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Emmy Awards

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The Emmy Awards recognize artistic and technical excellence within the television industry.

NASA Television 2009 Philo T. Farnsworth Primetime Emmy Award
NASA Television 2009 Philo T. Farnsworth Primetime Emmy Award

These awards are considered one of the four major annual American entertainment honors. They stand alongside the Grammy for music, the Oscar for film, and the Tony for theater. Because television is such a broad medium, there is no single Emmy ceremony. Instead, multiple annual events take place throughout the year. Each ceremony follows its own specific rules and award categories. These ceremonies celebrate everything from acting and directing to engineering and news reporting.

Three distinct organizations manage these various award ceremonies. The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) administers the Primetime and Loser Angeles area awards. The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) manages the Daytime, Sports, News & Documentary, and Children's & Family Emmys. Additionally, NATAS oversees the Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards. The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (IATAS) handles the International Emmy Awards.

Bradley Bell 2010 Daytime Emmy Awards
Bradley Bell 2010 Daytime Emmy Awards

These organizations share ownership of the Emmy trademark and the iconic statuette. They must follow strict rules regarding the use of the Emmy name and image.

The history of the Emmy began in Los Angeles in 1949.

Garry Shandling (211280631)
Garry Shandling (211280631)

The first ceremony occurred on January 25 at the Hollywood Athletic Club. At that time, the awards only honored shows produced in the Los Angeles area. Shirley Dinsdale became the first person to win an Emmy for Most Outstanding Television Personality. During the 1950s, the ATAS expanded the scope to honor programs aired nationwide. In 1955, the NATAS was formed in New York City to serve East Coast members. Over the next two decades, the awards grew to cover many different sectors of the industry.

Different types of programming qualify for different Emmy events. The Primetime Emmys recognize excellence in American evening programming.

Dana Delany 1992 Emmys retouch
Dana Delany 1992 Emmys retouch

The Daytime Emmys honor achievement in national daytime programming. The International Emmy Awards celebrate programs produced and first aired outside the United States. Regional Emmy Awards recognize excellence in local television across the country.

Maria Rozman at the 2018 National Capital-Chesapeake Bay Emmy Awards
Maria Rozman at the 2018 National Capital-Chesapeake Bay Emmy Awards

A show generally cannot enter more than one Emmy event. For example, a national show must reach more than 50 percent of U.S. households to be considered national. If a program reaches fewer homes, it may enter the Regional Emmys instead.

Television technology has changed how these awards function over time. In the 1980s, cable programs became eligible for the Primetime Emmys in 1988. The Daytime Emmys began accepting cable shows in 1989. In 2013, the ATAS started accepting original online-only streaming programs. In 2021, the ATAS and NATAS announced a major realignment of the ceremonies. This change responded to the massive growth of streaming television. Instead of focusing on the time of day, ceremonies now focus on themes and frequency. For instance, most scripted dramas and comedies now move to the Primetime Emmys. Morning shows now move to the News & Documentary Emmys.

The Emmy statuette is a highly detailed and symbolic object.

Charlie Moore with Emmy Award
Charlie Moore with Emmy Award

It depicts a winged woman holding an atom. Television engineer Louis McManus designed the statuette using his wife as the model. The wings represent the muse of art, while the atom represents the electron of science. The name "Emmy" comes from "immy," which was slang for the image orthicon tube in early cameras. The name was later feminized to match the female figure of the statue. Each Primetime statuette is made of copper, nickel, silver, and gold. It takes five and a half hours to manufacture a single statue.

Manufacturing these awards requires extreme precision and care. Workers must use white gloves to prevent fingerprints from marking the metal. The Primetime Emmy statuettes are produced by R.S. Owens & Company in Chicago, Illinois.

Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement Award 2009
Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement Award 2009

This company also manufactured the Academy Award statues until 2016. The Regional Emmy Awards are made by both R.S. Owens & Company and Society Awards. The dimensions and weight of the statues vary depending on the specific award event. This careful process ensures that the physical symbol of achievement remains pristine for the winners.

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🖼️ Images & Media (7)
File:NASA Television 2009 Philo T. Farnsworth Primetime Emmy Award.jpg
NASA Television 2009 Philo T. Farnsworth...
File:Dana Delany 1992 Emmys retouch.jpg
Dana Delany 1992 Emmys retouch.jpg
File:Garry Shandling (211280631).jpg
Garry Shandling (211280631).jpg
File:Bradley Bell 2010 Daytime Emmy Awards.jpg
Bradley Bell 2010 Daytime Emmy Awards.jpg
File:Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement Award 2009.jpg
Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement...
File:Charlie Moore with Emmy Award.JPG
Charlie Moore with Emmy Award.JPG
File:Maria Rozman at the 2018 National Capital-Chesapeake Bay Emmy Awards.jpg
Maria Rozman at the 2018 National...
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