I read once that Harriet Nelson was nominated for an emmy as best actress in a comedy series. Does anyone know the year?

In its 14 years on the air, the show The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet
received only one Emmy nomination: for Best Situation Comedy (in 1952); it
lost to I Love Lucy. [Source: The Emmys, by Thomas O'Neil
(1998)]

Emmy Trivia: Jackie Gleason, Andy Griffith, and Angela Lansbury are among
the stars who never won an Emmy. Desi Arnaz was never even nominated.
Bill Cosby--after already winning five Emmys (three for I Spy, one for a
variety special and one for his Fat Albert cartoon)--refused to be
nominated for The Cosby Show in the '80s or Cosby in the '90s.

The term "Emmy" is a feminization of "Immy," a nickname for the image orthicon camera used to film TV in the 1940s.

The Emmy statuette is covered with 18-karat gold plate, is 16 inches high,
weighs 4 pounds and cost about $200 to manufacture [in 1998].

Harriet was a fine actress and on the show had a very wry wit and an EXCELLENT sense of timing. Wish she had done more acting outside of the family and later in life - always thought her abilities were underrated and eclipsed by the overshadow of the show.

Thanks Guys, I did find this information: Winners designated with an Emmy statuette.

BEST ART DIRECTION OF A FILMED SHOW - 1955

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - ABC - Frank Durlauf, Art Director

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A REGULAR SERIES - 1955

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - ABC - Don DeFore

BEST SITUATION COMEDY - 1953

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - ABC - n/a

Nothing about Harriet, however. I will have to find out where I read that.

I always thought her real name was Harriet Hilliard until I read a biography awhile back. Her real name was Peggy Louise Snyder. Another item seldom mentioned, she was married before Ozzie for a brief time, 1930 to 1931 to Roy Sedley. So many of the great actors from the 50's never received any recognition for their acting and that's a shame. They were much better than some of the people receiving awards today.

I often wonder why Harriet choose Harriet as her stage name. Maybe she thought it went good with Hilliard, which was her fathers stage name.

Maybe it's the times now, but I just can't see how someone would pick Harriet to be their new name. What's wrong with Peggy?

Though Ozzie and Peggy doesn't sound right either. Doesn't have the same ring to it as Ozzie and Harriet.

The first I had heard of Harriets previous marriage was on the A&E Biography of the Nelson Family. He didn't seem like a very nice man. From what they said it seemed like he was a drunk and abusive. They also claimed that Ozzie with his law training helped Harriet get out of the marriage.

About that Biography episode, I read someplace soon after it first aired, that it was one of their highest rated shows.

I was actually I little wowed, that The Nelson Family after all these years would pull in such high numbers for a biography on them.

I often wonder why Harriet choose Harriet as her stage name. Maybe she thought it went good with Hilliard, which was her fathers stage name.

Maybe it's the times now, but I just can't see how someone would pick Harriet to be their new name. What's wrong with Peggy?

Though Ozzie and Peggy doesn't sound right either. Doesn't have the same ring to it as Ozzie and Harriet.

The first I had heard of Harriets previous marriage was on the A&E Biography of the Nelson Family. He didn't seem like a very nice man. From what they said it seemed like he was a drunk and abusive. They also claimed that Ozzie with his law training helped Harriet get out of the marriage.

About that Biography episode, I read someplace soon after it first aired, that it was one of their highest rated shows.

I was actually I little wowed, that The Nelson Family after all these years would pull in such high numbers for a biography on them.


I saw it at the Paley Center (used to be called Museum of Radio and Television) 5 yrs ago and it was very well put together. I am a little surprised too, but am glad interest in them and in 50s nostalgia is vibrant. The Nelson's are unusual in that they portray themselves on the show - no other sitcom actually did that that I can think of offhand - except I Love Lucy a little.