1983 American television programming awards
The35th Primetime Emmy Awards were held on September 25, 1983. The ceremony was broadcast onNBC , from thePasadena Civic Auditorium ,Pasadena, California . It is remembered for the vulgar language during the ceremony, much of it fromJoan Rivers who cohosted the ceremony withEddie Murphy . Rivers also wore nine dresses throughout the ceremony.
Despite being one of the lowest-rated shows of the season, the critically acclaimed first season ofCheers Outstanding Comedy Series as well as three other major awards. For the third straight year,Hill Street Blues Outstanding Drama Series , it received at least 14 major nominations for the third straight year, unprecedented at the time, and also received every nomination in theOutstanding Writing in a Drama Series field.Second City Television Outstanding Writing in a Variety, Music or Comedy Program .NBC dominated the night, on the strength of the shows mentioned, it received 71 of the 128 major nominations, and won 19 of 25 major categories.
In its final ceremony,M*A*S*H M*A*S*H was nominated every year it was on the air, 11/11, winning once in1974 , this record would be tied byCheers a decade later when it too went 11/11, finishing with four victories.
Winners and nominees [ edit ] [ 1]
Acting Judd Hirsch as Alex Reiger inTaxi (NBC) (Episode: "Alex's Old Buddy")Ed Flanders as Dr. Donald Westphall inSt. Elsewhere (NBC)Tyne Daly as Mary Beth Lacey inCagney & Lacey (CBS) (Episode: "Burn Out")
Supporting performances [ edit ] Carol Kane as Simka Dahblitz-Gravas inTaxi (NBC) (Episode: "Scenkees From a Marriage")James Coco as Arnie inSt. Elsewhere (NBC) (Episode: "Cora and Arnie")Ed Begley Jr. as Dr. Victor Ehrlich inSt. Elsewhere (NBC)Michael Conrad as Sgt. Phil Esterhaus inHill Street Blues (NBC)Joe Spano as Det. Henry Goldblume inHill Street Blues (NBC)Bruce Weitz as Det. Mick Belker inHill Street Blues (NBC)Doris Roberts as Cora inSt. Elsewhere (NBC) (Episode: "Cora and Arnie")Richard Kiley as Paddy Cleary inThe Thorn Birds (ABC) (Episode: "Part I")
Individual performances [ edit ] Writing Hill Street Blues (NBC): "Trial by Fury" –David Milch Hill Street Blues (NBC): "Eugene's Comedy Empire Strikes Back" –Story by :Steven Bochco ,Anthony Yerkovich andJeffrey Lewis Teleplay by : Anthony Yerkovich, David Milch andKaren Hall Hill Street Blues (NBC): "A Hair of the Dog" – Steven Bochco, Anthony Yerkovich and Jeffrey LewisHill Street Blues (NBC): "No Body's Perfect" –Story by : Steven Bochco, Anthony Yerkovich and Jeffrey LewisTeleplay by :Michael Wagner and David MilchHill Street Blues (NBC): "Officer of the Year" – Karen HallSecond City Television (NBC): "Sweeps Week"Second City Television (NBC): "Christmas Show"Second City Television (NBC): "Joe Walsh "Second City Television (NBC): "Robin Williams "Second City Television (NBC): "Towering Inferno"Special Bulletin (NBC) –Story by : Edward ZwickTeleplay by :Marshall Herskovitz The Executioner's Song (NBC) –Norman Mailer The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (Syndicated): "Part IV" –David Edgar Little Gloria... Happy at Last (NBC) –William Hanley Who Will Love My Children? (ABC) – Michael Bortman
Most major nominations [ edit ] Networks with multiple major nominations[ note 1] Network Number of NBC 71 ABC 23 CBS 22
Programs with multiple major nominations Program Category Network Number of Hill Street Blues Drama NBC 14 Cheers Comedy 9 The Thorn Birds Limited ABC Second City Television Variety NBC 7 St. Elsewhere Drama M*A*S*H Comedy CBS 6 Taxi NBC Buffalo Bill 5 The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Limited Syndicated 4 Little Gloria... Happy at Last Special NBC Live from Lincoln Center Variety PBS Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever NBC Who Will Love My Children? Special ABC The Winds of War Limited Cagney & Lacey Drama CBS 3 The Executioner's Song Special NBC Smiley's People Limited Syndicated Special Bulletin Special NBC Dynasty Drama ABC 2 The Jeffersons Comedy CBS M.A.D.D.: Mother's Against Drunk Drivers Special NBC Magnum, P.I. Drama CBS
Networks with multiple major awards[ note 1] Network Number of NBC 19 ABC 4
Programs with multiple major awards Programs Category Network Number of Cheers Comedy NBC 4 Hill Street Blues Drama 3 St. Elsewhere Taxi Comedy The Thorn Birds Limited ABC Special Bulletin Special NBC 2
Notes ^a b "Major" constitutes the categories listed above: Program, Acting, Directing, and Writing. Does not include thetechnical categories.
