Emmy Nominees - Lead Actor Comedy

[jamesanthony]

Here are the nominees from 1966 onward (prior to that they put comedy and drama actors together in 1 field). Who do you think deserved to win? Anyone overlooked? I find it curious that many years up until the late 70s only had 3 nominees. Does this mean that most of the people in shows during these years were substandard?

1966-

Dick Van Dyke- Dick Van Dyke Show- WINNER - his 3rd in a row
Don Adams- Get Smart
Bob Crane- Hogan's Heroes

MISSING: Adam West- Batman (if this seems weird, Batman and Frank Gorshin were nominated for other comedy awards that year), the actors from F-Troop, Dick York

1967-

Don Adams- Get Smart- WINNER
Bob Crane
Larry Storch- F-Troop
Brian Keith- Family Affair

IMO: Adams deserved each of his wins, though Brian Keith whom he beat each time probably didn't think so. The presence of Keith and future nominee Lloyd Haynes show that you didn't have to be all that funny to be in this list, more of a premium was placed on conventional acting skills

1968-

Don Adams- WINNER
Dick York- Bewitched
Richard Benjamin- He and She
Brian Keith- Family Affair
Sebastian Cabot- Family Affair

MISSING: Bob Crane never appeared again though Hogan's was on until 1971, Eddie Albert never got a mention for Green Acres, maybe because it was a rural show, amazingly Andy Griffith was never nominated either for his show which ended this year

1969-

Don Adams- WINNER
Lloyd Nolan- Julia
Edward Mulhare- Ghost and Mrs Muir
Brian Keith- Family Affair

IMO/MISSING: Nolan wasn't a lead in Julia he wasn't in every episode but I guess he was placed here because of his movie star background, plus this season they reverted back to combining supporting actors from comedy and drama into one field so I guess the Julia producers wanted to make sure he wasn't left out. Dick York was for his last year as Darrin, Fred MacMurray was never mentioned for My Three Sons

1970-

William Windom- My World and Welcome to it- WINNER
Lloyd Haynes- Room 222
Bill Cosby- Bill Cosby Show

NOTE: Windom is the only winner here whose show got the big axe after one season.

MISSING:

All the actors from 1969 though all were still around. Bill Bixby gets his shot next year

1971-

Jack Klugman- Odd Couple- WINNER
Tony Randall- Odd Couple
Bill Bixby- Courtship of Eddie's Father
Ted Bessell- That Girl
Carroll O'Connor- All in the Family

NOTE: I always wondered what episode Klugman won for. Randall seemed more the one that Hollywood would gush over. O'Connor's role probably made voters uncomfortable at first, though he was ultimately the biggest winner here. I wonder why Bessell was mentioned this year when he wasn't in any prior season?

1972-

Carroll O'Connor- WINNER
Redd Foxx- Sanford and Son
Tony Randall
Jack Klugman

1973-

all the 1972 guys came back plus Alan Alda from MASH. Klugman was the WINNER

1974-

same 5 as the year before. Alda was the WINNER

1975-

Foxx is out, Jack Albertson from Chico and the Man is in. Tony Randall was the WINNER in Odd Couple's last season. I wonder if he won for the last episode?

MISSING: John Amos in Good Times, Sherman Hemsley in The Jeffersons, Hal Linden in Barney Miller

1976-

Jack Albertson- WINNER
Alan Alda
Hal Linden
Henry Winkler- Happy Days

MISSING: Amos, Foxx, Hemsley

NOTE: Happy Days wasn't a critical darling but Winkler was nominated 3x. Carroll O'Connor missed out because someone accidentally threw his and the other Norman Lear actors' ballots in the trash

1977-

add WINNER Carroll O'Connor to the 1976 list

1978-

John Ritter - Three's Company replaced Albertson. Everyone else was the same including WINNER O'Connor

1979-

Carroll O'Connor
Robin Williams- Mork and Mindy
Alan Alda
Hal Linden
Judd Hirsch- Taxi

NOTE: Many wanted Williams to win instead of O'Connor who some thought was stale by now. He disappeared when his show became Archie Bunker's Place

1980-

Richard Mulligan- Soap- WINNER
Alan Alda
Robert Guilliame- Benson
Hal Linden
Judd Hirsch

NOTE: Mulligan won for playing twins, one a maniac the other his space alien doppleganger, certainly more colorful than his co-star Robert Mandan who never appeared on this list

1981-

Judd Hirsch- WINNER
Alan Alda
John Ritter
Hal Linden
Richard Mulligan

1982-

Alan Alda- WINNER
Robert Guilliame
Hal Linden
Leslie Neilsen-Police Squad
Judd Hirsch- Taxi

NOTE: When Neilsen's name was called the audience laughed, I guess because his show only had 6 episodes

1983-

Judd Hirsch- WINNER
Alan Alda
Robert Guilliame
Dabney Coleman- Buffalo Bill
Ted Danson- Cheers

NOTE: I remember Hirsch taking his turn at the podium to complain about how NBC cancelled his series. He was more of a sore winner than William Windom was in 1970. Alda and Danson overlap- each had the most noms here- 11 one for each year of their shows

1984-

John Ritter- Three's Company WINNER
Robert Guilliame
Sherman Hemsley- Jeffersons
Ted Danson
Dabney Coleman

NOTE: According to the companion book for the series Ritter won for the episode in which Jack meets Vicki, basically the set-up for the spinoff series. Hemsley had to wait the longest to appear here

1985-

Robert Guilliame- WINNER
Ted Danson
Bob Newhart- Newhart
Jack Warden- Crazy Like A Fox
Harry Anderson- Night Court

NOTE: Bill Cosby sat out the race otherwise I think he would have won at least once. Robert Guilliame figured this out and thanked him for not being there. Jack Warden's show was an hour long detective show making it an unusual nominee. One could make the argument that actors from shows like Airwolf, Scarecrow and Mrs King and Dukes of Hazzard could have been considered for comedy

1986-

Robert Guillaime is out replaced by Michael J Fox- Family Ties who was the WINNER. Fox was a supporting nominee the year before

1987-

Bronson Pinchott - Perfect Strangers replaced Jack Warden, otherwise the same including WINNER Fox

1988-

Michael J Fox- WINNER
Dabney Coleman- Slap Maxwell Story
Tim Reid- Frank's Place
John Ritter- Hooperman
Ted Danson- Cheers

1989-

Richard Mulligan- Empty Nest- WINNER
Ted Danson
Michael J Fox
Fred Savage- Wonder Years
John Goodman- Roseanne

NOTE: I believe Mulligan is the first to have won for more than one series. I believe Savage was the youngest nominee here. Goodman lost 7 times tying with Hal Linden for the most losses here

1990-

Craig T Nelson from Coach replaced Fox. Ted Danson was the WINNER and after 8 years he had to wait longer than anyone to win

1991-

Fred Savage was replaced by Burt Reynolds - Evening Shade who was the WINNER, he gave a raunchy speech

1992-

Craig T Nelson- WINNER
John Goodman
Ted Danson
Kelsey Grammar- Wings (guest star)
Jerry Seinfeld- Seinfeld
Burt Reynolds

Grammar was warming up for his spinoff series, Nelson never appeared again after he won

MISSING: Charles S Dutton (Roc)

1993-

Ted Danson- WINNER
Gary Shandling- Larry Sanders Show
John Goodman
Jerry Seinfeld
Tim Allen- Home Improvement

MISSING: This is the only year Paul Reiser wasn't up for Mad About You, Mark Curry- Hangin With Mr Cooper. Jerry Seinfeld admits that he is not really an actor but he earned the second of his 5 successive mentions here. Charles S Dutton filmed all the Roc episodes live this year but was overlooked maybe because his show was on Fox, Brian Benben was on Dream On at this time but he was never nominated probably because it was on cable

1994-

Kelsey Grammar- Frasier- WINNER
Jerry Seinfeld
John Goodman
Paul Reiser- Mad About You
John Larroquette- John Larroquette Show

NOTE: Larroquette took his name out in the late 80s, but unlike Bill Cosby he put it back in for his other work

1995-

Larroquette replaced by Gary Shandling. John Goodman took his name out after this year. Kelsey Grammar is again the WINNER

1996-

John Lithgow from 3rd Rock from the Sun is the WINNER replacing John Goodman. Lithgow is the only winner who started in a show in midseason, suggesting it takes a full season for the voters to appreciate someone. Lithgow was an old favorite of the academy for dramatic projects they probably admired the leap he made into farce comedy making his immediate win possible

1997-

Lithgow won again. Seinfeld was replaced by Michael J Fox in Spin City

NOTE: Bill Cosby opted out again for his new series Cosby

1998- Same nominees. Kelsey Grammar was the WINNER

MISSING: Gregory Hines for The Gregory Hines Show which was critically acclaimed but low rated and cancelled

1999-

John Lithgow- WINNER
Paul Reiser
Kelsey Grammar
Michael J Fox

NOTE: Quite a few people were getting bored by Lithgow's repeated wins. Ray Romano from EVerybody Loves RAymond replaced Gary Shandling

2000-

Michael J Fox was the WINNER, I think frankly because he retired because of his medical condition
Eric McCormack- Will and Grace replaced Paul Reiser

2001-

Eric McCormack was the WINNER
Kelsey Grammar
John Lithgow
Ray Romano
Frankie Muniz- Malcolm in the Middle

NOTE: Lithgow's last mention makes him one of the few to appear here in every season of a long running show (more than 5 seasons). The only others are Alan Alda and Ted Danson. Frankie Muniz was only here 1x making him a rarity these days, McCormack's win was very easy to forecast

2002-

Ray Romano- WINNER
Matthew Perry- Friends
Matt LeBlanc- Friends
Bernie Mac- Bernie Mac Show
Kelsey Grammar- Frasier

NOTE: The Friends actors were never mentioned when they submitted their names for supporting actor in the prior years. Kelsey Grammar disappears after this year, though I expect to see him back here in 2004

2003-

Tony Shalhoub- Monk
Ray Romano
Matt LeBlanc
Larry David- Curb Your Enthusiasm
Bernie Mac
Eric McCormack

2004-

Guessing for this year I'd guess Grammar, David, Shalhoub, Romano and LeBlanc. I can't think of anyone who broke out this year who would get in here. George Lopez is a long shot and Bernie Mac I think will get passed over.

[jamesanthony]

Shalhoub won last year.

[barwars]

Its hard to distinguish who won each year.... but its nice information.

Hopefully you'll do one for "Outstanding Comedy Series" as well.

[jamesanthony]

Originally posted by barwars
Its hard to distinguish who won each year.... but its nice information.

Hopefully you'll do one for "Outstanding Comedy Series" as well.

I'll put up best series soon

[MaydayMalonesGirl]

Originally posted by jamesanthony
Craig T Nelson from Coach replaced Fox. Ted Danson was the WINNER and after 8 years he had to wait longer than anyone to win

That would really suck to have to wait that long. TED DANSON RULES.