Emmy Statuette
TV Academy

Emmy Awards (Awards Show)

The Primetime Emmy Awards, which recognize work on American primetime television, are awarded each year by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The first Emmy ceremony was held Jan. 25, 1949 at the Hollywood Athletic Club, but only honored shows that aired in Los Angeles. The name “Emmy” was inspired by Immy, the nickname for a TV camera’s image orthicon tube. The Emmy statue depicts a winged woman holding an atom. In addition to the Primetime Emmys, the Daytime Emmys, Childrens & Family and International Emmys are among other awards that recognize achievements in television. The Primetime Emmys ceremony is typically held in mid-September, before the start of the fall TV season. The four major networks, ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox rotate turns to broadcast the ceremony, a practice known as “the wheel.” Many of the below-the-line awards for categories such as costume designers and cinematographers are presented at the Creative Arts Emmys held the week before the main ceremony. Members of the TV Academy vote for the Emmy awards, and nominations are usually announced in July. Eligible shows must air between June 1 and May 31 of any given year. The top prizes are Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Comedy Series, followed by Outstanding Actor and Actress in a Comedy and in a Drama series. Recent Drama Emmy winners include “The Crown,” and “Succession,” while comedy winners include “Ted Lasso” and “Schitt’s Creek.”  

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