# Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special

The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for Variety Special is awarded to one television special each year. After being grouped together, the category was initiated alongside Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series in 2009. From the 1980s to 2000s, specials competed alongside series for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program.
In the following list, the first titles listed in gold are the winners; those not in gold are nominees, which are listed in alphabetical order. The years given are those in which the ceremonies took place:

## Winners and nominations

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy-Variety or Music Special

### 1970s

| Year | Program | Nominees | Network |
| 1971 |
| 1971 | Peggy Fleming at Sun Valley | Sterling Johnson | NBC |
| 1971 | The Anatomy of a Symphony Orchestra (New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts) | Roger Englander | CBS |
| 1971 | George M! | Martin Charnin and Walter C. Miller | NBC |
| 1972 |
| 1972 | Jack Lemmon in 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin | Martin Charnin and Walter C. Miller | NBC |
| 1972 | Julie and Carol at Lincoln Center | Dave Powers | CBS |
| 1972 | Liszt and the Devil (New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts) | Roger Englander | CBS |
| 1973 |
| 1973 | Liza with a Z | Bob Fosse | NBC |
| 1973 | Duke Ellington... We Love You Madly | Stan Harris | CBS |
| 1973 | Jack Lemmon: Get Happy | Martin Charnin and Dave Wilson | NBC |
| 1973 | Once Upon a Mattress | Ron Field and Dave Powers | CBS |
| 1973 | You're a Good Man Charlie Brown (Hallmark Hall of Fame) | Walter C. Miller | NBC |
| 1974 |
| 1974 | Barbra Streisand...and Other Musical Instruments | Dwight Hemion | CBS |
| 1974 | Magnavox Presents Frank Sinatra | Marty Pasetta | NBC |
| 1974 | Mitzi... A Tribute to the American Housewife | Tony Charmoli | CBS |
| 1974 | Peggy Fleming Visits the Soviet Union | Sterling Johnson | NBC |
| 1975 |
| 1975 | An Evening with John Denver | Bill Davis | ABC |
| 1975 | Ann-Margret Olsson | Dwight Hemion | NBC |
| 1975 | Shirley MacLaine: If They Could See Me Now | Tony Charmoli | ABC |
| 1976 |
| 1976 | Steve and Eydie: "Out Love Is Here to Stay" | Dwight Hemion | CBS |
| 1976 | John Denver: Rocky Mountain Christmas | Bill Davis | ABC |
| 1976 | Mitzi... Roarin' in the 20's" | Tony Charmoli | CBS |
| 1977 | Outstanding Directing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special | Outstanding Directing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special | Outstanding Directing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special |
| 1977 | America Salutes Richard Rodgers: The Sound of His Music | Dwight Hemion | CBS |
| 1977 | The Barry Manilow Special | George Schaefer | ABC |
| 1977 | Doug Henning's World of Magic | Walter C. Miller | NBC |
| 1977 | Sills and Burnett at the Met | David Powers | CBS |
| 1977 | The Shirley MacLaine Special: Where Do We Go from Here? | Tony Charmoli | CBS |
| Outstanding Achievement in Coverage of Special Events - Individuals ||||
| 1977 | The 28th Annual Emmy Awards | John Moffitt | ABC |
| 1977 | The 48th Annual Academy Awards | Marty Pasetta | ABC |
| 1978 | Outstanding Directing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special | Outstanding Directing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special | Outstanding Directing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special |
| 1978 | The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots | Dwight Hemion | ABC |
| 1978 | Doug Henning's World of Magic | Walter C. Miller | NBC |
| 1978 | Mitzi... Zings Into Springs | Tony Charmoli | CBS |
| 1978 | The Paul Simon Special | Dave Wilson | NBC |
| 1978 | The Second Barry Manilow Special | George Schaefer | ABC |
| Outstanding Achievement in Coverage of Special Events - Individuals ||||
| 1978 | Footlights: The 1978 Tony Awards | Clark Jones | CBS |

### 1980s

| Year | Program | Nominees | Network |
| 1984 | Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical Music/Dance Programming | Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical Music/Dance Programming | Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical Music/Dance Programming |
| 1984 | Dance in America: A Song for Dead Warriors - San Francisco Ballet (Great Performances) | Merrill Brockway | PBS |
| 1984 | A Lincoln Center Special: New York City Ballet's Tribute to George Balanchine | Emile Ardolino | PBS |
| 1984 | Live from the Met Centennial Gala | Kirk Browning | PBS |
| 1985 | Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical Music/Dance Programming - Directing | Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical Music/Dance Programming - Directing | Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical Music/Dance Programming - Directing |
| 1985 | Dance in America: Baryshnikov by Tharp with American Ballet Theatre (Great Performances) | Don Mischer and Twyla Tharp | PBS |
| 1985 | I Pagliacci (Great Performances) | Franco Zeffirelli | PBS |
| 1985 | Tosca (Live from the Met) | Kirk Browning | PBS |
| 1986 | Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical Music/Dance Programming | Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical Music/Dance Programming | Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical Music/Dance Programming |
| 1986 | Cavalleria Rusticana (Great Performances) | Franco Zeffirelli | PBS |
| 1986 | Dance in America: Choreography by Jerome Robbins with the New York City Ballet (Great Performances) | Emile Ardolino | PBS |
| 1986 | The Verdi Requiem | Kirk Browning | PBS |
| 1987 | Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical Music/Dance Programming - Directing | Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical Music/Dance Programming - Directing | Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical Music/Dance Programming - Directing |
| 1987 | Goya with Plácido Domingo (Great Performances) | Kirk Browning | PBS |
| 1987 | Vladimir Horowitz: The Last Romantic | Albert and David Maysles | PBS |
| 1987 | Dance in America: In Memory of... A Ballet by Jerome Robbins (Great Performances) | Emile Ardolino | PBS |
| 1988 | Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical | Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical | Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical |
| 1988 | The Metropolitan Opera Presents: Turandot | Kirk Browning | PBS |
| 1988 | Dance in America: David Gordon's Made in U.S.A. (Great Performances) | Don Mischer | PBS |
| Outstanding Individual Achievement - Special Events ||||
| 1988 | The 60th Annual Academy Awards | Marty Pasetta | ABC |
| 1989 | Outstanding Directing in Classical Music/Dance Programming | Outstanding Directing in Classical Music/Dance Programming | Outstanding Directing in Classical Music/Dance Programming |
| 1989 | A Pavarotti Celebration: Scenes from La Bohème | Kirk Browning | PBS |
| Outstanding Directing for Special Events ||||
| 1989 | The 11th Annual Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts | Dwight Hemion | CBS |
Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special

### 2000s

| Year | Program | Nominees | Network |
| 2009 | Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony | Bucky Gunts | NBC |
| 2009 | The 81st Annual Academy Awards | Roger Goodman | ABC |
| 2009 | Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Super Bowl Halftime Show | Don Mischer | NBC |
| 2009 | The Neighborhood Ball: An Inauguration Celebration | Glenn Weiss | ABC |
| 2009 | You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush | Marty Callner | HBO |

### 2010s

| Year | Program | Nominees | Network |
| 2010 | Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony | Bucky Gunts | NBC |
| 2010 | In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement | Ron de Moraes | PBS |
| 2010 | The Kennedy Center Honors | Louis J. Horvitz | CBS |
| 2010 | The 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert | Joel Gallen | HBO |
| 2010 | The 63rd Annual Tony Awards | Glenn Weiss | CBS |
| 2011 | Sondheim! The Birthday Concert (Great Performances) | Lonny Price | PBS |
| 2011 | The 83rd Annual Academy Awards | Don Mischer | ABC |
| 2011 | The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards | Louis J. Horvitz | CBS |
| 2011 | Lady Gaga Presents the Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square Garden | Laurieann Gibson | HBO |
| 2011 | The 64th Annual Tony Awards | Glenn Weiss | CBS |
| 2012 | The 65th Annual Tony Awards | Glenn Weiss | CBS |
| 2012 | The 84th Annual Academy Awards | Don Mischer | ABC |
| 2012 | The 54th Annual Grammy Awards | Louis J. Horvitz | CBS |
| 2012 | Louis C.K.: Live at the Beacon Theatre | Louis C.K. | FX |
| 2012 | New York City Ballet: George Balanchine's The Nutcracker (Live from Lincoln Center) | Alan Skog | PBS |
| 2013 | The Kennedy Center Honors | Louis J. Horvitz | CBS |
| 2013 | Louis C.K.: Oh My God | Louis C.K. | HBO |
| 2013 | The Oscars | Don Mischer | ABC |
| 2013 | London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony | Bucky Gunts and Hamish Hamilton | NBC |
| 2013 | 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief | Michael Dempsey | |
| 2014 | The 67th Annual Tony Awards | Glenn Weiss | CBS |
| 2014 | The Beatles: The Night That Changed America | Gregg Gelfand | CBS |
| 2014 | The Kennedy Center Honors | Louis J. Horvitz | CBS |
| 2014 | The Oscars | Hamish Hamilton | ABC |
| 2014 | Six by Sondheim | James Lapine | HBO |
| 2014 | The Sound of Music Live! | Beth McCarthy-Miller and Rob Ashford | NBC |
| 2015 | Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special | Don Roy King | NBC |
| 2015 | Annie Lennox: Nostalgia Live in Concert | Natalie Johns | PBS |
| 2015 | The Kennedy Center Honors | Louis J. Horvitz | CBS |
| 2015 | The Oscars | Hamish Hamilton | ABC |
| 2015 | The 68th Annual Tony Awards | Glenn Weiss | CBS |
| 2016 |
| 2016 | Grease: Live | Thomas Kail and Alex Rudzinski | Fox |
| 2016 | Adele Live in New York City | Beth McCarthy-Miller | NBC |
| 2016 | Amy Schumer: Live at the Apollo | Chris Rock | HBO |
| 2016 | The 58th Annual Grammy Awards | Louis J. Horvitz | CBS |
| 2016 | The Kennedy Center Honors | Glenn Weiss | CBS |
| 2016 | Lemonade | Kahlil Joseph and Beyoncé Knowles Carter | HBO |
| 2017 |
| 2017 | The Oscars | Glenn Weiss | ABC |
| 2017 | Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents Not the White House Correspondents' Dinner | Paul Pennolino | TBS |
| 2017 | Stephen Colbert's Live Election Night Democracy's Series Finale: Who's Going to Clean Up This Sh*t? | Jim Hoskinson | Showtime |
| 2017 | Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet to Come | Jerry Foley | NBC |
| 2018 |
| 2018 | The Oscars | Glenn Weiss | ABC |
| 2018 | Dave Chappelle: Equanimity | Stan Lathan | Netflix |
| 2018 | Jerry Seinfeld: Jerry Before Seinfeld | Michael Bonfiglio | Netflix |
| 2018 | Steve Martin & Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life | Marcus Raboy | Netflix |
| 2018 | Super Bowl LII Halftime Show Starring Justin Timberlake | Hamish Hamilton | NBC |
| 2019 |
| 2019 | Springsteen on Broadway | Thom Zimny | Netflix |
| 2019 | Carpool Karaoke: When Corden Met McCartney Live from Liverpool | Ben Winston | CBS |
| 2019 | Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé | Beyoncé Knowles Carter and Ed Burke | Netflix |
| 2019 | Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's 'All in the Family' and 'The Jeffersons' | James Burrows and Andy Fisher | ABC |
| 2019 | The Oscars | Glenn Weiss | ABC |

### 2020s

| Year | Program | Nominees | Network |
| 2020 |
| 2020 | Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones | Stan Lathan | Netflix |
| 2020 | The 62nd Grammy Awards | Louis J. Horvitz | CBS |
| 2020 | Live in Front of a Studio Audience: 'All in the Family' and 'Good Times' | Pamela Fryman and Andy Fisher | ABC |
| 2020 | Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show Starring Jennifer Lopez and Shakira | Hamish Hamilton | Fox |
| 2020 | The 73rd Annual Tony Awards | Glenn Weiss | CBS |
| 2021 |
| 2021 | Bo Burnham: Inside | Bo Burnham | Netflix |
| 2021 | David Byrne's American Utopia | Spike Lee | HBO |
| 2021 | 8:46 - Dave Chappelle | Dave Chappelle, Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert | Netflix |
| 2021 | Friends: The Reunion | Ben Winston | HBO Max |
| 2021 | A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote | Thomas Schlamme | HBO Max |
| 2022 |
| 2022 | Adele: One Night Only | Paul Dugdale | CBS |
| 2022 | Dave Chappelle: The Closer | Stan Lathan | Netflix |
| 2022 | Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel | Bo Burnham | HBO |
| 2022 | Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special | Norm Macdonald (posthumous) and Jeff Tomsic | Netflix |
| 2022 | The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent | Hamish Hamilton | NBC |
| 2023 |
| 2023 | The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna | Hamish Hamilton and Shawn Carter | Fox |
| 2023 | Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love | Paul Miller | NBC |
| 2023 | Chris Rock: Selective Outrage | Joel Gallen | Netflix |
| 2023 | The Oscars | Glenn Weiss | ABC |
| 2023 | Wanda Sykes: I'm an Entertainer | Linda Mendoza | Netflix |
| 2024 |
| 2024 | The Oscars | Hamish Hamilton | ABC |
| 2024 | Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer | Stan Lathan | Netflix |
| 2024 | Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic | Russell Norman | CBS |
| 2024 | Tig Notaro: Hello Again | Stephanie Allynne | Prime Video |
| 2024 | The 76th Annual Tony Awards | Glenn Weiss | CBS |
| 2024 | Trevor Noah: Where Was I | David Paul Meyer | Netflix |