"the simpsons" has been nominated for primetime emmy award for outstanding animated program (for programming less than one hour) every year except 1993, 1994 and 2014. 1993 marked the first year that the producers of "the simpsons" did not submit episodes for the primetime emmy award for outstanding animated program (for programming less than one hour) primetime emmy award. prior to 1993, the series had only been allowed to compete in the animation category, but in early 1993 the rules were changed so that animated television shows would be able to submit nominations in the outstanding comedy series category. the producers submitted "a streetcar named marge" and "mr. plow" but the emmy voters were hesitant to pit cartoons against live action programs, and "the simpsons" did not receive a nomination. several critics saw the show's failure to gain a nomination as one of the biggest snubs for that year. the "simpsons"<nowiki>'</nowiki> crew again submitted episodes for "outstanding comedy series" the next season, but these again were not nominated. since then, the show has submitted episodes in the animation category.