37th Primetime Emmy Awards
The 37th Primetime Emmy Awards were held on September 22, 1985. The ceremony was broadcast on ABC, from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, California.
The Cosby Show defeated two-time reigning champion Cheers to win Outstanding Comedy Series, one of three major awards it won. Although it only took home one major award, Cheers did tie the then-record for most major nominations by a comedy series, set by The [Mary Tyler Moore Show] in 29th [Primetime Emmy Awards|1977]. In the drama field Cagney & Lacey, en route to winning four major awards on the night, defeated presumed favorite Miami Vice to win Outstanding Drama Series, four-time defending champion Hill Street Blues still received nine major nominations, but only won one award. This was Hill Street Blues 18th and final major award, setting an Emmy record for a drama series that still stands and was later achieved by The Sopranos.
The ceremony also had a memorable unscripted moment involving the arrest of impersonator Barry Bremen for grand theft while attempting to accept the Outstanding [Supporting Actress in a Drama Series] award on behalf of Betty Thomas, who would show up on the auditorium stage a few minutes late.
Winners and nominees
Most major nominations
| Program | Category | Network | Number of Nominations |
| Cheers | Comedy | NBC | 11 |
| Hill Street Blues | Drama | NBC | 9 |
| Cagney & Lacey | Drama | CBS | 7 |
| St. Elsewhere | Drama | NBC | 7 |
| Miami Vice | Drama | NBC | 6 |
| The Burning Bed | Special | NBC | 5 |
| The Cosby Show | Comedy | NBC | 5 |
| Do You Remember Love | Special | CBS | 5 |
| Late Night with David Letterman | Variety | NBC | 5 |
| Motown Returns to the Apollo | Variety | NBC | 5 |
| Fatal Vision | Special | NBC | 4 |
| The Jewel in the Crown | Limited | PBS | 4 |
| Kate & Allie | Comedy | CBS | 4 |
| Night Court | Comedy | NBC | 4 |
| Wallenberg: A Hero's Story | Special | NBC | 4 |
| Ellis Island | Limited | CBS | 3 |
| Great Performances: "Sweeney Todd" | Variety | PBS | 3 |
| Heartsounds | Special | ABC | 3 |
| AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Gene Kelly | Variety | CBS | 2 |
| Benson | Comedy | ABC | 2 |
| Cat on a Hot Tin Roof | Special | PBS | 2 |
| Family Ties | Comedy | NBC | 2 |
| The Jeffersons | Comedy | CBS | 2 |
| Magnum, P.I. | Drama | CBS | 2 |
| Murder, She Wrote | Drama | CBS | 2 |
| Newhart | Comedy | CBS | 2 |
| A Woman of Substance | Limited | Syndicated | 2 |
Most major awards
| Program | Category | Network | Number of Awards |
| Cagney & Lacey | Drama | CBS | 4 |
| The Cosby Show | Comedy | NBC | 3 |
| Do You Remember Love | Special | CBS | 3 |
| Great Performances: "Sweeney Todd" | Variety | PBS | 2 |
;Notes