The Primetime Emmy Award for Picture Editing for Variety Programming is awarded to one television series each year. From 2012 to 2015, the category was called Outstanding Picture Editing for Short-Form Segments and Variety Specials. Prior to 2012, short-form segments and variety specials competed independently of one another.
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.
Winners and nominations
Outstanding Videotape Editing for a Limited Series or a Special 1970s Year Program Nominees Network 1976 Alice Cooper: The Nightmare (In Concert) Nick V. Giordano ABC The Hemingway Play (Hollywood Television Theatre) Roy Stewart PBS Mitzi... Roarin' in the 20's' Rex Bagwell, Frank Phillips CBS Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television Hal Collins, Danny White NBC 1977 American Bandstand's 25th Anniversary Gary Anderson ABC The Barry Manilow Special William H. Breshears, Thomas KleinABC The Captain and Tennille Special Susan Jenkins, Manuel Martinez, The Dorothy Hamill Special Jimmy B. Frazier, Danny White The Neil Diamond Special Barbara Babcock, William H. Breshears NBC Victory at Entebbe Mike Gavaldon, James McElroy, David Saxon ABC 1978 The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots Pam Marshall, Andy Zall ABC The Carpenters...Space Encounters Jimmy B. Frazier ABC The Goldie Hawn Special Ed J. Brennan CBS Superstunt Harvey W. Berger, Jimmy B. Frazier, Terry Greene, Marco ZappiaNBC Texaco Presents: Bob Hope in a Very Special Special Chip Brooks, Hal Collins 1979 Outstanding Video Tape Editing for a Limited Series or a Special The Scarlet Letter ("Part 2") Ken Denisoff, Tucker Wiard, Janet McFadden PBS The Cheryl Ladd Special Andy Zall ABC Liberace: A Valentine Special Marco ZappiaCBS The Muppets Go Hollywood Darryl Sutton Outstanding Individual Achievement - Special ClassAs 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 51st Annual Academy Awards Terry Pickford, Michael L. Wenig ABC The Television Annual: 1978/1979 David W. Foster, Eddie C. Joseph
1980s Year Program Nominees Network 1980(32nd) Outstanding Video Tape Editing for a Limited Series or a Special Olivia Newton-John: Hollywood Nights Danny White ABC Baryshnikov on Broadway Andy ZallABC The Donna Summer Special Terry Climer Perry Como's Christmas in New Mexico Marco Zappia Outstanding Individual Achievement - Special ClassAs 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. Bob Hope's Overseas Christmas Tours: Around the World with the Troops — 1941-1972 Darryl Sutton NBC 1981 Perry Como's Christmas in the Holy Land Branda Miller, Marco Zappia ABC The American Film Institute Salute to Fred Astaire Harvey W. Berger, Andy SchubertCBS Diana Terry W. Greene, Ron Menzies John Schneider: Back Home Pam Marshall The Tom and Dick Smothers Brothers Special I Raymond M. Bush NBC 1982(32nd) Outstanding Video Tape Editing for a Limited Series or a Special American Bandstand's 30th Anniversary Special William H. Breshears, Pam Marshall, Tucker Ward ABC Ain't Misbehavin' Ed J. Brennan NBC Lily for President? Jimmy B. Frazier, Ken Laski CBS Perry Como's French-Canadian Christmas Pam Marshall ABC Working (American Playhouse) Roy Stewart PBS Outstanding Individual Achievement - Creative Special Achievement Shirley MacLaine... Illusions Andy Zall CBS 1983 Special Bulletin Arden Rynew NBC Big Bird in China Ken Gutstein NBC David Frost Presents: The Fourth International Book of World Records Ken Denisoff ABC Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever Danny White NBC 1984 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Lillian Gish Jim McQueen, Catherine Shields CBS The Best of Everything Branda Miller, Marco Zappia NBC The Chemical People Catherine Hughes, Vern Oakley, Christine Ochtun, Nicholas SpiesPBS New York City Ballet's Tribute to George Balanchine (Live from Lincoln Center) Frank C. Cernese, Matty Powers Perry Como's Christmas in New York Pam Marshall ABC The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team Manuel MartinezNBC Super Night of Rock 'N Roll David Fairfield, Mark West, Andy Zall 1985 Sweeney Todd (Great Performances) Jimmy B. Frazier PBS David Frost Presents: The Fifth International Book of World Records Jeff Bass, Roger Berger, Bruce Gowers, Michael Sachs, Marco Zappia ABC Motown Returns to the Apollo Frank Mazzaro, Mark West NBC Olympic Gala Michael L. WeitzmanABC Perry Como's Christmas in England Kris Trexler
Outstanding Editing for a Miniseries or a Special (Multi-Camera Production) Year Program Nominees Network 1986 American Bandstand's 33-1/3 Celebration Pam Marshall ABC Neil Diamond... Hello Again Kevin Fernan, Mark West CBS 1987 Happy Birthday, Hollywood Kris Trexler ABC Minnelli on Minnelli: Liza Remembers Vincente Steven Hess, Vic Lowrey PBS The Pointer Sisters... Up All Nite Mark Fernan, Mark West NBC 1988 Julie Andrews... The Sound of Christmas Bob Jenkis, Mark West, Andy Zall ABC The Barbara Walters Specials ("Glenn Close, Oprah Winfrey and Cher") Mark Oberthaler, Ann WoodwardABC Plaza Suite Robert Bernstein Willie Nelson, Texas Style Pam Marshall CBS 1989 Dance in America: Gregory Hines — Tap Dance in America (Great Performances) Mark West PBS The 50th Barbara Walters Special Mark Oberthaler, Ann Woodward ABC Disney/MGM Studios Theme Park Grand Opening Terry Climer, Jeff Palmer, Kris TrexlerNBC Late Night with David Letterman's 7th Anniversary Special George Magda A Raisin in the Sun (American Playhouse) Gary Anderson PBS
1990s Year Program Nominees Network 1990 The Best of The Tracey Ullman Show M. Pam Blumenthal, Douglas Hines, Brian K. Roberts Fox Dance in America: Bob Fosse — Steam Heat (Great Performances) Girish Bhargava PBS Julie & Carol: Together Again Kris TrexlerABC Sammy Davis Jr.'s 60th Anniversary Celebration Keith Fernandes, Donn Hoyer, Michael Kelly, Barney Robinson, Maria Schlatter, David Vernon Seinfeld ("The Stake Out") Robert Souders NBC 1991 The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson Girish Bhargava, David Gumpel CBS The Best of Disney: 50 Years of Magic Harry Arends, Bruce Bailey, Kevin Miller, Robert P. Schneider, Mark West ABC Cheers: 200th Anniversary Special Andy Ackerman NBC The Magic of David Copperfield XIII: Mystery on the Orient Express Ray Miller, Tony Teresi, George Verschoor CBS Red, Hot & Blue Harry Arends, David Fairfield, Booey Kober, Bruce Motyer ABC
Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Year Program Nominees Network 1992 The Magic of David Copperfield XIV: Flying — Live the Dream Ray Miller, Jeff U'Ren CBS Cirque du Soleil II: A New Experience Vidal Beique HBO Sting at the Hollywood Bowl Michael Burlingame, Sean Fullan Disney Channel 1993 The Magic of David Copperfield XV: Fires of Passion Larry Lyman, Ray Miller, Jeff U'Ren CBS Bob Hope: The First 90 Years Harry Arends, David Blewitt, Susan Eisner, Eve Gage, James R. Hardy, Floyd Ingram, Rick Piccini, Robert P. Schneider, Douglass M. Stewart Jr. NBC The Carol Burnett Show: A Reunion Robert Bernstein CBS Dance in America: The Hard Nut (Great Performances) Girish Bhargava PBS For Our Children: The Concert Michael Polito Disney Channel Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In: 25th Anniversary Reunion Tim Amyx, Cary Gries, Donn Hoyer, Mark Raudonis, Barney Robinson NBC 1994 David Copperfield: 15 Years of Magic Alan Carter, Ray Miller, Mike Satterfield, David D. Williams CBS Carol Burnett: The Special Years Robert Bernstein, Evan Wright CBS Porgy and Bess (American Playhouse / Great Performances) St. John O'Rorke PBS Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In: A Valentine's Day Special Tim Amyx, Cary Gries, Donn Hoyer, Mick Kollins, Barney Robinson NBC Tracey Ullman Takes On New York Michael Hunt HBO 1995 The Magic of David Copperfield XVI: Unexplained Forces Ray Miller, Jeff U'Ren CBS Barbra Streisand: The Concert Bruce Motyer HBO Eagles: Hell Freezes Over Stan Kellam MTV Sinatra: Duets Donn Hoyer, Ned Kerwin, Valerie Remy, Barney Robinson, Laurie Schmidt CBS Tibor Rudas Presents The Three Tenors in Concert 1994 Ray Miller PBS 1996 20 Years of Comedy on HBO Mark West HBO Kelsey Grammer Salutes Jack Benny Ray Miller, Leslie Tong NBC The Kennedy Center Honors Michael Polito CBS Pavarotti on Miami Beach Tim Clark, Floyd Ingram, Richard J. Piccini PBS Sinatra: 80 Years My Way Beth Gallagher, Donn Hoyer, Nikole Hoyer, Ned Kerwin, Maria S. Schlatter ABC 1997 The Kennedy Center Honors Randy Magalski, Mark Muheim, Michael Polito, Catherine Shields, Joe Wiedenmeyer CBS Bette Midler: Diva Las Vegas Troy Okoniewski, Jeff U'Ren HBO Disney's Beauty and the Beast: A Concert on Ice Ron Barr, Steve Binder CBS Happy Birthday Elizabeth: A Celebration of Life Michael Polito ABC Robert Altman's Jazz '34: Remembrances of Kansas City Swing (Great Performances) Brent Carpenter, Dylan Tichenor PBS 1998 Stomp Out Loud Richard Daws, Jason Porthouse HBO AMC Salute to Film Noir Floyd Ingram AMC Garth Brooks: Ireland and Back Michael Salomon NBC The Kennedy Center Honors Barbara S. Ballow, Randy Magalski, Mark Muheim, Michael Polito, Joe Wiedenmayer CBS Quincy Jones... The First 50 Years Alan Carter, Randy Magalski ABC Variety and Virtuosity: American Ballet Theatre Now (Great Performances) Girish Bhargava PBS 1999 The Kennedy Center Honors Barbara S. Ballow, Randy Magalski, Mark Muheim, Michael Polito, Joe Wiedenmayer CBS Celine Dion: These Are Special Times Booey Kober CBS Disney's Young Musician's Symphony Orchestra Bruce Motyer Disney Channel The Kennedy Center Presents: A Tribute to Muddy Waters Sean Fullan PBS Late Show with David Letterman: Fifth Anniversary Special Steve Babb, Tom Catusi, Keith Debetham, Michael Goldsmith, Mark Spada CBS The World's Greatest Magic V Ray Miller NBC
2000s