The 33rd Primetime Emmy Awards were held on Sunday, September 13, 1981. The ceremony was broadcast on CBS. It was hosted by Shirley MacLaine and Edward Asner.
For the third consecutive year, the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series went to Taxi. The top show on the drama side was Hill Street Blues which, in its first season, tied the record for most major nominations (14) and wins (6) by a non-miniseries. NBC's ratings juggernaut Shōgun received eight major nominations, but only won one, for Outstanding Limited Series.
Winners and Nominees
[1]
Programs
Acting
Lead performances
Supporting performances
Directing
| Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series |
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series |
- James Burrows for Taxi, (Episode: "Elaine's Strange Triangle"), (ABC)
- Alan Alda for M*A*S*H, (Episode: "The Life You Save"), (CBS)
- Rod Daniel for WKRP in Cincinnati, (Episode: "Venus Flytrap Explains The Atom"), (CBS)
- Linda Day, for Archie Bunker's Place, (Episode: "Tough Love"), (CBS)
- Burt Metcalfe for M*A*S*H, (Episode: "No Laughing Matter"), (CBS)
- Jerry Paris, for Happy Days, (Episode: "Hello Mrs. Arcola"), (ABC)
- Noam Pitlik, for Barney Miller, (Episode: "Liquidation"), (ABC)
|
- Robert Butler for Hill Street Blues, (Episode: "Hill Street Station"), (NBC)
- Corey Allen for Hill Street Blues, (Episode: "Jungle Madness"), (NBC)
- Burt Brinckerhoff for Lou Grant, (Episode: "Pack"), (CBS)
- Georg Stanford Brown for Hill Street Blues, (Episode: "Up in Arms"), (NBC)
- Mel Damski for American Dream, (Episode: "Pilot"), (ABC)
- Gene Reynolds for Lou Grant, (Episode: "Strike"), (CBS)
|
| Outstanding Directing in a Variety, Music or Comedy Program |
Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or a Special |
|
|
|
Writing
| Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series |
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series |
- Michael Leeson for Taxi, (Episode: "Tony's Sister and Jim"), (ABC)
- Stephen J. Cannell for The Greatest American Hero, (Episode: "Pilot"), (ABC)
- Glen Charles, Les Charles for Taxi, (Episode: "Going Home"), (ABC)
- Mike Farrell, John Rappaport, Dennis Koenig, Thad Mumford, Dan Wilcox, Burt Metcalfe for M*A*S*H, (Episode: "Death Takes the Holiday"), (CBS)
- David Lloyd for Taxi, (Episode: "Elaine's Strange Triangle"), (ABC)
|
- Michael Kozoll, Steven Bochco for Hill Street Blues, (Episode: "Hill Street Station"), (NBC)
- Ronald M. Cohen, Barbara Corday, Ken Hecht, for American Dream, (Episode: "Pilot"), (ABC)
- Seth Freeman for Lou Grant, (Episode: "Rape"), (CBS)
- Michael Kozoll, Steven Bochco, Anthony Yerkovich for Hill Street Blues, (Episode: "Jungle Madness"), (NBC)
- April Smith for Lou Grant, (Episode: "Strike"), (CBS)
|
| Outstanding Writing in a Variety, Music or Comedy Program |
Outstanding Writing in a Limited Series or a Special |
- The Muppet Show, (Syndicated)
- Lily: Sold Out, (CBS)
- Musical Comedy Tonight II, (PBS)
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, (NBC)
- AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Fred Astaire, (CBS)
|
|
Most major nominations
- By network [note 1]
- CBS – 52
- ABC – 40
- NBC – 32
- By program
- Hill Street Blues (NBC) – 14
- Lou Grant (CBS) – 10
- M*A*S*H (CBS) / Shōgun (NBC) / Taxi (ABC) – 8
- Masada (ABC) – 7
- Dallas (CBS) / Playing for Time (CBS) – 5
Most major awards
- By network [note 1]
- By program
- Hill Street Blues (NBC) – 6
- Taxi (ABC) – 5
- Playing for Time (CBS) – 4
- Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Major" constitutes the categories listed above: Program, Acting, Directing, and Writing. Does not include the technical categories.
References
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External links
