CBS Boss on Emmys Snub: The Big Bang Theory 'Deserved More Respect'

While The Big Bang Theory earned a handful of Emmy nominations last month for its final season, they were all in technical categories, with none in acting or writing. And CBS Entertainment president Kelly Kahl thinks the megahit comedy deserved more.

"I think The Big Bang Theory is one of the best comedies in TV history, and I would stack it up against any show, whether they were nominated for Emmys or not," Kahl told a small group of reporters at the Television Critics Association summer press tour on Thursday. "Ultimately do I wish it kind of deserved more respect from the Academy? I certainly do."

TV Guide's Complete Coverage of the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards

The Big Bang Theory is nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for Mark Cendrowski (who directed 244 of the show's 279 episodes); Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series for Peter Chakos; and Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Series for the camera department, all for the series finale, "The Stockholm Syndrome."

Though Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady's nerdy sitcom was always more crowd-pleasing than acclaimed, it did win 10 Emmys over the course of its lifespan, with the only acting Emmys going to Jim Parsons, who won Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series four times. The remainder of the wins were all in technical categories. It may add to those at the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards next month.

The Big Bang Theory is available to stream on CBS All Access.

Reporting by Lindsay MacDonald

(Disclosure: TV Guide is owned by CBS Interactive, a division of CBS Corporation.)