39th Primetime Emmy Awards

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39th Primetime Emmy Awards
Date
  • September 20, 1987
    (Ceremony)
  • September 12, 1987
    (Creative Arts Awards)
LocationPasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, California
Presented byAcademy of Television Arts and Sciences
Hosted byBruce Willis
Highlights
Most awardsPromise (5)
Most nominationsL.A. Law (13)
Outstanding Comedy SeriesThe Golden Girls
Outstanding Drama SeriesL.A. Law
Outstanding MiniseriesA Year in the Life
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program41st Tony Awards
Television/radio coverage
NetworkFox
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The 39th Primetime Emmy Awards were held on Sunday, September 20, 1987. The ceremony was broadcast on Fox for the first time, as the network premiered a year earlier from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California.

For the second straight year, The Golden Girls won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series. The winner for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series was L.A. Law, which, for its first season, won four major awards, and led all shows, with 13 major nominations. The winner for Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special, Promise, set a new record, with five major wins. This record still stands for TV movies, though it was tied by Temple Grandin in 2010. The Tracey Ullman Show received three major nominations on the night, making it the first ceremony in which the network Fox received a major nomination. This was the only time that Hill Street Blues wasn't nominated for Outstanding Drama Series, in its seventh and last season; also, no males actors of Hill Street Blues were nominated (even with 20 previous nominations). Only Betty Thomas for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series was nominated, and did not win, making her the only one in the cast to be nominated in all seasons.

NBC continued its dominance of the field, becoming the first network to gain over eighty major nominations (82). Its résumé was highlighted by gaining all five nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series. This had been done only once before (in 1977, but with a field of only four shows), and has not been matched in either field since.

Winners and nominees[]

[1]

Programs[]

Outstanding Comedy Series Outstanding Drama Series
  • The Golden Girls (NBC)
    • Cheers (NBC)
    • The Cosby Show (NBC)
    • Family Ties (NBC)
    • Night Court (NBC)
  • L.A. Law (NBC)
    • Cagney & Lacey (CBS)
    • Moonlighting (ABC)
    • Murder, She Wrote (CBS)
    • St. Elsewhere (NBC)
Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Program Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special
  • The 41st Annual Tony Awards (CBS)
    • Late Night with David Letterman (NBC)
    • Liberty Weekend (ABC)
    • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (NBC)
    • The Tracey Ullman Show (Fox)
  • Promise (CBS)
    • Escape from Sobibor (CBS)
    • LBJ: The Early Years (NBC)
    • Pack of Lies (CBS)
    • Unnatural Causes (NBC)
Outstanding Miniseries
  • A Year in the Life (NBC)
    • Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna (NBC)
    • Nutcracker: Money, Madness, and Murder (NBC)
    • Out on a Limb (ABC)
    • The Two Mrs. Grenvilles (NBC)

Acting[]

Lead performances[]

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
  • Michael J. Fox as Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties (Episode: "A, My Name Is Alex"), (NBC)
    • Harry Anderson as Judge Harry T. Stone on Night Court (NBC)
    • Ted Danson as Sam Malone on Cheers (Episode: "Diamond Sam") (NBC)
    • Bob Newhart as Dick Loudon on Newhart (Episode: "Co-Hostess Twinkie") (CBS)
    • Bronson Pinchot as Balki Bartokomous on Perfect Strangers (ABC)
  • Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux on The Golden Girls (Episode: "End of the Curse") (NBC)
    • Bea Arthur as Dorothy Zbornak on The Golden Girls (Episode: "The Stan Who Came to Dinner") (NBC)
    • Blair Brown as Molly Dodd on The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (NBC)
    • Jane Curtin as Allison Lowell on Kate & Allie (CBS)
    • Betty White as Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls (Episode: "Isn't It Romantic") (NBC)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
  • Bruce Willis as David Addison, Jr., on Moonlighting (Episode: "Big Man on Mulberry Street") (ABC)
    • Corbin Bernsen as Arnie Becker on L.A. Law (NBC)
    • William Daniels as Dr. Mark Craig on St. Elsewhere (NBC)
    • Ed Flanders as Dr. Donald Westphall on St. Elsewhere (NBC)
    • Edward Woodward as Robert McCall on The Equalizer (CBS)
  • Sharon Gless as Christine Cagney on Cagney & Lacey (Episode: "Turn, Turn, Turn") (CBS)
    • Tyne Daly as Mary Beth Lacey on Cagney & Lacey (CBS)
    • Susan Dey as Grace Van Owen on L.A. Law (NBC)
    • Jill Eikenberry as Ann Kelsey on L.A. Law (NBC)
    • Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher on Murder, She Wrote (CBS)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special
  • James Woods as D.J. in Promise (CBS)
    • Alan Arkin as Leon Feldhendler on Escape from Sobibor (CBS)
    • James Garner as Bob Beuhler in Promise (CBS)
    • Louis Gossett, Jr., as Mathu on A Gathering of Old Men (CBS)
    • Randy Quaid as President Lyndon Johnson on LBJ: The Early Years (NBC)
  • Gena Rowlands as Betty Ford on The Betty Ford Story (ABC)
    • Ann-Margret as Ann Arden Grenville on The Two Mrs. Grenvilles (NBC)
    • Ellen Burstyn as Barbara Jackson on Pack of Lies (CBS)
    • Lee Remick as Frances Schreuder on Nutcracker: Money, Madness, and Murder (NBC)
    • Alfre Woodard as Maude DeVictor on Unnatural Causes (NBC)

Supporting performances[]

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
  • John Larroquette as Dan Fielding on Night Court (Episode: "Dan's Operation") (NBC)
    • Woody Harrelson as Woody Boyd on Cheers (NBC)
    • Tom Poston as Clayton George Utley on Newhart (CBS)
    • Peter Scolari as Michael Harris on Newhart (CBS)
    • George Wendt as Norm Peterson on Cheers (NBC)
  • Jackée Harry as Sandra Clark on 227 (Episode: "The Washington Affair") (NBC)
    • Justine Bateman as Mallory Keaton on Family Ties (NBC)
    • Julia Duffy as Stephanie Vanderkellen on Newhart (CBS)
    • Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls (NBC)
    • Rhea Perlman as Carla Tortelli on Cheers (NBC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
  • John Hillerman as Higgins on Magnum, P.I. (Episode: "Autumn Warrior"), (CBS)
    • Ed Begley, Jr., as Dr. Victor Ehrlich on St. Elsewhere (NBC)
    • John Karlen as Harvey Lacey on Cagney & Lacey (CBS)
    • Jimmy Smits as Victor Sifuentes on L.A. Law (NBC)
    • Michael Tucker as Stuart Markowitz on L.A. Law (NBC)
  • Bonnie Bartlett as Ellen Craig on St. Elsewhere (NBC)
    • Allyce Beasley as Agnes DiPesto on Moonlighting (ABC)
    • Christina Pickles as Nurse Helen Rosenthal on St. Elsewhere (NBC)
    • Susan Ruttan as Roxanne Melman on L.A. Law (NBC)
    • Betty Thomas as Sgt. Lucille Bates on Hill Street Blues (NBC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special
  • Dabney Coleman as Martin Costigan on Sworn to Silence (ABC)
    • Stephen Collins as Billy Grenville, Jr., on The Two Mrs. Grenvilles (NBC)
    • John Glover as Richard Behrens on Nutcracker: Money, Madness, and Murder (NBC)
    • Laurence Olivier as Harry Burrard on Lost Empires (PBS)
    • Eli Wallach as Norman Voss on Something in Common (CBS)
  • Piper Laurie as Annie Gilbert on Promise, (CBS)
    • Claudette Colbert as Alice Grenville on The Two Mrs. Grenvilles (NBC)
    • Olivia de Havilland as Dowager Empress Maria on Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna (NBC)
    • Christine Lahti as Alethea Milford on Amerika (ABC)
    • Elizabeth Wilson as Berenice Bradshaw on Nutcracker: Money, Madness, and Murder (NBC)

Guest performances[]

Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series
  • John Cleese as Dr. Simon Finch-Royce on Cheers (Episode: "Simon Says") (NBC)
    • Art Carney as James "Weasel" Cavanaugh on The Cavanaughs (Episode: "He Ain't Heavy") (CBS)
    • Herb Edelman as Stan Zbornak on The Golden Girls (Episode: "The Stan Who Came To Dinner") (NBC)
    • Lois Nettleton as Jean on The Golden Girls (Episode: "Isn't It Romantic") (NBC)
    • Nancy Walker as Angela on The Golden Girls (Episode: "Long Day's Journey Into Marinara") (NBC)
  • Alfre Woodard as Adrian Moore on L.A. Law (Episode: "Pilot") (NBC)
    • Steve Allen as Lech Osoranski on St. Elsewhere (Episode: "Visiting Daze") (NBC)
    • Jeanne Cooper as Gladys Becker on L.A. Law (Episode: "Fry Me to the Moon") (NBC)
    • Edward Herrmann as Father Joseph McCabe on St. Elsewhere (Episode: "Where There's Hope, There's Crosby") (NBC)
    • Jayne Meadows as Holga Oseransky on St. Elsewhere (Episode: "Visiting Daze") (NBC)

Directing[]

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
  • Terry Hughes for The Golden Girls (Episode: "Isn't It Romantic") (NBC)
    • James Burrows for Cheers (Episode: "Chambers vs. Malone") (NBC)
    • Will Mackenzie for Family Ties (Episode: "A, My Name is Alex") (NBC)
    • Jay Sandrich for The Cosby Show (Episode: "I Know That You Know") (NBC)
    • Jack Shea, for Designing Women (Episode: "The Beauty Contest") (CBS)
  • Gregory Hoblit for L.A. Law (Episode: "Pilot") (NBC)
    • Allan Arkush for Moonlighting (Episode: "I Am Curious ... Maddie") (ABC)
    • Will Mackenzie for Moonlighting (Episode: "Atomic Shakespeare") (ABC)
    • Sharron Miller for Cagney & Lacey (Episode: "Turn, Turn, Turn, Part II") (CBS)
    • Donald Petrie for L.A. Law (Episode: "The Venus Butterfly") (NBC)
Outstanding Directing in a Variety or Music Program Outstanding Directing in a Miniseries or a Special
  • Don Mischer for The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (CBS)
    • Ted Bessell and Stuart Margolin for The Tracey Ullman Show (Episode: "Golf") (Fox)
    • Hal Gurnee for Late Night with David Letterman (Episode: "5th Anniversary Special") (NBC)
    • Dwight Hemion for Liberty Weekend (ABC)
    • Walter C. Miller for The 41st Annual Tony Awards (ABC)
  • Glenn Jordan for Promise (CBS)
    • Paul Bogart for Nutcracker: Money, Madness, and Murder (Episode: "Part I") (NBC)
    • Jack Gold for Escape from Sobibor (CBS)
    • Lamont Johnson for Unnatural Causes (NBC)
    • Peter Werner for LBJ: The Early Years (NBC)

Writing[]

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
  • Gary David Goldberg and Alan Uger for Family Ties (Episode: "A, My Name is Alex") (NBC)
    • Jeffrey Duteil for The Golden Girls (Episode: "Isn't It Romantic") (NBC)
    • Janet Leahy for Cheers (Episode: "Abnormal Psychology") (NBC)
    • David Mirkin for Newhart (Episode: "Co-Hostess Twinkie") (CBS)
    • Jay Tarses for The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (Episode: "Here's Why Cosmetics Should Come in Unbreakable Bottles") (NBC)
  • Steven Bochco, Terry Louise Fisher for L.A. Law (Episode: "The Venus Butterfly") (NBC)
    • Glenn Gordon Caron, Jeff Reno, Ron Osborn, Karen Hall, Roger Director, and Charles H. Eglee for Moonlighting (Episode: "I Am Curious ... Maddie") (ABC)
    • William M. Finkelstein for L.A. Law (Episode: "Sidney, the Dead-Nosed Reindeer") (NBC)
    • Georgia Jeffries for Cagney & Lacey (Episode: "Turn, Turn, Turn", Part 1") (CBS)
    • Jeff Lewis, David Milch, and John Romano for Hill Street Blues (Episode: "It Ain't Over Till It's Over") (NBC)
    • Ron Osborn and Jeff Reno for Moonlighting (Episode: "Atomic Shakespeare") (ABC)
    • John Tinker, Tom Fontana, and John Masius for St. Elsewhere (Episode: "Afterlife") (NBC)
Outstanding Writing in a Variety, Music, or Comedy Program Outstanding Writing in a Miniseries or a Special
  • Late Night with David Letterman (Episode: "Fifth Anniversary Special") (NBC)
    • The 41st Annual Tony Awards (CBS)
    • Saturday Night Live (NBC)
    • The Tracey Ullman Show (Episode: "Girl on a Ledge") (Fox)
    • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (NBC)
  • Ken Blackwell, Richard Friedenberg, and Tennyson Flowers for Promise (CBS)
    • Joshua Brand and John Falsey for A Year in the Life (Episode: "The First Christmas") (NBC)
    • William Hanley for Nutcracker: Money, Madness, and Murder (Episode: "Part II") (NBC)
    • Reginald Rose for Escape from Sobibor (CBS)
    • Hugh Whitemore for Pack of Lies (CBS)

Most major nominations[]

By network [note 1]
  • NBC – 82
  • CBS – 36
  • ABC – 15
By program
  • L.A. Law (NBC) – 13
  • The Golden Girls (NBC) / St. Elsewhere (NBC) – 10
  • Cheers (NBC) – 8
  • Moonlighting (ABC) – 7
  • Cagney & Lacey (CBS) / Nutcracker: Money, Madness and Murder (NBC) / Promise (CBS) – 6

Most major awards[]

By network [note 1]
  • NBC – 15
  • CBS – 9
  • ABC – 3
By program
  • Promise (CBS) – 5
  • L.A. Law (NBC) – 4
  • The Golden Girls (NBC) – 3
Notes
  1. ^ a b "Major" constitutes the categories listed above: Program, Acting, Directing, and Writing. It does not include the technical categories.

References[]

  1. ^ Emmys.com list of 1987 Nominees & Winners

External links[]

Retrieved from ""