Primetime Emmy Awards

Primetime Emmy Awards
The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime Emmys are presented in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming. The award categories are divided into three classes: the regular Primetime Emmy Awards, the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards to honor technical and other similar behind-the-scenes achievements, and the Primetime Engineering Emmy Awards for recognizing significant contributions to the engineering and technological aspects of television. First given out in 1949, the award was originally referred to as simply the "Emmy Award" until the International Emmy Award and the Daytime Emmy Award were created in the early 1970s to expand the Emmy to other sectors of the television industry.
The Primetime Emmy Awards generally air every September, on the Sunday before the official start of the fall television season. Since 1995, the Emmys have been broadcast in rotation among the four major networks (ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC), each network taking turns to air the ceremony every four years. If NBC broadcasts it, the ceremony is moved to Monday night (in 2006, 2010, and 2014, NBC aired in late-August), so that it does not conflict with NBC's commitment to broadcasting Sunday-night NFL games (due to another conflict, this time with the MTV Video Music Awards, the 2014 ceremony was also shifted to a Monday). The 2018 ceremony and 2022 ceremony, both broadcast by NBC, was moved back to September and aired on a Monday.
History
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) was founded by Syd Cassyd in 1946. The first Emmy ceremony took place on January 25, 1949, at the Hollywood Athletic Club. Tickets cost $5 and only six awards were presented.
The Emmy statuette was designed by Louis McManus. It depicts a winged muse holding an electron, combining visual metaphors for the arts and sciences. The design for the Emmy statuette was chosen after 47 other designs were rejected. The name "Emmy" comes from the nickname "Immy," used to describe the image-orthicon camera tube that was a significant 1940s technical breakthrough in capturing images for television. Because the statue features a female figure holding an electron, the name "Immy" was feminized to "Emmy."
The Emmys originally honored shows produced and aired locally in the Los Angeles area, but soon expanded into a national event in 1952 to honor shows aired nationwide on broadcast television. Originally, there was only one Emmy event held per year to honor shows nationally broadcast in the United States. In 1968, an "Outstanding Achievement in Daytime Programming" category was added once, but due to the voting rules of the time, judges could opt to either award one or no Emmy, and in the end they decided that no one should be nominated. This snub outraged soap opera writer Agnes Nixon, causing her to write in The New York Times, "...after viewing the recent fiasco of the Emmy awards, it may well be considered a mark of distinction to have been ignored by this group." This eventually led to the creation of the separate Daytime Emmy Awards just for daytime programming, run by the sister organization, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS).
Cable programs first became eligible for the Primetime Emmys in 1988. Original online-only streaming television programs then became eligible in 2013.
Between 1949 and 2001, voting members had to watch submissions at the ATAS or local hotels. From 2002–2014, members could watch submissions at home on DVDs. Starting in 2015, members could watch submissions through secure online platforms, with DVDs being eliminated in 2020.
In December 2021, the ATAS and NATAS announced major realignments to the Emmy Awards, accounting for the growth of streaming services by aligning their categories and the ceremonies' scopes around factors such as the themes and frequency of such programming, rather than dayparts:
All categories for scripted comedies and dramas, excluding daytime serial dramas (defined as an episodic, multi-camera drama serial that airs on a weekday basis, or a reboot or spin-off of such a series), and programming targeting viewers 15 and younger (which will fall under the new Children's & Family Emmy Awards debuting in 2022) will fall under the ATAS and Primetime Emmy Awards moving forward, regardless of scheduling.
Talk shows will be divided between the Daytime and Primetime Emmy Awards based on "format and style characteristics reflective of current programming in the daytime or late night space".
Awards for morning shows will be moved to the News & Documentary Emmy Awards.
Categories for game shows and instructional/DIY programming will remain split between the Daytime and Primetime Emmy Awards for 2022, pending realignment in 2023.
Rules
Among the Primetime Emmy Award rules, a show must originally air on American television during the eligibility period between June 1 and May 31 of any given year. In order to be considered a national primetime show, the program must air between 6:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., and to at least 50 percent of the country. A show that enters into the Primetime Emmy Awards cannot also be entered into the Daytime Emmy Awards or any other national Emmy competition. For shows in syndication, whose air times vary between media markets, they can either be entered in the Daytime or Primetime Emmy Awards (provided they still reach the 50 percent national reach), but not in both. For game shows that reach the 50 percent threshold, they can be entered into the Daytime Emmy Awards if they normally air before 8 p.m (including the former "access hour" from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.); otherwise, they are only eligible for the Primetime Emmy Awards. For streaming television programs, they must be available for downloading or streaming to more than 50 percent of the country, and like shows in syndication they can only enter in one of the national Emmy competitions.
Shows that are offered for pre-sale to consumers, whether on home video devices or via the Web, are ineligible if the pre-sale period starts more than 7 days before the show's initial airing. Also, a show that receives what the academy calls a "general theatrical release" before its first airing (either via television or the Internet) is ineligible. The definition of this phrase excludes limited releases for the specific purpose of award qualification, such as screenings at film festivals or the one-week releases in Los Angeles (and, for documentaries, New York City as well) required for Oscar eligibility.
Entries must be submitted by the end of April, even if a show is not scheduled to originally air until the following month when the eligibility period ends in May. Most award categories also require entries to include DVDs or tape masters of the show. For most series categories, any six episodes that originally aired during the eligibility period must be submitted (programs that were cancelled before airing their sixth episode are thus ineligible). For most individual achievement categories, only one episode is required to be submitted; if an episode is a two-parter, both parts may be included on the submitted DVD.
Ballots to select the nominations are sent to Academy members in June. For most categories, members from each of the branches vote to determine the nominees only in their respective categories (i.e. writers vote for writing awards, actors vote for acting awards). As of July 1, 2021, the various TV industry professions were sorted into 29 Peer Groups. All 16,000 members can vote for nominations in the 14 best program categories (including: Drama Series, Comedy Series, Limited Series, Television Movies, Variety Talk Series, Variety Sketch Series, Competition, and Short Form Series). The final voting poll to determine the winners is held in August, and is done by judging panels. In June, the academy solicits volunteers among its active members to serve on these panels. All active members may serve on the program panels; otherwise they are restricted to those categories within their own branch.
Statuette
The Primetime Emmy statuette is made of copper, nickel, silver and gold and takes five and a half hours to make. Each Emmy weighs six pounds, twelve ounces.
The number of statuettes given to winners varies by category. All members of a team are not guaranteed their own trophy. However, winners in large teams (such as writers) can purchase their own trophy for an estimated $400.
Categories
Primetime Emmy Awards
The Primetime Emmy Award is awarded in the following categories:
Programs
Outstanding Comedy Series
Outstanding Drama Series
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
Outstanding Reality Competition Program
Outstanding Scripted Variety Series
Outstanding Talk Series
Outstanding Television Movie
Directing
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series
Writing
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series
Acting
Lead actor
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Lead actress
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Supporting actor
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Supporting actress
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards
The Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards are awarded in the following categories (some of which separately recognize work based on whether a single-camera or multi-camera setup was used):
Programs
Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series
Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special
Outstanding Emerging Media Program
Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking
Outstanding Game Show
Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special
Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series
Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series
Outstanding Structured Reality Program
Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program
Outstanding Variety Special (Live)
Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
Acting
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Narrator
Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series
Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series
Animation
Outstanding Animated Program
Outstanding Short Form Animated Program
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation
Casting
Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series
Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series
Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program
Choreography
Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming
Outstanding Choreography for Variety and Reality Programming
Cinematography
Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program
Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program
Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (Half-Hour)
Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (One Hour)
Commercial
Outstanding Commercial
Costumes
Outstanding Contemporary Costumes
Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes
Outstanding Period Costumes
Outstanding Costumes for a Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Programming
Directing
Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program
Outstanding Directing for a Reality Program
Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special
Hairstyling
Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program
Outstanding Period and/or Character Hairstyling
Hosting
Outstanding Host for a Game Show
Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program
Lighting design / direction
Outstanding Lighting Design / Lighting Direction for a Variety Series
Outstanding Lighting Design / Lighting Direction for a Variety Special
Main title design
Outstanding Main Title Design
Makeup
Outstanding Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)
Outstanding Makeup for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program
Outstanding Period and/or Character Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)
Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup
Music
Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special
Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special
Outstanding Music Composition for a Series
Outstanding Music Direction
Outstanding Music Supervision
Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music
Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
Picture editing
Outstanding Picture Editing for a Multi-Camera Comedy Series
Outstanding Picture Editing for a Single-Camera Comedy Series
Outstanding Picture Editing for a Drama Series
Outstanding Picture Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program
Outstanding Picture Editing for a Structured Reality or Competition Program
Outstanding Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program
Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming
Production design
Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour or More)
Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour or Less)
Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More)
Outstanding Production Design for a Variety or Reality Series
Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special
Sound editing
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One-Hour)
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program (Single or Multi-Camera)
Sound mixing
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One-Hour)
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program (Single or Multi-Camera)
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Reality Program (Single or Multi-Camera)
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special
Special and visual effects
Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Season or a Movie
Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Single Episode
Stunt coordination
Outstanding Stunt Coordination
Outstanding Stunt Performance
Technical direction
Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Series
Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Special
Writing
Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Programming
Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
Primetime Emmy Engineering Awards
The Primetime Engineering Emmy Awards are given specifically for outstanding achievement in engineering. They are presented to an individual, company, or organization for engineering developments so significant an improvement on existing methods or so innovative in nature that they materially affect the transmission, recording, or reception of television. The award, which is television's highest engineering honor, is determined by a jury of highly qualified, experienced engineers in the television industry.
Engineering plaque
Engineering certificate
Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Development (Primetime Emmy statuette)
Charles F. Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award
Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Development
Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement Engineering Award
Retired categories
A number of awards have been retired throughout the years, including some that have been replaced by similar award categories in the Daytime Emmy Awards, Sports Emmy Awards, and other areas of recognition:
Best Live Show
Best New Program
Super Emmy Award
Outstanding Children's Program
Outstanding Costumes for a Series
Best Specialty Act – Single or Group
Outstanding Voice-Over Performance
Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie
Outstanding Art Direction for a Single-Camera Series
Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series
Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special
Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media within a Scripted Program
Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media within an Unscripted Program
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Movie
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series
Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic)
Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series
Outstanding Short Form Variety Series
Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Comedy Series or Variety Program
Outstanding Variety Series
Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
Program of the Year
Best Kinescope Show
Best Sports Coverage
Best Western Series (1958–59)
Outstanding Sports Personality
Outstanding Live Sports Special
Most Outstanding Live Personality
Most Outstanding Kinescoped Personality
Outstanding Classical Music-Dance Program
Outstanding Program Achievement in Daytime Drama
Outstanding Program Achievement by Individuals in Daytime Drama
Records
Overall wins for a performer, program, etc.
Most wins for a network in a single year
CBS – 44 (1974)
Netflix – 44 (2021)
Most wins for a series in a single year
Game of Thrones – 12 (2015–2016, 2019)
Most wins for a Comedy Series in single year
Schitt's Creek – 9 (2020)
Most wins for a Television Program
Saturday Night Live – 92
Most wins for a Comedy Series
Frasier – 37
Most wins for a Drama Series
Game of Thrones – 59
Most wins for a Limited Series
John Adams – 13
Most wins for a single episode
"Boardwalk Empire" (Boardwalk Empire) – 6 (2011)
"Battle of the Bastards" (Game of Thrones) – 6 (2016)
Most wins for a Television Movie
Behind the Candelabra and Eleanor and Franklin – 11
Most wins for an Animated Program
The Simpsons – 35
Most wins for a Variety, Music, or Comedy Special
The Kennedy Center Honors – 16
Most wins for a Variety, Music, or Comedy Series
Saturday Night Live – 92
Most wins for a Reality-Competition Program
RuPaul's Drag Race – 24
Most wins for acting in a Comedy Series
The Mary Tyler Moore Show – 16
Most wins for acting in a Drama Series
Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, and The West Wing – 9
Most wins for acting in a Limited Series
Angels in America – 4
Most wins for acting in a Television Movie
The Glass Menagerie – 4
Most wins for an online-streaming original program
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – 20
Most wins for an Animated Program in a single year
The Simpsons – 6 (1992)
Love, Death & Robots – 6 (2021)
Most wins for a performer for the same role in the same series
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer for Veep – 6 (2012–2017)
Most wins for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program
RuPaul Charles for RuPaul's Drag Race – 7 (2016–2022)
Most wins for Outstanding Drama Series
Hill Street Blues – 4 (1981–1984)
L.A. Law – 4 (1987, 1989–1991)
The West Wing – 4 (2000–2003)
Mad Men – 4 (2008–2011)
Game of Thrones – 4 (2015–2016, 2018–2019)
Most wins for Outstanding Comedy Series
Frasier – 5 (1994–1998)
Modern Family – 5 (2010–2014)
Most wins for Outstanding Animated Program
The Simpsons – 11 (1990–1991, 1995, 1997–1998, 2000–2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2019)
Most wins for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
Harvey Korman – 4 (1969, 1971–1972, 1974)
Most wins for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special
The Kennedy Center Honors – 7 (1994, 1996, 2009–2013)
Most wins for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart – 11 (2003–2012, 2015)
Most wins for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
RuPaul's Drag Race – 24
Most wins for a series for its final season
Game of Thrones – 12 (2019)
Most wins for a series for its first season
The West Wing – 9 (2000)
Most wins for a Comedy Series for its final season
Schitt's Creek – 9 (2020)
Most wins for a Comedy Series for its first season
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – 8 (2018)
Most wins for a Drama Series for its final season
Game of Thrones – 12 (2019)
Most wins for a Drama Series for its first season
The West Wing – 9 (2000)
Most wins for an individual in a single year
Moira Demos – 4 (2016)
Amy Sherman-Palladino – 4 (2018)
Dan Levy – 4 (2020)
Most wins for a writer/producer
Jon Stewart – 22
Most wins for an individual
Sheila Nevins – 31
Most wins for a person of color
RuPaul Charles – 11
Most wins for a performer
Cloris Leachman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus – 8
Most wins for a network
NBC
Overall nominations for a performer, program, etc.
Most nominations for a network in a single year
Netflix – 160 (2020)
Most nominations for a Television Program
Saturday Night Live – 306
Most nominations for a Comedy Series
Cheers – 117
Most nominations for a Drama Series
Game of Thrones – 161
Most nominations for a Limited Series
Roots – 37
Most nominations for a Television Movie
Grey Gardens – 17
Eleanor and Franklin – 17
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee – 17
Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years – 17
Most nominations for an Animated Program
The Simpsons – 97
Most nominations for a Reality-Competition Program
Dancing with the Stars – 113
Most nominations for a Variety Series
Saturday Night Live – 306
Most nominations for a Variety Special
The Kennedy Center Honors – 59
Most nominations for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program
Tom Bergeron – 9
Heidi Klum – 9
Most nominations for a Comedy Series for its final season
Schitt's Creek – 15 (2020)
Most nominations for a Comedy Series for its first season
Ted Lasso – 20 (2021)
Most nominations for a Drama Series for its final season
Game of Thrones – 32 (2019)
Most nominations for a Drama Series for its first season
NYPD Blue – 27 (1994)
Most nominations for an individual in a single year
Louis C.K. – 9 (2013)
Most nominations for an individual
Lorne Michaels – 94
Most nominations for an individual (actress)
Cloris Leachman – 22
Most nominations for an individual without a win
Angela Lansbury – 18
Most nominations for Outstanding Drama Series
Law & Order – 11
Most nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series
Cheers – 11
M*A*S*H – 11
Most nominations for Outstanding Animated Program
The Simpsons – 30
Most nominations for an online-streaming original program
The Handmaid's Tale – 75
Most nominations for Outstanding Competition Program
The Amazing Race – 17
Most nominations for Outstanding Variety Series
Saturday Night Live – 19
Most nominations for Outstanding Variety Special
The Kennedy Center Honors – 11
Most nominations for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
Billy Crystal – 12
Most nominations for a Variety Series in a single year
Saturday Night Live – 22 (2017)
Most nominations for a Reality-Competition Program in a single year
American Idol (2011), Dancing with the Stars (2009), RuPaul's Drag Race (2018, 2020), and The Voice (2014) – 10
Most nominations for a series without a win in a single year
The Handmaid's Tale – 21 (2021)
Most nominations for an Animated Program in a single year
The Simpsons – 9 (1990, 2009)
Most nominations for acting in a series in a single year
Succession – 14 (2022)
Most nominations for a Comedy Series in a single year
30 Rock – 22 (2009)
Most nominations for a Drama Series in a single year
Game of Thrones – 32 (2019)
Most nominations for acting in a Television Movie
And the Band Played On, The Glass Menagerie, and The Normal Heart – 6
Most nominations for acting in a Variety Special
Hamilton – 7
Most nominations for acting in a Limited Series
Roots – 13
See also
List of Primetime Emmy Award winners
List of Primetime Emmy Awards ceremonies
TCA Awards
Daytime Emmy Awards
National Television Awards
Critics' Choice Television Awards
British Academy Television Awards
List of American television awards
References
External links
American annual television specials