31st Primetime Emmy Awards 1979 American television programming awards
The 31st Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony was held on Sunday, September 9, 1979. The ceremony was broadcast on the ABC . It was hosted by Henry Winkler and Cheryl Ladd . This ceremony is remembered for problems with the Pasadena Civic Auditorium 's air-conditioning.
The top shows of the night were Taxi Outstanding Comedy Series field when it beat All in the Family 'Lou Grant Outstanding Drama Series .
For the first time, most of the Miniseries and Television Movie Categories were merged into one, this would become the standard for later ceremonies, culminating with the TV Movie and Miniseries Program Categories combining in 2011. For this year only, the comedy and variety categories were combined in acting, directing and writing. This combination would not stick, and the traditional categories returned the next year.
Winners and nominees
[ 1]
Programs
Programs
Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin (NBC)
Acting
Acting
Ruth Gordon as Dee Wilcox in Taxi (ABC) (Episode: "Sugar Mama")
Directing
Directing
Barney Miller (ABC): "The Harris Incident" – Noam Pitlik All in the Family (CBS): "California, Here We Are, Part II" – Paul Bogart M*A*S*H (CBS): "Dear Sis" – Alan AldaM*A*S*H (CBS): "Point of View" – Charles S. Dubin Soap (ABC): "Episode #27" – Jay Sandrich
Writing
Writing
M*A*S*H (CBS): "Inga" – Alan Alda
The Jericho Mile (ABC) – Story by : Patrick J. Nolan Screenplay by : Patrick J. Nolan and Michael Mann Backstairs at the White House (NBC): "Book One" – Paul Dubov and Gwen BagniFriendly Fire (ABC) – Fay Kanin Roots: The Next Generations (ABC): "Part I" – Ernest Kinoy Summer of My German Soldier (NBC) – Jane-Howard Hammerstein
Most major nominations
Networks with multiple major nominations[ note 1]
Network Number of
CBS 46
ABC 30
NBC 23
Programs with multiple major nominations
Program Category Network Number of
Lou Grant Drama CBS 12
M*A*S*H Comedy 9
Backstairs at the White House Limited CBS 8
All in the Family Comedy 6
The Rockford Files Drama NBC
Roots: The Next Generations Limited ABC
Friendly Fire Special 5
Taxi Comedy
Barney Miller 4
The Jericho Mile Special 3
Soap Comedy
Summer of My German Soldier Special NBC
Alice Comedy CBS 2
Family Drama ABC
First, You Cry Special CBS
Mork & Mindy Comedy ABC
The Paper Chase Drama NBC
Saturday Night Live Variety
Silent Victory: The Kitty O'Neil Story Special CBS
Most major awards
Networks with multiple major awards[ note 1]
Network Number of
ABC 11
CBS 9
NBC 3
Programs with multiple major awards
Program Category Network Number of
All in the Family Comedy CBS 2
Friendly Fire Special ABC
The Jericho Mile
Lou Grant Drama CBS
Roots: The Next Generations Miniseries ABC
Taxi Comedy
Notes
1 2 "Major" constitutes the categories listed above: Program, Acting, Directing, and Writing. Does not include the technical categories.
