Martin Short may have just earned a new Hollywood title: the “male Susan Lucci.”
After losing the Emmy for his work on Only Murders in the Building to Matthew Rhys of Widows Bay, the beloved actor appeared to comedically rip up his speech, prompting a flood of reactions online from viewers who believe Short has been overlooked for far too long.
Short was nominated for his performance on Only Murders, but the award went to Rhys for his deadpan, hilarious portrayal of Mayor Tom Loftis in Widows Bay.
The loss quickly became a talking point online, with some viewers praising Rhys while others argued that Short deserved the recognition. One commenter even compared Short to Lucci, the legendary All My Children star who became synonymous with Emmy losses before finally winning Outstanding Lead Actress in 1999.
Screenwriter Todd Spence pointed out on X that Short has never won an Emmy for acting, joking that his reaction deserved an Emmy of its own.
Martin Short ripping up his speech on camera after losing to Matthew Rhys deserves an Emmy by itself 😂 insane he has won zero for acting during his entire career pic.twitter.com/iawYbE2qgA
— Todd Spence (@Todd_Spence) September 15, 2026
“Martin Short ripping up his speech on camera after losing to Matthew Rhys deserves an Emmy by itself,” Spence wrote. “Insane he has won zero for acting during his entire career.”
In the thread, one commenter made the Lucci comparison, while another praised Short as “an international treasure and a comedic legend.”
Spence agreed, but added, “I really want to see him on that stage.”
Elsewhere on X, another viewer shared video of Short tearing up his speech, writing, “leave it to marty short to bring bits back to the #emmys,” while another called him “our favorite emmy loser.”
Short has been nominated for an Emmy 23 times, never winning for a performance. He did, however, take home an Emmy in 1983 for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Musical Program for SCTV Network, and later won Outstanding Variety Special Host for the AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Mel Brooks in 2014.
