Northern Exposure is an American comedy-drama television series created by Joshua Brand and John Falsey and produced by Cine-Nevada Productions and Universal Television. The show originally aired in the United States on CBS between July 12, 1990 and July 26, 1995, with 110 episodes split across five seasons. The series, which starred Rob Morrow, Barry Corbin, Janine Turner, John Cullum, Darren E. Burrows, John Corbett, Cynthia Geary, Elaine Miles, Peg Phillips, Paul Provenza and Teri Polo, follows a New York City physician who sets up his practice in an eccentric small town.
Northern Exposure garnered critical praise and amassed 116 nominations for various industry awards. This includes 39 Primetime Emmy Awards (with seven wins), 10 Golden Globe Awards (with two wins), six TCA Awards (with one win), 19 Q Awards (with two wins), five Directors Guild of America Awards (one win) and three Writers Guild of America Awards, as well as winning two consecutive Peabody Awards.
Several Northern Exposure cast members received awards and nominations for their individual work. Turner, who portrayed lead character Maggie O'Donnell, received the most award nominations (12), while Valerie Mahaffey is the only actor on the series to win a Primetime Emmy Award.
Awards and nominations ACE Eddie Awards Presented since 1962, the Eddie Award is an annual accolade that was created by American Cinema Editors to award outstanding achievements in editing in television and film. Northern Exposure won an award, out of three nominations, for Best Edited One-Hour Series for Television. Year Category Nominee(s) Episode(s) Result Ref 1993 Best Edited One-Hour Series for Television Thomas R. Moore 1994 Briana London and Sharon Silverman 1995 Briana London
American Television Awards The American Television Awards was a television sweeps special that aired on ABC in 1993 as a remedy to 44th Primetime Emmy Awards, giving awards similar to those presented by Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Northern Exposure received seven nominations. Year Category Nominee(s) Result Ref 1993 Best Dramatic Series Best Actor in a Dramatic Series Rob Morrow Best Actress in a Dramatic Series Janine Turner Best Supporting Actor in a Dramatic Series John Corbett Barry Corbin Best Supporting Actress in a Dramatic Series Cynthia Geary Peg Phillips
Artios Awards Presented by the Casting Society of America, the Artios Award is an annual accolades honoring outstanding achievements in casting. Northern Exposure won two awards out of five nominations. Year Category Nominee(s) Result Ref 1991 Best Casting for TV, Pilot Megan Branman, Patti Carns Kalles and Lynn Kressel Best Casting for TV, Comedy Episodic Megan Branman and Patti Carns Kalles 1992 1993 Megan Branman 1994
BMI Film & TV Awards Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed. Northern Exposure received three awards from BMI. Year Category Nominee(s) Result Ref 1992 BMI TV Music Award David Schwartz 1993 1994
Directors Guild of America Awards The Directors Guild of America Award is an annual accolade presented by the Directors Guild of America (DGA) which awards outstanding achievements in the field of directing. Northern Exposure received five nominations during its tenure, winning once for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Drama Series. Year Category Nominee(s) Episodes(s) Result Ref 1991 Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Drama Series James Hayman Stuart Margolin 1992 Michael Fresco Rob Thompson, Jack Terry , Patrick McKee , and Robert Loeser 1993 Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Comedy Series Michael Lange
Emmy Awards Presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences since 1949, the Primetime Emmy Award is an annual accolade that honors outstanding achievements in various aspects of television such as acting, directing and writing. The cast and crew of Northern Exposure received 39 nominations, winning seven awards.
Primetime Emmy Awards Year Category Nominee(s) Episodes(s) Result Ref 1991 Outstanding Drama Series Cheryl Bloch, Joshua Brand, John Falsey, Diane Frolov, Robin Green, Mathew Nodella, Charles Rosin, Andrew Schneider and Robert T. Skodis Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series Joshua Brand and John Falsey 1992 Outstanding Drama Series Cheryl Bloch, Joshua Brand, John Falsey, Diane Frolov, Robin Green, Jeff Melvoin, Mathew Nodella, Andrew Schneider and Rob Thompson Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Rob Morrow Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series John Corbett Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Cynthia Geary Valerie Mahaffey Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing in a Drama Series Jack Bender Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Drama Series Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider Robin Green Jeff Melvoin 1993 Outstanding Drama Series Cheryl Bloch, Joshua Brand, Martin Bruestle, John Falsey, Diane Frolov, Robin Green, Jeff Melvoin, Andrew Schneider, Rob Thompson and Michael Vittes Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Rob Morrow Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Janine Turner Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Barry Corbin John Cullum Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Cynthia Geary Peg Phillips Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Adam Arkin Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Bibi Besch Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Drama Series Jeff Melvoin Geoffrey Neigher 1994 Outstanding Drama Series Cheryl Bloch, Martin Bruestle, David Chase, Michael Fresco, Diane Frolov, Robin Green, Barbara Hall, Jeff Melvoin, Andrew Schneider and Michael Vittes Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Barry Corbin
Creative Arts Emmy Awards Year Category Nominee(s) Episodes(s) Result Ref 1991 Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Series Michael Getlin, Glenn Micallef, Dean Okrand and R. William A. Thiederman 1992 Outstanding Individual Achievement in Art Direction for a Series Kenneth Berg, Woody Crocker and Gene Serdena Outstanding Individual Achievement in Cinematography for a Series Frank Prinzi Outstanding Individual Achievement in Editing for a Series – Single-Camera Production Briana London Thomas R. Moore Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series Joni Powell Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Editing for a Series William Angarola, Mike Depatie, Kimberly Lambert, Brian Risner, Miguel Rivera, Allan K. Rosen and Patty Von Arx Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Drama Series Peter Cole, Anthony D'Amico, Gary Regan and Robert Marts 1993 Outstanding Individual Achievement in Art Direction for a Series Kenneth Berg, Woody Crocker, Lori Melendy and Robert Stover Outstanding Individual Achievement in Cinematography for a Series Frank Prinzi Outstanding Individual Achievement in Editing for a Series – Single-Camera Production Briana London Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Editing for a Series William Angarola, Tony Capelli, Mike Depatie, Kimberly Lambert, Allan K. Rosen, Mark Seagrave, Joel Valentine and Patty Von Arx Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Drama Series Anthony D'Amico, Robert Marts, Glenn Micaller, Greg Orloff and R. Russell Smith 1994 Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Editing for a Series William Angarola, Zane D. Bruce, Tony Capelli, Mike Depatie, Kimberly Lambert, Allan K. Rosen, Mark Seagrave, Alicia Stevenson, Joel Valentine and Patty Von Arx Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Drama Series Anthony D'Amico, Robert Marts, Glenn Micallef, Greg Orloff and R. Russell Smith
Golden Globe Awards
The Golden Globe Award is an annual accolade presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) which honors the best performances in television and film. Northern Exposure received ten nominations, winning two awards for Best Television Series – Drama. Year Category Nominee(s) Result Ref 1991 Best Television Series – Drama Best Actor – Television Series Drama Rob Morrow Best Actress – Television Series Drama Janine Turner 1992 Best Television Series – Drama Best Actor – Television Series Drama Rob Morrow Best Actress – Television Series Drama Janine Turner Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film John Corbett 1993 Best Television Series – Drama Best Actor – Television Series Drama Rob Morrow Best Actress – Television Series Drama Janine Turner
Peabody Awards Awarded since 1940, the Peabody Award, named after American banker and philanthropist George Peabody, is an annual award the recognizes excellence in storytelling across mediums including television, radio, television networks, and online videos. Northern Exposure won two consecutive awards, a rarity for television series, with the second award for the episode "Cicely". Year Nominee(s) Episode(s) Result Ref 1991 Brand-Falsey Productions 1992 CBS-TV, Finnegan-Pinchuk Company, Brand-Falsey Productions
Q Awards
The Q Award, presented by the Viewers for Quality Television since 1986, recognizes critically acclaimed programs and performers for their outstanding achievements in television. During its tenure, Northern Exposure won 2 awards out of 19 nominations. Year Category Nominee(s) Result Ref 1991 Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series Janine Turner Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series Barry Corbin Best Writing in a Quality Drama Series 1992 Best Quality Drama Series Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series Rob Morrow Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series Janine Turner Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series John Cullum Specialty Player Adam Arkin 1993 Best Quality Drama Series Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series Janine Turner Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series John Cullum Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama Series Cynthia Geary Specialty Player Richard Cummings Jr. 1994 Best Quality Drama Series Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series Janine Turner Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series John Cullum Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama Series Cynthia Geary Peg Phillips Specialty Player Graham Greene
Television Critics Association Awards Awarded by the Television Critics Association since 1985, the Television Critics Association Award (TCA Award) is an annual accolade that recognizes outstanding achievements in television programming and acting performances. Northern Exposure received six nominations, winning once for Program of the Year. Year Category Nominee(s) Result Ref 1991 Program of the Year Outstanding Achievement in Comedy Outstanding Achievement in Drama 1992 Program of the Year Outstanding Achievement in Comedy Outstanding Achievement in Drama
Other awards