41st Primetime Emmy Awards


The 41st Primetime Emmy Awards were held on Sunday, September 17, 1989. The ceremony was broadcast on Fox from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California. The ceremony saw the guest acting categories double, as they were now based on gender as well as genre. Two networks, Lifetime and USA Network, received their first major nominations this year.
After being nominated and losing for the previous four years, Cheers regained the title of Primetime [Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series|Outstanding Comedy Series]. L.A. Law also won Outstanding Drama Series after losing the previous year. For the second straight year, L.A. Law received 15 major nominations, making it the first show ever to receive more than 14 major nominations multiple times. With nine main cast acting nominations, L.A. Law tied the record set by Hill Street Blues in 34th [Primetime Emmy Awards|1982].

Winners and nominees


Most major nominations

ProgramCategoryNetworkNumber of
Nominations
L.A. LawDramaNBC15
Lonesome DoveMiniseriesCBS9
The Wonder YearsComedyABC9
CheersComedyNBC6
The Golden GirlsComedyNBC6
Murphy BrownComedyCBS6
ThirtysomethingDramaABC6
My Name Is Bill W.SpecialABC5
Roe vs. WadeSpecialNBC5
War of RemembranceMiniseriesABC5
I Know My First Name Is StevenMiniseriesNBC4
The Tracey Ullman ShowVarietyFox4
Beauty and the BeastDramaCBS3
Late Night with David LettermanVarietyNBC3
Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal StorySpecialHBO3
Saturday Night LiveVarietyNBC3
WiseguyDramaCBS3
China BeachDramaABC2
D.C. FolliesVarietySyndicated2
Designing WomenComedyCBS2
In the Heat of the NightDramaNBC2
NewhartComedyCBS2
A Perfect SpyMiniseriesPBS2
Tap Dance in AmericaVarietyPBS2
The Women of Brewster PlaceMiniseriesABC2

Most major awards

ProgramCategoryNetworkNumber of
Awards
CheersComedyNBC3
Murphy BrownComedyCBS2
L.A. LawDramaNBC2
Roe vs. WadeSpecialNBC2
ThirtysomethingDramaABC2

;Notes