'Orange is the New Black' Season 3 Release Date, Latest News: To Compete for the Emmys as a Drama Series

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Industry Panel does not find "Orange Is the New Black" funny.

The nine-member panel has ruled that the show about female inmates does not qualify as a comedy but as drama instead, the Verge reported.

This puts "Orange Is the New Black" against another Netflix drama award contender "House of Cards" and other strong cable shows and powerful broadcast newcomers, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

One possible winner in this scenario is Netflix debut "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," a comedy starring Ellie Kemper that is poised to be the streaming service's big push in the category.

"Orange Is the New Black is a truly pioneering series and an iconoclast [that] has always defied genre or easy categorization," Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said.

"While we're disappointed in the committee's decision, we believe that Orange represents the best of television in either category," he added, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The unexpected decision came just a few days after the TV Academy determined "Shameless," "Jane the Virgin," and "Glee" could compete as comedies despite their hour-long status.

Last month, the Television Academy attempted to change the definition of a comedy, saying that shows needed to cap out at 30 minutes to qualify.

Last year, the show competed in the comedy category at the 2014 Emmys with Uzo Aduba, popularly called "Crazy Eyes," taking home an award for best guest actress in a comedy series.

Jenji Kohan created "Orange Is the New Black" for Netflix which is based on Piper Kerman's memoir, "Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison," a book about her experiences in prison.

The series revolves around Piper Chapman played by Taylor Schilling, a woman living in New York City who is sentenced to 15 months in a women's federal prison for transporting a suitcase full of drug money.

The series has been renewed for a third season, which will premiere on June 12, and be released all at once on Netflix.