The Emmys just created a new award. These are the programs that have to win it first.

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

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

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

So, in case the Television Academy is looking for help, News rounded up some TV series that fit the bill. As a bonus, we also added some individual names that deserve high honors and recognition at the Emmys ceremony. We put 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 Awards.

‘A different world’

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Few sitcoms have left as deep and lasting a cultural mark as “A Different World.” The increase in HBCU enrollment in the United States is enough to demonstrate 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 comedies, “A Different World” wasn’t afraid to tackle serious topics (the 1992 Los Angeles riots, racism, domestic violence, sexual harassment, HIV/AIDS, apartheid, etc.) or lead difficult conversations through comedy. Those feats may not have earned the show any Emmy Awards during its six seasons, but they certainly don’t go unnoticed by audiences who still revere their bravery and impact. — Man

‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’

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“It was the first show of its kind (teen horror) and one of the first with a female protagonist who 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 difficult topics: from domestic violence, overwhelming teenage responsibility, coming out as gay, first love and first heartbreak, grief. It wasn’t afraid to discuss topics like depression, addiction, misogyny, and, while the special effects date back a bit “The show, the quality of the writing and the acting stand above many shows that have come out since; shows that we wouldn’t have without ‘Buffy.'” Facebook user Nicola O’Hara

‘Dallas’

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“Dallas” won four Emmy Awards during its run, including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Barbara Bel Geddes. But the television series has become synonymous with the dramatic cliffhanger at the end of its second season. It has continued to live on in syndication and streaming, and was even rebooted in 2012 for three seasons on TNT. The original series aired for 14 seasons and is considered one of the best soap operas of all time.

″’Dallas’ for the birth of suspense. Who shot JR? — Facebook user Sue Kwiatkowski

‘Gilmore Girls’

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Amy Sherman-Palladino and her husband, Daniel Palladino, apparently knew exactly what Gen The series won an Emmy for outstanding makeup, but its impact goes far beyond that. He is widely known for his pranks, the strong relationship between Rory and Lorelai, Rory’s many loves, and the hard hitting between Lorelai and her mother, Emily. The show has survived through streaming and a revival, touching the hearts of many, from generation to generation. — Ireland

‘Brides’

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Mara Brock Akil’s legacy could stand strong only on the shoulders of her first television creation: the beloved comedy “Girlfriends.” As one of the few groundbreaking series that focused 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 garnered Emmy recognition, fans, to this day, still clamor for a “Girlfriends” revival. That lawsuit is a pure testament to the impact that show had, not only 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). — Man

‘In vivid colors’

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It is impossible to condense the impact and legacy of “In Living Color” into a few sentences. Keenen Ivory Wayans created the iconic television series, which aired on News from 1990 to 1994. To clearly lay out some of the show’s impact (you know, in addition to introducing us to so many incredible comedic actors, including David Alan Grier, Tommy Davidson, Jim Carrey, Jamie Newsx and, of course, the entire Wayans family, among others), we have “In Living Color” to thank for today’s must-see Super Bowl halftime shows. — Ireland

‘Living single’

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“Living Single” is one of my favorite TV shows for a guaranteed laugh. The comedic timing of each actor (and, of course, as an ensemble) is incomparable. And well, as a black editor who covers culture, I have to admit that Khadijah James (Queen Latifah) is always a role model. Given the love Latifah has received at recent awards shows, it’s only fitting that she, the cast and crew get major recognition from the Television Academy for the immeasurable impact of their characters and stories. — Ireland

‘Martin’

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“Martin” is another ’90s sitcom staple for me. The show has endured in syndication and streaming, and is a repeated reference to many moments in black culture. Martin Lawrence, the star of the show, played 10 different characters, including the lead role of a Detroit DJ turned talk show host navigating life with Gina (Tisha Campbell) and her best friends Tommy (Tommy Mikal Ford) and Cole (Carl Anthony Payne II). I often say that if there’s a problem in a relationship or at work that you need to solve, there’s probably an episode of “Martin” that addresses it. “Martin’s” legacy is still developing today as a new generation is soon introduced to the world. There is a prequel and a spin-off in the works. When the cast of “Martin” appeared on the Emmy stage in 2024, Love made it clear that they deserved an Emmy during their run. Come on, Television Academy. — Ireland

‘Mister. Rogers’ Neighborhood

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“Mr. Rogers Neighborhood” has won several Daytime Emmy Awards, but it is a leading contender for this new category. “He literally saved public television and taught our children about real life, death, prejudice, fear, sadness, sharing and love with warmth, compassion and a soft voice. Fred Rogers was true to his philosophy that children should not be looked down upon.” — Facebook fan Christopher Gray

‘Queen sugar’

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It’s a shame that “Queen Sugar,” one of the longest-running dramas with a black cast on television, didn’t receive any Emmy nominations during its run. The Ava DuVernay-directed series featured a dynamic cast of new and familiar faces, from Kofi Siriboe and Dawn-Lyen Gardner to Glynn Turman and Rutina Wesley; focused on a Louisiana family facing a series of timely and often devastating problems. It was simply unlike anything on television while it aired from 2016 to 2022. Ireland

‘Sanford and son’

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“Sanford and Son” received seven Emmy nominations during its run, including Best Series e for Comedy, but never won any awards. “Before you think it’s a joke, it’s about two poor black men in the 1970s, struggling to live and get along 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 and supported each other.” — Facebook user Chris Flournoy Sr.

‘Sesame Street’

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

‘The Arsenio Hall Show’

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“The Arsenio Hall Show” ran for six seasons, with plenty of memorable interview moments. He was the first black person to host a nationally syndicated late-night show. Don’t we all remember seeing former President Bill Clinton (then Governor of Arkansas) play the saxophone on the show? Or when Magic Johnson talked about his HIV diagnosis? Or when Prince actually took over the show and performed for 30 minutes? Incredible. — Ireland

‘The Jeffersons’

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“The Jeffersons,” which aired for 11 seasons, was a spinoff of the legendary series “All in the Family” and became known for featuring a rising black family in New York City. “Sherman Hemsley fought to make his character real. He didn’t care what the network bosses said. It showed a black man who owned and ran his own business. A strong black wife who wouldn’t take anything 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’.” — Chris Heller, Facebook fan

‘The wire’

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“The Wire” arguably has the strongest case to receive an Emmy Legacy Award as soon as possible. I can’t think of a show that has maintained its relevance and popularity over the last 20 years like the gritty crime drama Baltimore. At its peak, the acclaimed series helped HBO define prestige television with its unflinching (and still timeless) depictions of institutional failures in America. Quotes, scenes and memes from the cult classic still circulate regularly 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 seasons, save for only two writing nominations, so now seems as good a time as any to finally give it its due. — Man

‘It’s us’

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“This Is Us” took TV fans by surprise when it premiered in 2016. The NBC series is a drama like no other, tugging at your heartstrings and making you fall in love with the characters as their stories weave in and out of flashbacks and flash-forwards. (That Mandy Moore has never won an Emmy is still very confusing.) Created by Hollywood screenwriter Dan Fogelman, the show became known for its spectacular way of introducing a new character: dropping viewers into a portrait of one person and then subtly placing the character at the center of another person’s story. To the series that always made me hesitate to leave a pot plugged in, you deserve a little more recognition from the academy. — Ireland