Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Series

The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Series is a category in the Primetime Emmy Awards. It is awarded annually to the best variety show or similarly formatted program of the year. The award is sometimes known by other names, such as “Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Program” and “Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series.”

History

From 1979 to 1989 and in 1991, variety series and specials competed together. Single programs dominated as winners during this time until the Outstanding Variety Special category was formed. Since 1994, all of the winners in this category have been late-night talk shows, except in 1997.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart won the award for ten years consecutively (2003–2012), the longest winning streak for a television show in Primetime Emmy Award history. In 2015, this category was separated into two categories – Outstanding Variety Sketch Series and Outstanding Talk Series.

Winners and nominations

1950s

1. In 1956, two separate series categories existed, Best Variety Series and Best Music Series, and an award was given in each category. The Ed Sullivan Show won Best Variety Series, while Your Hit Parade won Best Music Series.
2. In 1957, two separate series categories existed, Best Series – Half Hour or Less and Best Series – One Hour or More, and an award was given in each category. The Phil Silvers Show, a comedy, won Best Series – Half Hour or Less, while Caesar's Hour, another comedy, won Best Series – One Hour or More. For this year (and also in 1965), variety shows competed directly against comedies, dramas, and other shows.

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

Programs with multiple awards

Totals include wins for Outstanding Talk Series and Outstanding Scripted Variety Series.

Programs with multiple nominations

Totals include nominations for Outstanding Talk Series and Outstanding Scripted Variety Series.

Notes

1. As a juried award, nominees had to garner 50% approval to win the award. The nominee did not meet the benchmark and no award was given.

References

1. "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Emmys.com. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
2. "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Emmys.com. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
3. "Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Variety - 1960". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
4. "Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Variety - 1961". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
5. "Outstanding Program Achievements in the Fields of Variety and Music - Variety - 1962". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
6. "Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Variety - 1963". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
7. "Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Variety - 1964". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
8. "17th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
9. 1965 Emmy Awards
10. "Outstanding Variety Series - 1966". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
11. "Outstanding Variety Series - 1967". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
12. "Outstanding Musical or Variety Series - 1968". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
13. "Outstanding Variety or Musical Series - 1969". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
14. "Outstanding Variety or Musical Series - 1970". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
15. "Outstanding Variety Series - Musical - 1971". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
16. "Outstanding Variety Series - Talk - 1971". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
17. "Outstanding Variety Series - Musical - 1972". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
18. "Outstanding Variety Series - Talk - 1972". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
19. "Outstanding Variety Musical Series - 1973". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
20. "Outstanding Music-Variety Series - 1974". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
21. "Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Series - 1975". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
22. "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Television Academy. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
23. "Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Series - 1976". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
24. "Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Series - 1977". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
25. "Special Classification of Outstanding Program Achievement - 1977". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
26. "Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Series - 1978". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
27. "Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Program - 1979". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
28. "Outstanding Variety or Music Program - 1980". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
29. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program - 1981". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
30. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program - 1982". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
31. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program - 1983". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
32. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program - 1984". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
33. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program - 1985". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
34. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program - 1986". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
35. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program - 1987". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
36. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program - 1988". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
37. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program - 1989". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
38. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - 1990". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
39. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program - 1991". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
40. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program (series) - 1992". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
41. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - 1993". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
42. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - 1994". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
43. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - 1995". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
44. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - 1996". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
45. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - 1997". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
46. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - 1998". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
47. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - 1999". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
48. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - 2000". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
49. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - 2001". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
50. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - 2002". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
51. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - 2003". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
52. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - 2004". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
53. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - 2005". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
54. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - 2006". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
55. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - 2007". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
56. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - 2008". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
57. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - 2009". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
58. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - 2010". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
59. "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - 2011". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
60. "Outstanding Variety Series - 2012". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
61. "Outstanding Variety Series - 2013". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
62. "Outstanding Variety Series - 2014". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.