46th Primetime Emmy Awards

46th Primetime Emmy Awards
Promotional poster
Date	September 11, 1994 (Ceremony) September 10, 1994 (Creative Arts Awards)
Location	Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, California
Presented by	Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
Hosted by	Patricia Richardson Ellen DeGeneres
Highlights
Most awards	Frasier Picket Fences (4)
Most nominations	NYPD Blue (17)
Outstanding Comedy Series	Frasier
Outstanding Drama Series	Picket Fences
Outstanding Miniseries	Prime Suspect III
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series	Late Show with David Letterman
Television/radio coverage
Network	ABC
← 45th Primetime Emmy Awards 47th →

The 46th Primetime Emmy Awards were held on Sunday, September 11, 1994. The ceremony was hosted by Patricia Richardson and Ellen DeGeneres. It was broadcast on ABC. Comedy Central received its first major nomination at this ceremony.

For its first season, the Cheers spin-off Frasier won Outstanding Comedy Series and four total major awards. For the second straight year Picket Fences won Outstanding Drama Series, it too won four major awards on the night, but the more impressive drama series was newcomer NYPD Blue, which took home three major awards.

NYPD Blue came into the ceremony with 19 major nominations. This broke Hill Street Blues record for most nominations by a drama or comedy series of 16 set in 1982, and put it in second place all time behind Roots which gained 21 major nominations in 1977. NYPD Blue set another milestone when it received every nomination for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series, this marked only the ninth time that a show had received every nomination in a category. This feat has not been accomplished since.

The television film And the Band Played On also made Emmy history. It set a new record when it received nine major nominations, the most ever for a television movie. The record was maintained for twenty years, until The Normal Heart received nine major nominations in 2014. Both films won the top prize, but each lost all six of their acting nominations, directing, and writing to other projects.

Winners and nominees[]

^[1]

Programs[]

Outstanding Comedy Series	Outstanding Drama Series
Frasier, (NBC) Home Improvement, (ABC) The Larry Sanders Show, (HBO) Mad About You, (NBC) Seinfeld, (NBC)	Picket Fences, (CBS) Law & Order, (NBC) Northern Exposure, (CBS) NYPD Blue, (ABC) Star Trek: The Next Generation, (Syndicated)
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series	Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special
Late Show with David Letterman, (CBS) Dennis Miller Live, (HBO) MTV Unplugged (Episode: "10,000 Maniacs"), (MTV) Saturday Night Live, (NBC) The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, (NBC)	The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, (CBS) The 47th Annual Tony Awards, (CBS) The 66th Annual Academy Awards, (ABC) Comic Relief VI, (HBO) Tracey Takes on New York, (HBO)
Outstanding Made for Television Movie	Outstanding Miniseries
And the Band Played On, (HBO) Breathing Lessons, (CBS) Gypsy, (CBS) A Place for Annie, (ABC) To Dance with the White Dog, (CBS)	Prime Suspect III, (PBS) Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All, (CBS) The Stand, (ABC) Tales of the City, (PBS) World War II: When Lions Roared, (NBC)

Acting[]

Lead performances[]

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Kelsey Grammer as Dr. Frasier Crane on Frasier (Episode: "The Good Son"), (NBC) John Goodman as Dan Conner on Roseanne (Episode: "Guilt By Imagination"), (ABC) John Larroquette as John Hemingway on The John Larroquette Show (Episode: "Pilot"), (NBC) Paul Reiser as Paul Buchman on Mad About You (Episode: "Virtual Reality"), (NBC) Jerry Seinfeld as Jerry Seinfeld on Seinfeld (Episode: "The Puffy Shirt"), (NBC)	Candice Bergen as Murphy Brown on Murphy Brown (Episode: "It's Just Like Riding a Bike"), (CBS) Roseanne Barr as Roseanne Conner on Roseanne (Episode: "The Driver's Seat"), (ABC) Helen Hunt as Jamie Buchman on Mad About You (Episode: "Cold Feet"), (NBC) Annie Potts as Dana Palladino on Love & War (Episode: "I've Got a Crush on You"), (CBS) Patricia Richardson as Jill Taylor on Home Improvement (Episode: "The Colonel"), (ABC)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Dennis Franz as Andy Sipowicz on NYPD Blue (Episode: "NYPD Lou"), (ABC) David Caruso as John Kelly on NYPD Blue (Episode: "Pilot"), (ABC) Peter Falk as Lt. Columbo on Columbo (Episode: "It's All in the Game"), (ABC) Michael Moriarty as Ben Stone on Law & Order (Episode: "Sanctuary"), (NBC) Tom Skerritt as Jimmy Brock on Picket Fences (Episode: "Dairy Queen"), (CBS)	Sela Ward as Teddy Reed on Sisters (Episode: "Land of the Lost Children"), (NBC) Kathy Baker as Jill Brock on Picket Fences (Episode: "Guns 'R' Us"), (CBS) Swoosie Kurtz as Alex Halsey on Sisters (Episode: "Protective Measures"), (NBC) Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher on Murder, She Wrote (Episode: "A Killing in Cork"), (CBS) Jane Seymour as Dr. Michaela Quinn on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (Episode: "Best Friends"), (CBS)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Special	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Special
Hume Cronyn as Robert Samuel Peek on To Dance with the White Dog (HBO) Michael Caine as Joseph Stalin on World War II: When Lions Roared (NBC) James Garner as Ira Moran on Breathing Lessons (CBS) Matthew Modine as Dr. Don Francis on And the Band Played On (HBO) Sam Waterston as Forrest Bedford on I'll Fly Away: Then and Now (PBS)	Kirstie Alley as Sally Goodson on David's Mother (CBS) Bette Midler as Mama Rose on Gypsy (CBS) Helen Mirren as DCI Jane Tennison on Prime Suspect III (PBS) Jessica Tandy as Cora Peek on To Dance with the White Dog (CBS) Joanne Woodward as Maggie Moran on Breathing Lessons (CBS)

Supporting performances[]

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Michael Richards as Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld (Episodes: "The Sniffing Accountant" + "The Opposite"), (NBC) Jason Alexander as George Costanza on Seinfeld (Episodes: "The Hamptons" + "The Opposite"), (NBC) David Hyde Pierce as Dr. Niles Crane on Frasier (Episodes: "A Mid-Winter Night's Dream" + "Author, Author"), (NBC) Rip Torn as Arthur on The Larry Sanders Show (Episodes: "The List" + "Larry's Birthday"), (HBO) Jerry Van Dyke as Luther Van Dam on Coach (Episodes: "Piece o' Cake" + "Coach for a Day", Part 2), (ABC)	Laurie Metcalf as Jackie Harris on Roseanne (Episodes: "Labor Day" + "Past Imperfect"), (ABC) Shelley Fabares as Christine Armstrong on Coach (Episodes: "Nice Job If You Can Get It" + "The Stand-In"), (ABC) Faith Ford as Corky Sherwood on Murphy Brown (Episodes: "The Young and the Rest of Us" + "The More Things Stay The Same"), (CBS) Sara Gilbert as Darlene Conner on Roseanne (Episodes: "Two Down, One to Go" + "Everybody Comes to Jackie's"), (ABC) Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Elaine Benes on Seinfeld (Episodes: "The Mango" + "The Opposite"), (NBC) Liz Torres as Mahalia Sanchez on The John Larroquette Show (Episodes: "Pilot" + "God"), (NBC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Fyvush Finkel as Douglas Wambaugh on Picket Fences (Episodes: "Turpitude" + "Squatter's Rights"), (CBS) Gordon Clapp as Greg Medavoy on NYPD Blue (Episodes: "Ice Follies" + "Abandando Abandoned"), (ABC) Barry Corbin as Maurice J. Minnifield on Northern Exposure (Episodes: "The Mystery of the Old Curio Shop" + "The Gift of the Maggie"), (CBS) Nicholas Turturro as James Martinez on NYPD Blue (Episodes: "Up on the Roof" + "Guns 'N' Rosaries"), (ABC) Ray Walston as Henry Bone on Picket Fences (Episodes:"Blue Christmas" + "Abominable Snowman"), (CBS)	Leigh Taylor-Young as Rachel Harris on Picket Fences (Episodes: "Remote Control" + "Divine Recall"), (CBS) Amy Brenneman as Janice Licalsi on NYPD Blue (Episodes: "4B or Not 4B" + "Guns 'N' Rosaries"), (ABC) Jill Eikenberry as Ann Kelsey on L.A. Law (Episodes: "Safe Sex" + "Age of Insolence"), (NBC) Sharon Lawrence as Sylvia Costas on NYPD Blue (Episodes: "Steroid Roy" + "Good Time Charlie"), (ABC) Gail O'Grady as Donna Abandando on NYPD Blue (Episodes: "Ice Follies" + "Abandando Abandoned"), (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Special	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Special
Michael A. Goorjian as David Goodson on David's Mother (CBS) Alan Alda as Dr. Robert Gallo on And the Band Played On (HBO) Matthew Broderick as John on Great Performances (Episode: "A Life in the Theater"), (TNT) Richard Gere as The Choreographer on And the Band Played On (HBO) Ian McKellen as Bill Kraus on And the Band Played On (HBO)	Cicely Tyson as Castralia on Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All (CBS) Anne Bancroft as Lucy Marsden on Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All (CBS) Swoosie Kurtz as Mrs. Johnstone on And the Band Played On (HBO) Lee Purcell as Ann Thielman on Secret Sins of the Father (NBC) Lily Tomlin as Dr. Selma Dritz on And the Band Played On (HBO)

Guest performances[]

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series	Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Martin Sheen as Nick Brody on Murphy Brown (Episode: "Angst for the Memories"), (CBS) Jason Alexander as Randall Townsend on Dream On (Episode: "Oral Sex, Lies, and Videotape"), (HBO) Paul Dooley as Micky Tupper on Dream On (Episode: "Pop Secret"), (HBO) John Glover as Ned Miller on Frasier (Episode: "Oops"), (NBC) Judge Reinhold as Aaron on Seinfeld (Episode: "The Raincoats"), (NBC)	Eileen Heckart as Rose Stein on Love & War (Episode: "You Make Me Feel So Young"), (CBS) Diane Ladd as Louise Burdett on Grace Under Fire (Episode: "Things Left Undone"), (ABC) Cyndi Lauper as Marianne Lugasso on Mad About You (Episode: "A Pair of Hearts"), (NBC) Marlee Matlin as Laura on Seinfeld (Episode: "The Lip Reader"), (NBC) Marcia Wallace as Secretary 66 on Murphy Brown (Episode: "Anything But Cured"), (CBS)
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series	Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Richard Kiley as Hayden Langston on Picket Fences (Episode: "Buried Alive"), (CBS) Tim Curry as Mother/Father/Sister/Daughter on Tales from the Crypt (Episode: "Death of Some Salesman"), (HBO) Dan Hedaya as Lou the Werewolf on NYPD Blue (Episode: "NYPD Lou"), (ABC) James Earl Jones as Attorney Bryant Thomas on Picket Fences (Episode: "System Down"), (CBS) Robin Williams as Robert Ellison on Homicide: Life on the Street (Episode: "Bop Gun"), (NBC)	Faye Dunaway as Laura Staton on Columbo (Episode: "It's All in the Game"), (ABC) Bonnie Bedelia as Sally Creighton on Fallen Angels (Episode: "The Quiet Room"), (Showtime) Stockard Channing as Viola Elliott on Road to Avonlea (Episode: "The Minister's Wife"), (Disney) Laura Dern as Annie Ainsley on Fallen Angels (Episode: "Murder, Obliquely"), (Showtime) Penny Fuller as Roberta Taub on NYPD Blue (Episode: "Serge The Concierge"), (ABC) Marlee Matlin as Laurie Bey on Picket Fences (Episode: "Dancing Bandit"), (CBS)

Directing[]

Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing in a Comedy Series	Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing in a Drama Series
James Burrows, for Frasier (Episode: "The Good Son"), (NBC) Tom Cherones for Seinfeld (Episode: "The Mango"), (NBC) Todd Holland for The Larry Sanders Show (Episode: "Life Behind Larry"), (HBO) Tom Moore for Mad About You (Episode: "Love Letters"), (NBC) Lee Shallat-Chemel, for Mad About You (Episode: "Paul is Dead"), (NBC) John Whitesell for The John Larroquette Show (Episode: "Pilot"), (NBC)	Daniel Sackheim for NYPD Blue (Episode: "Tempest in a C-Cup"), (ABC) Robert Butler for Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (Episode: "Pilot"), (ABC) Charles Haid for NYPD Blue (Episode: "True Confessions"), (ABC) Gregory Hoblit for NYPD Blue (Episode: "Pilot"), (ABC) Michael M. Robin for NYPD Blue (Episode: "Guns 'N' Rosaries"), (ABC)
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing in a Variety or Music Program	Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Miniseries or Special
Walter C. Miller for The 47th Annual Tony Awards, (ABC) Ellen Brown for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, (NBC) Hal Gurnee for Late Show with David Letterman, (CBS) Jeff Margolis for The 66th Annual Academy Awards, (ABC) Don Scardino for Tracey Takes on New York, (HBO) Dave Wilson for Saturday Night Live, (NBC)	John Frankenheimer for Against the Wall, (HBO) Emile Ardolino for Gypsy, (CBS) Glenn Jordan for To Dance with the White Dog, (CBS) Roger Spottiswoode for And the Band Played On, (HBO) Betty Thomas for My Breast, (CBS)

Writing[]

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series	Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
David Angell, Peter Casey, David Lee for Frasier (Episode: "The Good Son"), (NBC) Larry David for Seinfeld (Episode: "The Puffy Shirt"), (NBC) Larry David, Lawrence H. Levy for Seinfeld (Episode: "The Mango"), (NBC) Ken Levine, David Isaacs for Frasier (Episode: "The Show Where Lilith Comes Back"), (NBC) Garry Shandling, Victor Levin, Paul Simms, Drake Sather, Maya Forbes for The Larry Sanders Show (Episode: "Larry's Agent"), (HBO)	Ann Biderman for NYPD Blue (Episode: "Steroid Roy"), (ABC) Burton Armus, David Milch for NYPD Blue (Episode: "Personal Foul"), (ABC) Ted Mann for NYPD Blue (Episode: "NYPD Lou"), (ABC) David Milch, Steven Bochco for NYPD Blue (Episode: "Pilot"), (ABC) Gardner Stern for NYPD Blue (Episode: "Tempest in a C-Cup"), (ABC)
Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program	Outstanding Writing in a Miniseries or Special
Dennis Miller Live, (HBO) The Kids in the Hall, (CBS) Late Show with David Letterman, (CBS) Mystery Science Theater 3000, (Comedy Central) Tracey Takes on New York, (HBO)	Bob Randall for David's Mother, (CBS) Richard Kramer for Tales of the City, (PBS) Lynda La Plante for Prime Suspect III, (PBS) Robert W. Lenski for Breathing Lessons, (CBS) Arnold Schulman for And the Band Played On, (HBO)

Most major nominations[]

By network ^{[note 1]}

• CBS – 42
• NBC – 39
• ABC – 36
• HBO – 24

By program

• NYPD Blue (ABC) – 17
• Seinfeld (NBC) – 10
• And the Band Played On (HBO) / Picket Fences (CBS) – 9
• Frasier (NBC) – 7
• Mad About You (NBC) – 6

Most major awards[]

By network ^{[note 1]}

• CBS – 13
• ABC / NBC – 6
• HBO – 4

By program

• Frasier (NBC) / Picket Fences (CBS) – 4
• David's Mother (CBS) / NYPD Blue (ABC) – 3

Notes

References[]

External links[]

• Emmys.com list of 1994 Nominees & Winners
• 46th Primetime Emmy Awards at IMDb