Primetime Emmy Awards

The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming. First awarded in 1949, they were originally referred to as just the "Emmy Awards" until the first Daytime Emmy Award ceremonies were held in the 1970s, and the word "primetime" was added to disambiguate between the two.
Award categories
Primetime Emmys are currently awarded in the following categories:
Outstanding Comedy Series
Outstanding Drama Series
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
Outstanding Made For Television Movie
Outstanding Miniseries
Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Filmmaking
Directing
Directing for a Comedy Series
Directing for a Drama Series
Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
Writing
Writing in a Comedy Series
Writing in a Drama Series
Writing in a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
Outstanding Reality Program
Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program
Outstanding Informational Series
Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special Lead role
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
Supporting role
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
Guest role
Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Outstanding Special Class Program
Creative Arts Primetime Emmys
The Creative Arts Emmy Award are awarded in the following categories (some of which separately recognize work based on whether a single-camera and multi-camera setup was used):
Animation
Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour)
Animated Program (for Programming One Hour or More)
Voice-Over Performance
Individual Achievement in Animation
Art Direction
Art Direction for a Multi-Camera Series
Art Direction for a Single-Camera Series
Art Direction for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program
Casting
Casting for a Comedy Series
Casting for a Drama Series
Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
Children's Program
Choreography
Choreography
Cinematography
Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series
Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series
Cinematography for a One Hour Series
Cinematography for a Half-Hour Series
Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie
Cinematography For Nonfiction Programming
Commercial
Costumes
Costumes for a Series
Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
Directing for Nonfiction Programming
Hairstyling
Hairstyling for a Series
Hairstyling for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
Interactive Television
Interactive Television, Program-Specific
Interactive Television, Non-Program-Specific
Lighting Direction
Main Title Design
Makeup
Makeup for a Series, Miniseries, Movie or a Special (Prosthetic)
Makeup for a Series (Non-Prosthetic)
Makeup for a Miniseries or a Movie (Non-Prosthetic) Music
Individual Achievement - Classical Music/Dance Programming
Music Composition for a Series
Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
Music Direction
Music And Lyrics
Main Title Theme Music
Nonfiction
Nonfiction Series
Nonfiction Special
Picture Editing
Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series
Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series
Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Series
Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
Picture Editing For Nonfiction Programming
Sound Editing
Sound Editing for a Series
Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
Sound Editing For Nonfiction Programming
Sound Mixing
Single-Camera Sound Mixing for a Series
Single-Camera Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Movie
Multi-Camera Sound Mixing for a Series or Special
Sound Mixing for a Variety or Music Series or Special
Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Programming
Stunt Coordination
Technical Direction
Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video for a Series
Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
Variety, Music or Comedy Special
Visual Effects
Special Visual Effects for a Series
Special Visual Effects for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
Writing for Nonfiction Programming
Retired awards
A number of awards have been retired throughout the years, including some that have been replaced by similar award categories in the Daytime Emmys, Sports Emmys, and other areas of recognition.