30th Primetime Emmy Awards

30th Primetime Emmy Awards
Date
  • September 17, 1978
    (Ceremony)
  • September 9, 1978
    (Creative Arts Awards)
LocationPasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, California
Presented byAcademy of Television Arts and Sciences
Hosted byAlan Alda
Highlights
Most awardsAll in the Family
Holocaust (6)
Most nominationsHolocaust (11)
Outstanding Comedy SeriesAll in the Family
Outstanding Drama SeriesThe Rockford Files
Outstanding Limited SeriesHolocaust
Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music SeriesThe Muppet Show
Television/radio coverage
NetworkCBS
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The 30th Primetime Emmy Awards were held on September 17, 1978. The ceremony was broadcast on CBS, from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, California.

The top shows of the night were All in the Family, which won its then record fourth Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, and The Rockford Files. CBS continued its streak of dominance by winning its eighth straight Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, this record still stands. Actor Will Geer received three posthumous acting nominations for three different performances, but lost in each category.

For the first time in Emmy history, two shows won six major awards, All in the Family became the first show to win six major awards twice, and the miniseries Holocaust tied the record for most wins by a miniseries set the previous year by Roots.

This ceremony was interrupted for thirty minutes by a nationally televised address by then-President Jimmy Carter, joined by then-Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin and then-Egyptian president Anwar Sadat in which President Carter announced the signing of the Camp David Accords.

Rita Moreno's win made her the third person to become an EGOT.

Winners and nominees

[1]

Programs

Programs
  • Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back (NBC)
    • The George Burns One-Man Show (CBS)
    • Neil Diamond: I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight (NBC)
    • The Second Barry Manilow Special (ABC)
    • World of Magic (NBC)

Acting

Lead performances

Acting

Supporting performances

Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Variety or Music
Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Variety or Music

Single performances

Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series
Outstanding Lead Actress for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series

Directing

Directing

Writing

Writing
  • All in the Family (CBS): "Cousin Liz" – Story by : Barry Harman and Harve Brosten
    Teleplay by : Bob Weiskopf and Bob Schiller
    • All in the Family (CBS): "Edith's Crisis of Faith, Part 2" – Story by : Erik Tarloff
      Teleplay by : Erik Tarloff, Mel Tolkin and Larry Rhine
    • All in the Family (CBS): "Edith's 50th Birthday" – Bob Weiskopf and Bob Schiller
    • M*A*S*H (CBS): "Fallen Idol" – Alan Alda
  • The Paul Simon Special (NBC)
    • Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back (NBC)
    • The George Burns One-Man Show (CBS)
    • The Second Barry Manilow Special (ABC)
    • The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots (ABC)
  • The Carol Burnett Show (CBS): "Steve Martin and Betty White"
    • America 2-Night (Syndicated): "Carol Burnett"
    • The Carol Burnett Show (CBS): "Ken Berry"
    • The Muppet Show (Syndicated): "Dom DeLuise"
    • Saturday Night Live (NBC): "Steve Martin"
  • The Last Tenant (ABC) – George Rubino

Most major nominations

Networks with multiple major nominations[note 1]
Network Number of
Nominations
NBC 61
ABC 59
CBS 53
PBS 13
Programs with multiple major nominations
Program Category Network Number of
Nominations
Holocaust Limited NBC 11
All in the Family Comedy CBS 9
M*A*S*H 7
Saturday Night Live Variety NBC
Family Drama ABC 6
King Limited NBC
The Carol Burnett Show Variety CBS 5
Lou Grant Drama
The Muppet Show Variety Syndicated
Rhoda Comedy
Barney Miller ABC 4
A Family Upside Down Special NBC
The Gathering ABC
Our Town NBC
Soap Comedy ABC
The Waltons Drama CBS
Washington: Behind Closed Doors Limited ABC
The Awakening Land NBC 3
The Dain Curse Drama CBS
The Defection of Simas Kudirka Special
Happy Days Comedy ABC
Meeting of Minds Drama PBS
The Rockford Files Drama NBC
The Second Barry Manilow Special Variety ABC
The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots
Verna: USO Girl Special PBS
Alice Comedy CBS 2
American 2-Night Variety Syndicated
Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back NBC
Breaking Up Special ABC
Columbo Drama NBC
The George Burns One-Man Show Variety CBS
How the West Was Won Drama ABC
I, Claudius Limited PBS
James at 15/16 Drama NBC
Jesus of Nazareth Special
The Last Hurrah
Maude Comedy CBS
Quincy, M.E. Drama NBC
The Paul Simon Special Variety
Something for Joey Special CBS
Taxi!!! NBC
Three's Company Comedy ABC
World of Magic Variety NBC

Most major awards

Networks with multiple major awards[note 1]
Network Number of
Awards
CBS 14
NBC 11
ABC 7
PBS 2
Programs with multiple major awards
Program Category Network Number of
Awards
All in the Family Comedy CBS 6
Holocaust Limited NBC
The Carol Burnett Show Variety CBS 3
Lou Grant Drama
The Rockford Files Drama NBC 2
Notes
  1. ^ a b "Major" constitutes the categories listed above: Program, Acting, Directing, and Writing. Does not include the technical categories.

References