The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for Variety Special is awarded to one television special each year. After being grouped together, the category was initiated alongside Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series in 2009. From the 1980s to 2000s, specials competed alongside series for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program.
In the following list, the first titles listed in gold are the winners; those not in gold are nominees, which are listed in alphabetical order. The years given are those in which the ceremonies took place:
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Winners and nominations
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy-Variety or Music Special 1970s Year Program Nominees Network1971 Peggy Fleming at Sun Valley Sterling Johnson NBC The Anatomy of a Symphony Orchestra (New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts) Roger Englander CBS George M! Martin Charnin and Walter C. Miller NBC1972 Jack Lemmon in 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin Martin Charnin and Walter C. Miller NBC Julie and Carol at Lincoln Center Dave PowersCBS Liszt and the Devil (New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts) Roger Englander1973 Liza with a Z Bob Fosse NBC Duke Ellington... We Love You Madly Stan Harris CBS Jack Lemmon: Get Happy Martin Charnin and Dave Wilson NBC Once Upon a Mattress Ron Field and Dave Powers CBS You're a Good Man Charlie Brown (Hallmark Hall of Fame) Walter C. Miller NBC1974 Barbra Streisand...and Other Musical Instruments Dwight Hemion CBS Magnavox Presents Frank Sinatra Marty Pasetta NBC Mitzi... A Tribute to the American Housewife Tony Charmoli CBS Peggy Fleming Visits the Soviet Union Sterling Johnson NBC1975 An Evening with John Denver Bill Davis ABC Ann-Margret Olsson Dwight Hemion NBC Shirley MacLaine: If They Could See Me Now Tony Charmoli ABC1976 Steve and Eydie: "Out Love Is Here to Stay" Dwight Hemion CBS John Denver: Rocky Mountain Christmas Bill Davis ABC Mitzi... Roarin' in the 20's" Tony Charmoli CBS 1977 Outstanding Directing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special America Salutes Richard Rodgers: The Sound of His Music Dwight Hemion CBS The Barry Manilow Special George Schaefer ABC Doug Henning's World of Magic Walter C. Miller NBC Sills and Burnett at the Met David PowersCBS The Shirley MacLaine Special: Where Do We Go from Here? Tony Charmoli Outstanding Achievement in Coverage of Special Events - IndividualsAs a juried award, nominees had to garner 50% approval to win the award. The 28th Annual Emmy Awards John Moffitt ABC The 48th Annual Academy Awards Marty Pasetta ABC 1978 Outstanding Directing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots Dwight Hemion ABC Doug Henning's World of Magic Walter C. Miller NBC Mitzi... Zings Into Springs Tony Charmoli CBS The Paul Simon Special Dave Wilson NBC The Second Barry Manilow Special George Schaefer ABC Outstanding Achievement in Coverage of Special Events - IndividualsAs a juried award, nominees had to garner 50% approval to win the award. The nominee did not meet the benchmark and no award was given. Footlights: The 1978 Tony Awards Clark Jones CBS
1980s Year Program Nominees Network 1984 Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical Music/Dance ProgrammingAs a juried award, nominees had to garner 50% approval to win the award. Dance in America: A Song for Dead Warriors - San Francisco Ballet (Great Performances) Merrill Brockway PBS A Lincoln Center Special: New York City Ballet's Tribute to George Balanchine Emile Ardolino PBS Live from the Met Centennial Gala Kirk Browning 1985 Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical Music/Dance Programming - DirectingAs a juried award, nominees had to garner 50% approval to win the award. Dance in America: Baryshnikov by Tharp with American Ballet Theatre (Great Performances) Don Mischer and Twyla Tharp PBS I Pagliacci (Great Performances) Franco Zeffirelli Tosca (Live from the Met) Kirk Browning PBS 1986 Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical Music/Dance ProgrammingAs a juried award, nominees had to garner 50% approval to win the award. Cavalleria Rusticana (Great Performances) Franco Zeffirelli PBS Dance in America: Choreography by Jerome Robbins with the New York City Ballet (Great Performances) Emile Ardolino PBS The Verdi Requiem Kirk Browning 1987 Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical Music/Dance Programming - DirectingAs a juried award, nominees had to garner 50% approval to win the award. Goya with Plácido Domingo (Great Performances) Kirk Browning PBS Vladimir Horowitz: The Last Romantic Albert and David Maysles Dance in America: In Memory of... A Ballet by Jerome Robbins (Great Performances) Emile Ardolino PBS 1988 Outstanding Individual Achievement - ClassicalAs a juried award, nominees had to garner 50% approval to win the award. The Metropolitan Opera Presents: Turandot Kirk Browning PBS Dance in America: David Gordon's Made in U.S.A. (Great Performances) Don Mischer PBS Outstanding Individual Achievement - Special EventsAs a juried award, nominees had to garner 50% approval to win the award. The nominee did not meet the benchmark and no award was given. The 60th Annual Academy Awards Marty Pasetta ABC 1989 Outstanding Directing in Classical Music/Dance ProgrammingAs a juried award, nominees had to garner 50% approval to win the award. The nominee did not meet the benchmark and no award was given.A Pavarotti Celebration: Scenes from La BohèmeKirk BrowningPBS Outstanding Directing for Special EventsAs a juried award, nominees had to garner 50% approval to win the award. The 11th Annual Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts Dwight Hemion CBS
Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special
2000s Year Program Nominees Network2009Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Opening CeremonyBucky GuntsNBCThe 81st Annual Academy AwardsRoger GoodmanABCBruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Super Bowl Halftime ShowDon MischerNBCThe Neighborhood Ball: An Inauguration CelebrationGlenn WeissABCYou're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. BushMarty CallnerHBO
2010s Year Program Nominees Network2010Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Opening CeremonyBucky GuntsNBCIn Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights MovementRon de MoraesPBSThe Kennedy Center HonorsLouis J. HorvitzCBSThe 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ConcertJoel GallenHBOThe 63rd Annual Tony AwardsGlenn WeissCBS2011Sondheim! The Birthday Concert (Great Performances)Lonny PricePBSThe 83rd Annual Academy AwardsDon MischerABCThe 53rd Annual Grammy AwardsLouis J. HorvitzCBSLady Gaga Presents the Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square GardenLaurieann GibsonHBOThe 64th Annual Tony AwardsGlenn WeissCBS2012The 65th Annual Tony AwardsGlenn WeissCBSThe 84th Annual Academy AwardsDon MischerABCThe 54th Annual Grammy AwardsLouis J. HorvitzCBSLouis C.K.: Live at the Beacon TheatreLouis C.K.FXNew York City Ballet: George Balanchine's The Nutcracker (Live from Lincoln Center)Alan SkogPBS2013The Kennedy Center HonorsLouis J. HorvitzCBSLouis C.K.: Oh My GodLouis C.K.HBOThe OscarsDon MischerABCLondon 2012 Olympic Games Opening CeremonyBucky Gunts and Hamish HamiltonNBC12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy ReliefMichael Dempsey12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief was simulcast live on 39 U.S. television stations and more than 25 websites. The Emmys listed no individual network with this nomination.2014The 67th Annual Tony AwardsGlenn WeissCBSThe Beatles: The Night That Changed AmericaGregg GelfandCBSThe Kennedy Center HonorsLouis J. HorvitzThe OscarsHamish HamiltonABCSix by SondheimJames LapineHBOThe Sound of Music Live!Beth McCarthy-Miller and Rob Ashford NBC2015Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary SpecialDon Roy KingNBCAnnie Lennox: Nostalgia Live in ConcertNatalie JohnsPBSThe Kennedy Center HonorsLouis J. HorvitzCBSThe OscarsHamish HamiltonABCThe 68th Annual Tony AwardsGlenn WeissCBS2016Grease: LiveThomas Kail and Alex RudzinskiFoxAdele Live in New York CityBeth McCarthy-MillerNBCAmy Schumer: Live at the ApolloChris RockHBOThe 58th Annual Grammy AwardsLouis J. Horvitz CBSThe Kennedy Center HonorsGlenn WeissLemonadeKahlil Joseph and Beyoncé Knowles CarterHBO2017 The Oscars Glenn Weiss ABC Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents Not the White House Correspondents' Dinner Paul Pennolino TBS Stephen Colbert's Live Election Night Democracy's Series Finale: Who's Going to Clean Up This Sh*t? Jim Hoskinson Showtime Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet to Come Jerry Foley NBC2018 The Oscars Glenn Weiss ABC Dave Chappelle: Equanimity Stan Lathan Netflix Jerry Seinfeld: Jerry Before Seinfeld Michael Bonfiglio Steve Martin & Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life Marcus Raboy Super Bowl LII Halftime Show Starring Justin Timberlake Hamish Hamilton NBC2019 Springsteen on Broadway Thom Zimny Netflix Carpool Karaoke: When Corden Met McCartney Live from Liverpool Ben Winston CBS Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé Beyoncé Knowles Carter and Ed Burke Netflix Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's 'All in the Family' and 'The Jeffersons' James Burrows and Andy Fisher ABC The Oscars Glenn Weiss
2020s Year Program Nominees Network2020 Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones Stan Lathan Netflix The 62nd Grammy Awards Louis J. Horvitz CBS Live in Front of a Studio Audience: 'All in the Family' and 'Good Times' Pamela Fryman and Andy Fisher ABC Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show Starring Jennifer Lopez and Shakira Hamish Hamilton Fox The 73rd Annual Tony Awards Glenn Weiss CBS2021 Bo Burnham: Inside Bo Burnham Netflix David Byrne's American Utopia Spike Lee HBO 8:46 - Dave Chappelle Dave Chappelle, Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert Netflix Friends: The Reunion Ben Winston HBO Max A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote Thomas Schlamme2022 Adele: One Night Only Paul Dugdale CBS Dave Chappelle: The Closer Stan Lathan Netflix Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel Bo Burnham HBO Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special Norm Macdonald (posthumous) and Jeff Tomsic Netflix The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent Hamish Hamilton NBC2023 The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna Hamish Hamilton and Shawn Carter Fox Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love Paul Miller NBC Chris Rock: Selective Outrage Joel Gallen Netflix The Oscars Glenn Weiss ABC Wanda Sykes: I'm an Entertainer Linda Mendoza Netflix2024 The Oscars Hamish Hamilton ABC Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer Stan Lathan Netflix Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic Russell Norman CBS Tig Notaro: Hello Again Stephanie Allynne Prime Video The 76th Annual Tony Awards Glenn Weiss CBS Trevor Noah: Where Was I David Paul Meyer Netflix2025 SNL50: The Anniversary Special Liz Patrick NBC The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar Hamish Hamilton Fox Beyoncé Bowl Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Alex Rudzinski Netflix The Oscars Hamish Hamilton ABC SNL50: The Homecoming Concert Beth McCarthy-Miller Peacock The 77th Annual Tony Awards Glenn Weiss CBS2026 The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny Hamish Hamilton NBC Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable... Rikki Hughes Netflix Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final ShowGlenn Weiss Disney+ The 78th Annual Tony Awards CBS Wanda Sykes: Legacy Julie Dash Netflix
Notes
References
External links Academy of Television Arts and Sciences website