Summary
Buffy's musical episode, "Once More with Feeling," was denied an Emmy nomination due to a blunder in the nomination process.
The Academy mistakenly excluded the episode from the Emmy nomination ballots, adversely affecting its chances of winning.
However, "Once More with Feeling" was truly deserving of an Emmy due to its distinctive nature and enduring influence on television.
The famous episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer called "Once More with Feeling," which is from season 6, episode 7, was unfortunately not recognized at the Emmys for an unusual reason. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is typically a dark supernatural horror series, but this special musical episode brings a lighthearted and enjoyable twist to the show. Musical episodes, such as Scrubs' "My Musical" and Grey's Anatomy's "Song Beneath the Song," are known for being challenging to execute successfully. However, Buffy's musical episode stands out as a timeless classic, filled with memorable songs and impressive performances from the cast.
While the primary goal of any TV show is to capture a large audience and maintain their interest for multiple seasons, winning Emmys comes as a close second. The Emmys are considered the most prestigious awards in the television industry, comparable to the Oscars. Buffy the Vampire Slayer achieved two Emmy wins and received eight additional nominations throughout its run. Unfortunately, due to an error in the nomination process, "Once More with Feeling" did not have the opportunity to compete for Emmy recognition.
"Once More With Feeling" Was Accidentally Left Off The Emmy Ballot
"When "Once More with Feeling" was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series, it was mistakenly left off the Emmy nomination ballots by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (via Entertainment Weekly). Although the Academy promptly sent out an updated ballot, the producers of Buffy the Vampire Slayer had little hope that voters would pay attention to the addition and instead opt to vote for a title that was originally listed. As a result, the episode had slim chances of winning an Emmy.
This oversight greatly hindered the episode's chances of receiving an Emmy, as it relied on voters noticing a postcard highlighting Buffy's absence from the initial ballot. The omission itself was already an alarming indication of the industry's lack of respect for the series, which may have further discouraged potential voters. If "Once More with Feeling" had won an Emmy, it would have positively impacted the musical episode's reputation in the years to come."
Why Buffy's Musical Episode Deserved An Emmy
The initial airing of "Once More with Feeling" may have been slightly jarring, but it garnered extensive praise from critics of that time and is currently hailed as one of the most memorable episodes in the history of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Due to its distinctiveness and inventiveness, "Once More with Feeling" unquestionably merited an Emmy win. Numerous less remarkable television episodes have previously received Emmys. Any form of media that continues to generate discussions after over two decades warrants recognition and commendation.
