49th Primetime Emmy Awards Date September 14, 1997 (Ceremony) September 7, 1997 (Creative Arts Awards) Location Pasadena Civic Auditorium , Pasadena, California Presented by Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hosted by Bryant Gumbel Most awards NYPD Blue Most nominations ER Outstanding Comedy Series Frasier Outstanding Drama Series Law & Order Outstanding Miniseries Prime Suspect V: Errors of Judgement Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series Tracey Takes On... Network CBS Produced by Darnette Herman
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Primetime Emmy Awards 50th →
The 49th Primetime Emmy Awards were held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California in 1997. They were presented in two ceremonies hosted by Bryant Gumbel , one on Saturday, September 13 and another on Sunday, September 14. The September 14th ceremony was televised on CBS .
Frasier Outstanding Comedy Series four consecutive years, it joined Hill Street Blues Outstanding Drama Series four straight years a decade earlier. For the first time since 1979 , James Burrows did not receive a Directing nomination , ending his run at 17 consecutive years. Beginning the following year, Burrows would begin a new streak that lasted another six years. In the drama field perennial nominee Law & Order seventh season , the first time a show had won for this specific season. In winning Law & Order became the first drama series that did not have serialized story arcs[note 1] Hill Street Blues perfected the formula. Law & Order remains the only non-serialized winner since 1981.
For the first time, not only did the Fox Network win the Lead Actress, Drama award , with Gillian Anderson , for The X-Files Laurence Fishburne and Peter Boyle won for Fox in only guest performances . The latter of which was for The X-Files
This ceremony marked the end of a 20-year residency for the Primetime Emmy Awards at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium dating back to the 29th Primetime Emmy Awards in 1977 ceremony.
This is the most recent year in which the Big Four Networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC) took home the top 14 Emmys (Comedy and Drama Series, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress in Comedy and Drama, and Directing and Writing for Comedy and Drama).
The Larry Sanders Show Northern Exposure 1993 and becoming the first (and only to date) comedy series to set the record. These records with later be broken by Mad Men 2012 with 17 nominations and without a single win and The Handmaid's Tale 2021 with 21 nominations and without a single win.
Winners and nominees [ ] [1]
Programs [ ]
Outstanding Comedy Series
Outstanding Drama Series
Frasier NBC )3rd Rock from the Sun The Larry Sanders Show HBO )Mad About You Seinfeld
Law & Order Chicago Hope CBS )ER NYPD Blue ABC )The X-Files Fox )
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special
Tracey Takes On... Dennis Miller Live Late Show with David Letterman Politically Incorrect Comedy Central )The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Chris Rock: Bring the Pain
Outstanding Made for Television Movie
Outstanding Miniseries
Miss Evers' Boys Bastard out of Carolina Showtime )Gotti If These Walls Could Talk In the Gloaming
Prime Suspect V: Errors of Judgement PBS )In Cold Blood The Last Don The Odyssey The Shining
Acting [ ] Lead performances [ ]
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
John Lithgow as Dr. Dick Solomon on 3rd Rock from the Sun Michael J. Fox as Mike Flaherty on Spin City Kelsey Grammer as Dr. Frasier Crane on Frasier (Episode: "Ham Radio"), (NBC)Paul Reiser as Paul Buchman on Mad About You (Episode: "The Birth"), (NBC)Garry Shandling as Larry Sanders on The Larry Sanders Show (Episode: "Everybody Loves Larry"), (HBO)
Helen Hunt as Jamie Buchman on Mad About You (Episode: "The Birth"), (NBC)Ellen DeGeneres as Ellen Morgan on Ellen The Puppy Episode "), (ABC)Fran Drescher as Fran Fine on The Nanny Patricia Richardson as Jill Taylor on Home Improvement Cybill Shepherd as Cybill Sheridan on Cybill
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Dennis Franz as Andy Sipowicz on NYPD Blue (Episode: "Where's 'Swaldo?"), (ABC)David Duchovny as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files (Episode: "Small Potatoes "), (Fox)Anthony Edwards as Dr. Mark Greene on ER (Episode: "Tribes"), (NBC)Jimmy Smits as Bobby Simone on NYPD Blue (Episode: "My Wild Irish Nose"), (ABC)Sam Waterston as Jack McCoy on Law & Order (Episode: "Mad Dog"), (NBC)
Gillian Anderson as Dr. Dana Scully on The X-Files (Episode: "Memento Mori "), (Fox)Roma Downey as Monica on Touched by an Angel Christine Lahti as Dr. Kate Austin on Chicago Hope (Episode: "Back to the Future"), (CBS)Julianna Margulies as Carol Hathaway on ER (Episode: "The Long Way Around"), (NBC)Sherry Stringfield as Dr. Susan Lewis on ER (Episode: "Fear of Flying"), (NBC)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special
Armand Assante as John Gotti on Gotti , (HBO)Beau Bridges as Bill Januson on Hidden in America Robert Duvall as Adolf Eichmann on The Man Who Captured Eichmann Laurence Fishburne as Caleb Humphries on Miss Evers' Boys , (HBO)Sidney Poitier as Nelson Mandela on Mandela and de Klerk
Alfre Woodard as Nurse Eunice Evers on Miss Evers' Boys , (HBO)Stockard Channing as Barbara Whitney on An Unexpected Family , (USA )Glenn Close as Janet on In the Gloaming , (HBO)Helen Mirren as DCI Jane Tennison on Prime Suspect V: Errors of Judgement Meryl Streep as Lori Reimuller on ...First Do No Harm
Supporting performances [ ]
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Michael Richards as Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld (Episode: "The Chicken Roaster "), (NBC)Jason Alexander as George Costanza on Seinfeld (Episode: "The Comeback "), (NBC)David Hyde Pierce as Dr. Niles Crane on Frasier (Episodes: "Mixed Doubles" + "Daphne Hates Sherry"), (NBC)Jeffrey Tambor as Hank Kingsley on The Larry Sanders Show , (HBO)Rip Torn as Arthur on The Larry Sanders Show , (HBO)
Kristen Johnston as Sally Solomon on 3rd Rock from the Sun (Episodes: "My Mother the Alien" + "Fifteen Minutes of Dick"), (NBC)Christine Baranski as Maryann Thorpe on Cybill , (CBS)Janeane Garofalo as Paula on The Larry Sanders Show , (HBO)Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay on Friends Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Elaine Benes on Seinfeld (Episode: "The Little Kicks "), (NBC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Héctor Elizondo as Dr. Phillip Watters on Chicago Hope (Episodes: "A Time to Kill" + "The Son Also Rises"), (CBS)Adam Arkin as Dr. Aaron Shutt on Chicago Hope (Episodes: "Missed Conception" + "The Son Also Rises"), (CBS)Eriq La Salle as Dr. Peter Benton on ER , (NBC)Nicholas Turturro as James Martinez on NYPD Blue (Episodes: "Yes, We Have No Cannolis" + "Where'd the Van Gogh?"), (ABC)Noah Wyle as Dr. John Carter on ER , (NBC)
Kim Delaney as Diane Russell on NYPD Blue (Episodes: "Caulksmanship" + "Upstairs, Downstairs"), (ABC)Laura Innes as Dr. Kerry Weaver on ER , (NBC)C. C. H. Pounder as Dr. Angela Hicks on ER , (NBC)Della Reese as Tess on Touched by an Angel , (CBS)Gloria Reuben as Jeanie Boulet on ER , (NBC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special
Beau Bridges as Governor Jim Farley on The Second Civil War
Obba Babatundé as Willie Johnson on Miss Evers' Boys , (HBO)Michael Caine as F. W. de Klerk on Mandela and de Klerk , (Showtime)Ossie Davis as Mr. Evers on Miss Evers' Boys , (HBO)Joe Mantegna as Pippi De Lena on The Last Don , (CBS)
Diana Rigg as Mrs. Danvers on Rebecca Kirstie Alley as Rose Marie on The Last Don , (CBS)Bridget Fonda as Anne on In the Gloaming , (HBO)Glenne Headly as Ruth on Bastard out of Carolina , (Showtime)Frances McDormand as Gus on Hidden in America , (Showtime)
Guest performances [ ]
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Mel Brooks as Uncle Phil on Mad About You (Episode: "The Penis"), (NBC)Sid Caesar as Harold on Mad About You (Episode: "Citizen Buchman"), (NBC)David Duchovny as Himself on The Larry Sanders Show (Episode: "Everybody Loves Larry"), (HBO)
James Earl Jones as Norman on Frasier (Episode: "Roz's Krantz and Gouldenstein are Dead"), (NBC)Jerry Stiller as Frank Costanza on Seinfeld , (NBC)
Carol Burnett as Teresa on Mad About You (Episode: "Outbreak"), (NBC)Ellen DeGeneres as Herself on The Larry Sanders Show (Episode: "Ellen, Or Isn't She?"), (HBO)Laura Dern as Susan Richmond on Ellen (Episode: "The Puppy Episode"), (ABC)Marsha Mason as Sherry on Frasier (Episode: "Dad Loves Sherry, The Boys Just Whine"), (NBC)Betty White as Midge Haber on Suddenly Susan
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Pruitt Taylor Vince as Clifford Banks on Murder One Alan Arkin as Zoltan Karpathein on Chicago Hope (Episode: "The Son Also Rises"), (CBS)Louis Gossett Jr. as Anderson Walker on Touched by an Angel (Episode: "Amazing Grace"), (CBS)William H. Macy as Dr. Morgenstern on ER , (NBC)Ewan McGregor as Duncan Stewart on ER (Episode: "The Long Way Around"), (NBC)
Dianne Wiest as Lillian Hepworth on Road to Avonlea Disney )Veronica Cartwright as Norma on ER (Episode: "Who's Appy Now? Faith"), (NBC)Diane Ladd as Carolyn Sellers on Touched by an Angel (Episode: "An Angel By Any Other Name"), (CBS)Anne Meara as Donna DiGrazi on Homicide: Life on the Street Isabella Rossellini as Prof. Marina Gianni on Chicago Hope (Episode: "Mother, May I"), (CBS)
Directing [ ]
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
David Lee , for Frasier (Episode: "To Kill a Talking Bird"), (NBC)Andy Ackerman for Seinfeld (Episode: "The Pothole "), (NBC)Todd Holland for The Larry Sanders Show (Episode: "Everybody Loves Larry"), (HBO)Gil Junger for Ellen (Episode: "The Puppy Episode"), (ABC)Alan Myerson , for The Larry Sanders Show (Episode: "Ellen, Or Isn't She"), (HBO)
Mark Tinker for NYPD Blue (Episode: "Where's 'Swaldo?"), (ABC)Christopher Chulack for ER (Episode: "Fear of Flying"), (NBC)Rod Holcomb for ER (Episode: "Last Call"), (NBC)Tom Moore for ER (Episode: "Union Station"), (NBC)James Wong for The X-Files (Episode: "Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man"), (Fox)
Outstanding Directing for a Variety or Music Program
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or a Special
Don Mischer for The Games of the XXVI Olympiad Ellen Brown for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno , (NBC)
Marty Callner for Bette Midler in Concert: Diva Las Vegas , (HBO)Louis J. Horvitz for The 69th Annual Academy Awards , (ABC)
Thomas Schlamme for Tracey Takes On... , (HBO)
Andrey Konchalovskiy for The Odyssey , (NBC)Robert Harmon for Gotti , (HBO)Anjelica Huston for Bastard out of Carolina , (Showtime)Christopher Reeve for In the Gloaming , (HBO)Mark Rydell for Crime of the Century
Writing [ ]
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
Ellen DeGeneres, Mark Driscoll , Dava Savel , Tracy Newman , Jonathan Stark for Ellen (Episode: "The Puppy Episode"), (ABC)
Judd Apatow , John Markus, Garry Shandling for The Larry Sanders Show (Episode: "Ellen, or Isn't She?"), (HBO)Peter Mehlman , Jill Franklyn for Seinfeld (Episode: "The Yada Yada "), (NBC)Peter Tolan for The Larry Sanders Show (Episode: "My Name is Asher Kingsley"), (HBO)
Jon Vitti for The Larry Sanders Show (Episode: "Everybody Loves Larry"), (HBO)
David Milch , Stephen Gaghan , Michael R. Perry for NYPD Blue (Episode: "Where's 'Swaldo?"), (ABC)Neal Baer for ER (Episode: "Whose Appy Now?"), (NBC)David Mills for NYPD Blue (Episode: "Taillight's Last Gleaming"), (ABC)John Shiban , Frank Spotnitz , Chris Carter , and Vince Gilligan for The X-Files (Episode: "Memento Mori"), (Fox)John Wells for ER (Episode: "Faith"), (NBC)
Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or a Special
Chris Rock: Bring the Pain , (HBO)Dennis Miller Live , (HBO)Late Night with Conan O'Brien Late Show with David Letterman , (CBS)Politically Incorrect , (Comedy Central)Tracey Takes On... (Episode: "Vegas"), (HBO)
Horton Foote for Old Man , (CBS)Walter Bernstein for Miss Evers' Boys , (HBO)Larry Gelbart for Weapons of Mass Distraction William Nicholson for Crime of the Century , (HBO)Steve Shagan for Gotti , (HBO)
Most major nominations [ ] By network [note 2] NBC – 50
HBO – 41
CBS – 21
ABC – 19 By program ER (NBC) – 14The Larry Sanders Show (HBO) – 12NYPD Blue (ABC) – 8Seinfeld (NBC) – 7Chicago Hope (CBS) / Frasier (NBC) / Mad About You (NBC) / Miss Evers' Boys (HBO) – 6Most major awards [ ] By network [note 2] NBC – 11
HBO – 7
ABC – 6
CBS – 2
PBS – 2 By program Notes
^ Saying Law & Order had no serialized arcs is potentially misleading. It's true that Law & Order is at its core a procedural, with only very lightly-serialized elements as a general rule. However, in its Emmy-winning season, the show had a three-episode arc—"D-Girl", "Turnaround", and "Showtime"—concerning a high-profile murder case. In addition, the episode "Entrapment" was a sequel to season 3's "Conspiracy" .
^ a b "Major" constitutes the categories listed above: Program, Acting, Directing, and Writing. Does not include the technical categories.
References [ ] External links [ ]
