Primetime Emmy Award

Primetime Emmy Award
68th Primetime Emmy Awards
Awarded for	Excellence in primetime television
Country	United States
Presented by	Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
First awarded	January 25, 1949
Official website	emmys.com
Television/Radio coverage
Network	ABC (1967, 1970, 1973, 1976, 1979, 1982, 1985, 1993–94, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016) CBS (1966, 1969, 1972, 1975, 1978, 1981, 1984, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013) FOX (1987–92, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015) NBC (1955–65, 1968, 1971, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)

The Primetime Emmy Award is an American award bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming. First given in 1949, the award was originally referred to as simply the "Emmy Awards" until the first Daytime Emmy Award ceremonies were held in the 1970s, and the word "prime time" was added to distinguish between the two.

The Primetime Emmy Awards generally air in mid-September, on the Sunday before the official start of the fall television season. They are currently seen in rotation among the four major networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC). Since NBC's coverage of Sunday Night NFL Football begins in September, when NBC has had the rotation in 2006, 2010 and 2014, the ceremony moved to late August for those years only.

The Emmy Awards are considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards (film), Grammy Awards (music), and Tony Awards (stage). The awards are divided into three categories: the Primetime Emmy Awards for television performance, the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, and the Primetime Engineering Emmy Awards.

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. 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 web 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.

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. All members can however vote for nominations in the best program categories. The final voting 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.

Categories

Primetime Emmy Awards

The Primetime Emmy Award is awarded in the following categories:

Programs

• Outstanding Drama Series
• Outstanding Limited Series
• Outstanding Comedy Series
• Outstanding Television Movie
• Outstanding Variety Talk Series
• Outstanding Reality-Competition Program

Directing

• Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
• Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series
• Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
• Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special

Writing

• Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
• Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series
• Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
• Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special

Acting

• Lead Actor
  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

• Lead Actress
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

• Supporting Actor
  • Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
  • Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
  • Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

• Supporting Actress
  • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
  • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
  • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Creative Arts Emmy Awards

The 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 Variety Sketch
• Outstanding Variety Special
• Outstanding Special Class Program
• Outstanding Short Form Variety Series
• Outstanding Structured Reality Program
• Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program
• Outstanding Informational Series or Special
• Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking
• Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series
• Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special
• Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series
• Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series

Acting

• Outstanding Narrator
• 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 Character Voice-Over Performance
• 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-Format Animated Program
• Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation

Casting

• Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series
• Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series
• Outstanding Casting for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special

Children

• Outstanding Children's Program

Choreography

• Outstanding Choreography

Cinematography

• Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program
• Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program
• Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series
• Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series
• Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie

Commercial

• Outstanding Commercial

Costumes

• Outstanding Costumes for a Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Programming
• Outstanding Costumes for a Contemporary Series, Limited Series, or Movie
• Outstanding Costumes for a Period Series, Fantasy Series, Limited Series, or Movie

Directing

• Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special
• Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming

Hairstyling

• Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series
• Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Movie
• Outstanding Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or Special

Hosting

• Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program

Interactive Media

• Outstanding Interactive Program
• Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media – Social TV Experience
• Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media – Multiplatform Storytelling
• Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media – User Experience and Visual Design
• Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media – Original Interactive Program

Lighting Design / Lighting 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 Makeup for a Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic)
• Outstanding Makeup for a Limited Series or Movie (Non-Prosthetic)
• Outstanding Makeup for a Multi-Camera Series or Special (Non-Prosthetic)
• Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie, or Special

Music

• Outstanding Music Direction
• Outstanding Main Title Theme Music
• Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
• Outstanding Music Composition for a Series
• Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special

Picture Editing

• Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming
• Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program
• Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series
• Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series
• Outstanding Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program
• Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series
• Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Limited Series or Movie
• Outstanding Picture Editing for a Structured or Competition Reality Program

Production Design

• Outstanding Production Design for Variety, Nonfiction, Reality, or Reality-Competition Programming
• Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More)
• Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour or Less)
• Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period Program (One Hour or More)
• Outstanding Production Design for Variety, Nonfiction, Event or Award Special

Sound Editing

• Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series
• Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special
• Outstanding Sound Editing for Nonfiction Programming (Single or Multi-Camera)

Sound Mixing

• Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or Movie
• Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special
• 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 Nonfiction Program (Single or Multi-Camera)

Special and Visual Effects

• Outstanding Special and Visual Effects

Stunt Coordination

• Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Comedy Series or Variety Program
• Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Drama Series, Limited Series, or Movie

Technical Direction

• Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Series
• Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special

Writing

• Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
• Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming

Primetime Emmy Engineering Awards

The Engineering Emmy Award is given specifically for outstanding achievement in engineering. It is 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
• Charles H. 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:

Super Emmy Award Outstanding Animated Program (One Hour or More) Outstanding Art Direction for a Multi-Camera Series Outstanding Cinematography for a Half-Hour Series Outstanding Cinematography for a One Hour Series Outstanding Costumes for a Series Outstanding Costumes for a Variety Program or Special Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program Outstanding Miniseries or Movie (2011–2013) Outstanding Picture Editing for Reality Programming Outstanding Reality Program Outstanding Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Program Outstanding Stunt Coordination Outstanding Voice-Over Performance Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series

Best Live Show Best New 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 Children's Nonfiction, Reality, or Reality-Competition Program Outstanding Classical Music-Dance Program Outstanding Program Achievement in Daytime Drama ‡ Outstanding Program Achievement by Individuals in Daytime Drama ‡ † Replaced by a similar category in the Sports Emmy Awards ^‡ Replaced by a similar category in the Daytime Emmy Awards

Records

Overall wins by a performer, program, etc.

Most wins by a series in a single season Game of Thrones – 12 (2015, 2016) [1][2] Most wins by a network in a single year CBS – 44 (1974) [1] Most wins by a Television Program Saturday Night Live – 50 [3] Most wins by a Comedy Series Frasier – 37 [1] Most wins by a Drama Series Game of Thrones – 38 [2] Most wins by a Limited Series John Adams – 13 [1] Most wins by a single episode "Boardwalk Empire" (Boardwalk Empire) – 6 (2011) [4] "Battle of the Bastards" (Game of Thrones) – 6 (2016) [5][6] Most wins by a Television Movie Behind the Candelabra and Eleanor and Franklin – 11 [1] Most wins by an Animated Program The Simpsons – 32 [1] Most wins by a Variety, Music, or Comedy Special The Kennedy Center Honors – 15 [1] Most wins by a Variety, Music, or Comedy Series Saturday Night Live – 50 [3] Most wins by a Reality-Competition Program The Amazing Race and Dancing with the Stars – 15 [1] Most wins for acting in a Comedy Series The Mary Tyler Moore Show – 16 [1] Most wins for acting in a Drama Series Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, and The West Wing – 9 [1] Most wins for acting in a Limited Series Angels in America – 4 [1] Most wins for acting in a Television Movie The Glass Menagerie – 4 [1] Most wins by an online-streaming original program Transparent – 8 [7] Most wins by an Animated Program in a single year The Simpsons – 6 (1992) [1] Most wins by a performer for the same role in the same series Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer on Veep – 5 [8] Candice Bergen as Murphy Brown on Murphy Brown – 5 [1] Don Knotts as Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show – 5 [1] Most wins for Outstanding Host for a Reality-Competition Program Jeff Probst – 4 (2008–2011) [1]

Most wins for Outstanding Drama Series Hill Street Blues – 4 (1981–1984) [1] L.A. Law – 4 (1987, 1989–1991) [1] The West Wing – 4 (2000–2003) [1] Mad Men – 4 (2008–2011) [1] Most wins for Outstanding Comedy Series Frasier – 5 (1994–1998) [1] Modern Family – 5 (2010–2014) [1] Most wins for Outstanding Animated Program The Simpsons – 10 (1990–1991, 1995, 1997–1998, 2000–2001, 2003, 2006, 2008) [1] Most wins by a program in all major categories Angels in America – 7 [1] Most wins for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special The Kennedy Center Honors – 7 (1994, 1996, 2009–2013) [1] Most wins for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series The Daily Show with Jon Stewart – 11 (2003–2012, 2015) [1] Most wins for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program The Amazing Race – 10 (2003–2009, 2011–2012, 2014) [1] Most wins for Outstanding Individual Performance Harvey Korman – 4 [1] Most wins by a Comedy Series in its final season Frasier – 6 (2004) [1] Most wins by a Comedy Series in its first season Modern Family – 6 (2010) [1] Most wins by a Drama Series in its final season Breaking Bad – 9 (2013, 2014) [note 1] Most wins by a Drama Series in its first season The West Wing – 9 (2000) [1] Most wins by an individual in a single year Moira Demos – 4 (2016) [9] Most wins by a series in its first season The West Wing – 9 (2000) [1] Most wins by a writer/producer Jon Stewart – 22 [10] Most wins by an individual Sheila Nevins – 30 [11] Most wins by a performer Cloris Leachman – 8 [1] Most wins by a network NBC [12]

Overall nominations for a performer, program, etc.

Most nominations for a network in a single year HBO – 126 (2015) [1] Most nominations for a Television Program Saturday Night Live – 209 [1] Most nominations for a Comedy Series Cheers – 117 [1] Most nominations for a Drama Series ER – 124 [1] Most nominations for a Limited Series Roots – 37 [1] Most nominations for a Television Movie Grey Gardens – 17 [1] Eleanor and Franklin – 17 [1] Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee – 17 [1] Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years – 17 [1] Most nominations for an Animated Program The Simpsons – 85 [1] Most nominations for a Reality-Competition Program Dancing with the Stars – 87 [1] Most nominations for a Variety, Music, or Comedy Series Saturday Night Live – 209 [1] Most nominations for a Variety, Music, or Comedy Special The Kennedy Center Honors – 55 [1] Most nominations for Outstanding Host for a Reality-Competition Program Tom Bergeron – 9 [1] Most nominations for a Comedy Series in its final season 30 Rock – 13 (2013) [1] Most nominations for a Comedy Series in its first season Glee – 19 (2010) [1] Most nominations for a Drama Series in its final season Breaking Bad – 29 (2013, 2014) [note 1] Most nominations for a Drama Series in its first season NYPD Blue – 27 (1994) [1] Most nominations for an individual in a single year Louis C.K. – 9 (2013) [13] Most nominations for an individual Lorne Michaels – 79 [14]

Most nominations for Outstanding Drama Series Law & Order – 11 [1] Most nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series Cheers and M*A*S*H – 11 [1] Most nominations for Outstanding Animated Program The Simpsons – 25 [1] Most nominations for Outstanding Individual Performance Billy Crystal – 12 [1] Most nominations for an online-streaming original program House of Cards – 46 [1] Most nominations for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program The Amazing Race – 14 [1] Most nominations for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series Saturday Night Live – 19 [1] Most nominations for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special The Kennedy Center Honors – 11 [1] Most nominations for a Variety, Music, or Comedy Series in a single year Saturday Night Live – 16 (2011, 2016) [1] Most nominations for a Reality-Competition Program in a single year Dancing with the Stars – 10 (2009) [1] American Idol – 10 (2011) [1] The Voice – 10 (2014) [1] Most nominations for an Animated Program in a single year The Simpsons – 9 (1990, 2009) [1] Most nominations for acting in a series in a single year The West Wing – 12 (2002) [1] Most nominations for a Comedy Series in a single year 30 Rock – 22 (2009) [1] Most nominations for a Drama Series in a single year NYPD Blue – 27 (1994) [1] Most nominations for an Oscar by an Emmy Winner Glenn Close – 6 [15][16] Most nominations for acting in a Television Movie And the Band Played On – 6 [1] The Glass Menagerie – 6 [1] The Normal Heart – 6 [1] Most nominations for acting in a Limited Series Roots – 13 [1]

See also

• British Academy Television Awards

Notes

1. The fifth and final season of Breaking Bad was split into two parts. They are both considered the final season.

References

1. "Facts & Figures for 2016 Nominations" (PDF). Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. July 14, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
2. Dockterman, Eliana (September 18, 2016). "Game of Thrones Now Has the Most Emmy Wins Ever". TIME. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
3. "Saturday Night Live (1975– ): Awards". IMDb.
4. "Boardwalk Empire". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
5. Silverberg, Nicole (September 19, 2016). "This One Episode of Game of Thrones Just Won 7 Emmys". GQ. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
6. Hughes, Sarah (September 19, 2016). "The Battle of The Bastards: Game of Thrones serves up TV's finest hour". The Guardian. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
7. "Transparent". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
8. Whipp, Glenn (September 18, 2016). "Julia Louis-Dreyfus makes Emmy history". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
9. Andreeva, Nellie; Haithman, Diane (September 11, 2016). "'Making a Murderer' Sweeps Nonfiction Emmy Categories, Creators React To Brendan Dassey's Conviction Overturn". Deadline. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
10. "Jon Stewart: Awards". IMDb.
11. "Sheila Nevins: Awards". IMDb.
12. Thurm, Eric (September 15, 2015). "Emmy Awards: Who's Won the Most? — Network With Most Emmy Wins: NBC". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
13. Thurm, Eric (September 15, 2015). "Emmy Awards: Who's Won the Most? — Most Categories for a Single Nominee: 9". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
14. "Lorne Michaels: Awards". IMDb.
15. Thurm, Eric (September 15, 2015). "Emmy Awards: Who's Won the Most? — Most Oscar Nominations for an Emmy Winner: 5". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
16. "Glenn Close: Awards". IMDb.

External links

• Official website