six-season run, but they certainly aren’t lost on audiences who still revere its bravery and impact. — Njera

“It was the first show of its kind — horror for teens — and one of the first with a female protagonist that could become a source of inspiration for young women. We were able to find comfort in relating to the fully developed characters, and they didn’t shy away from tough topics: from domestic violence, overwhelming teen responsibility, coming out as gay, first love and first heartbreak, grief. It wasn’t afraid to discuss topics such as depression, addiction, misogyny, and while the special effects do date the show slightly, the quality of the writing and the acting holds up higher than many a show that has come along since — shows we wouldn’t have without ‘Buffy.’” — Facebook user Nicola O’Hara

“Dallas” won four Emmys during its run, including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Barbara Bel Geddes. But the TV series has become synonymous with the dramatic cliffhanger for its Season 2 finale. It has lived on in syndication and on streaming — and even was rebooted in 2012 for three seasons on TNT. The original series aired for 14 seasons and is regarded as one of the top soap operas of all time.

″‘Dallas’ for the birth of the cliffhanger. Who shot J.R.?” — Facebook user Sue Kwiatkowski

Amy Sherman-Palladino and her husband, Daniel Palladino, seemingly knew exactly what Gen X women and millennials wanted to see on television in the early 2000s. Enter “Gilmore Girls,” the fast-moving, slick-talking comedy-drama starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel as a close-knit mother-daughter duo. The series won an Emmy for Outstanding Makeup, but its impact goes far beyond that. It’s widely known for its quippy banter, the strong relationship between Rory and Lorelai, the many loves of Rory and the sharp jabs between Lorelai and her mother, Emily. The show has lived on through streaming and a revival, touching the hearts of many, from generation to generation. — Erin

The legacy of Mara Brock Akil could stand tall on the shoulders of her first TV creation alone: the beloved sitcom “Girlfriends.” As one of the few groundbreaking series that centered on the nuanced experiences of young Black women and our ambitions, the show has earned its place in history as the ultimate love letter to sisterhood. Even after its abrupt cancellation after eight seasons — none of which ever garnered recognition from the Emmys — fans, to this day, still clamor for a “Girlfriends” revival. That demand is a pure testament to how much of an impact that show had, not just on television but also on the countless viewers who saw themselves in Joan (Tracee Ellis Ross), Maya (Golden Brooks), Toni (Jill Marie Jones) and Lynn (Persia White). — Njera

It’s impossible to condense the impact and legacy of “In Living Color” into just a few sentences. Keenen Ivory Wayans created the iconic sketch TV series, which aired on Fox from 1990 to 1994. To clearly lay out a portion of the show’s impact — you know, aside from introducing us to so many incredible comedic actors, including David Alan Grier, Tommy Davidson, Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx and, of course, the whole Wayans family, among others — we have “In Living Color” to thank for the must-see Super Bowl halftime shows of today. — Erin

“Living Single” is one of my favorite TV shows to pop on for a guaranteed laugh. The comedic timing of each actor — and, of course, as an ensemble — is unmatched. And hey, as a Black female editor covering culture, I gotta admit that Khadijah James (Queen Latifah) is forever a role model. Given how much love Latifah has received at recent awards shows, it’s only right she, the cast and the crew nab some huge recognition from the Television Academy for the immeasurable impact of their characters and storylines. — Erin

“Martin” is another ’90s sitcom staple for me. The show has lived on in syndication and on streaming, and is a repeated reference for many moments in Black culture. Martin Lawrence, the show’s star, portrayed 10 different characters, including the titular role as a Detroit DJ turned talk show host who is navigating life with Gina (Tisha Campbell) and his best friends Tommy (Tommy Mikal Ford) and Cole (Carl Anthony Payne II). I often say if there’s a relationship or work conundrum you need to work through, there’s probably a “Martin” episode that addresses it. The legacy of “Martin” is still playing out today as a new generation soon gets introduced to the world. There’s a prequel and a spinoff in the works. When the cast of “Martin” appeared on the Emmys stage in 2024, the love made it clear that they had deserved an Emmy during their run. Let’s go, Television Academy. — Erin

“Mr. Rogers Neighborhood” has won several Daytime Emmys, but it is a prime candidate for this new category. “It literally saved public television and taught our children about real life, death, prejudice, fear, sadness, sharing and love with warmth, compassion and a gentle voice. Fred Rogers was true to his philosophy that children didn’t have to be talked down to.” — Facebook fan Christopher Grey

It’s a shame that “Queen Sugar,” one of the longest-running dramas featuring a Black cast on television, didn’t receive any Emmy nominations during its run. The Ava DuVernay-helmed series featured a dynamic cast of new and familiar faces, from Kofi Siriboe and Dawn-Lyen Gardner to Glynn Turman and Rutina Wesley; it centered a Louisiana family facing an array of timely, and often devastating, issues. Simply, it was unlike anything else on TV while it aired from 2016 to 2022. — Erin

“Sanford and Son” received seven Emmy nominations during its run, including for Outstanding Comedy Series, but never won any awards. “Before you think it’s a joke, it was about two poor Black men in the 1970s, who struggled to live and get along with each other in a new city after the loss of their wife and mother. Regardless of what was going on, at the end of the day, they loved each other and had each others’ backs.” — Facebook user Chris Flournoy Sr.

Yes, “Sesame Street” has won dozens of Emmy Awards for its children’s programming, but its impact on generations cannot be overstated. “Talk about a profound and lasting impact, ‘Sesame Street’ has taught generations of children about ABCs, counting, math and social issues like death, natural disasters, divorce, acceptance, being different, and the list goes on. There is no other choice for the inaugural recipient.” — Facebook user Laura Daman Webb

“The Arsenio Hall Show” ran for six seasons, with a ton of memorable interview moments. He was the first Black person to host a nightly nationally syndicated late show. Don’t we all remember watching former President Bill Clinton (then Arkansas governor) playing his saxophone on the show? Or when Magic Johnson talked about his HIV diagnosis? Or when Prince effectively took over the show and performed for 30 minutes? Incredible. — Erin

“The Jeffersons,” which aired for 11 seasons, was a spinoff of the legendary series “All in the Family,” and became known for featuring an upwardly mobile Black family in New York City. “Sherman Hemsley fought for his character to be real. He didn’t care what the network bosses said. He showed a Black man who owned and ran his own business. A strong Black wife who didn’t take any shit from him. An interracial couple were his in-laws. And of course, it was a Norman Lear spinoff of another show that should [win] one themselves, ‘All in the Family.’” — Facebook fan Chris Heller

“The Wire” arguably has the strongest case for receiving a Legacy Award from the Emmys as soon as humanly possible. I can’t think of a show that’s maintained its relevance and popularity over the last 20-plus years quite like the gritty Baltimore crime drama. In its heyday, the acclaimed series helped HBO define prestige TV with its unflinching (and still timeless) portrayals of institutional failures in America. Quotes, scenes and memes from the cult classic still regularly circulate on social media, thanks to iconic characters like Dominic West’s Jimmy McNulty, Michael K. Williams’ Omar Little, Wood Harris’ Avon Barksdale, Idris Elba’s Stringer Bell and Jamie Hector’s Marlo Stanfield. The show was famously and egregiously ignored by the Emmys during its five-season run — save for two lone writing nominations — so now feels like as good a time as any to finally give it its just due. — Njera

“This Is Us” took TV fans by storm when it premiered in 2016. The NBC series is a drama like no other, pulling at your heartstrings and making you fall in love with the characters as their storylines weave in and out of flashbacks and flash-forwards. (That Mandy Moore never won an Emmy is still so confusing.) Created by Hollywood screenwriter Dan Fogelman, the show became known for its spectacular way of introducing a new character: plopping viewers into a portrait of a person and then subtly situating the character into the center of another’s story. To the series that made me forever skeptical of leaving a crockpot plugged in, you deserve a bit more recognition from the academy. — Erin

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