43rd Primetime Emmy Awards


The 43rd Primetime Emmy Awards were held on Sunday, August 25, 1991. The ceremony was broadcast on Fox from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California, presenting 27 awards. The network TNT received its first major nomination at this ceremony.
For its ninth season, Cheers won Outstanding Comedy Series for the fourth time, tying All in the Familys record. Cheers spinoff Frasier would later break this record, ultimately winning five in a row. Cheers also received the most major nominations and major awards during the ceremony. The drama field also saw a four-time winner crowned as L.A. Law won Outstanding Drama Series for the fourth time in five years. This tied the record set by Hill Street Blues whose four wins came consecutively. James Earl Jones joined an exclusive club, as he won two acting Emmys for his work on two different series.
John Gielgud's win for the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Special made him the fourth person to become an EGOT.

Winners and nominees


Programs

Cheers
L.A. Law
  • * China Beach
  • * Northern Exposure
  • * Quantum Leap
  • * Thirtysomething
    • The 63rd Annual Academy Awards
  • * In Living Color
  • * The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
  • * Late Night with David Letterman
  • * The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
  • * The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
    		• Separate but Equal
  • * Decoration Day
  • * The Josephine Baker Story
  • * Paris Trout
  • * Sarah, Plain and Tall
  • * Switched at Birth

    • Most major nominations

    ProgramCategoryNetworkNo. of
    Nominations
    CheersComedyNBC9
    L.A. LawDramaNBC8
    Murphy BrownComedyCBS7
    ThirtysomethingDramaABC6
    Decoration DayMiniseries/SpecialNBC5
    The Josephine Baker StoryMiniseries/SpecialHBO5
    Sarah, Plain and TallMiniseries/SpecialCBS5
    Separate but EqualMiniseries/SpecialABC5
    The 63rd Annual Academy AwardsVarietyABC4
    China BeachDramaABC4
    Evening ShadeComedyCBS4
    In Living ColorVarietyFox4
    Paris TroutMiniseries/SpecialShowtime4
    CoachComedyABC3
    The Days and Nights of Molly DoddComedyLifetime3
    The Golden GirlsComedyNBC3
    Late Night with David LettermanVarietyNBC3
    Quantum LeapDramaNBC3
    SeinfeldComedyNBC3
    Designing WomenComedyCBS2
    Gabriel's FireDramaABC2
    The Kennedy Center HonorsVarietyCBS2
    Long Road HomeMiniseries/SpecialNBC2
    The Muppets Celebrate Jim HensonVarietyCBS2
    Northern ExposureDramaCBS2
    Twin PeaksDramaABC2
    The Wonder YearsComedyABC2

    Most major awards

    ProgramCategoryNetworkNo. of
    Awards
    CheersComedyNBC4
    The 63rd Annual Academy AwardsVarietyABC3
    Gabriel's FireDramaABC2
    The Josephine Baker StoryMiniseries/SpecialHBO2
    L.A. LawDramaNBC2
    Murphy BrownComedyCBS2
    Separate but EqualMiniseries/SpecialABC2
    ThirtysomethingDramaABC2

    ;Notes

    Presenters

    The awards were presented by the following people:
    PresenterAward
    Burt Reynolds
    Loni Anderson    		Primetime Emmy Award for [Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series]
    Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
    Victoria PrincipalOutstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
    Jane Seymour
    John Goodman    		Primetime Emmy Award for [Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series]
    Corbin Bernsen
    Christina Applegate    		Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
    Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
    Craig T. Nelson
    Jerry Van Dyke    		Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
    Beatrice Arthur
    Betty White
    Rue McClanahan
    Estelle Getty    		Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
    Kirk Cameron
    Chelsea Noble    		Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Special
    Richard Mulligan
    Park Overall    		Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or Special
    Mary-Kate Olsen
    Ashley Olsen
    Bob Saget    		Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or Special
    Crystal Bernard
    Alan Thicke    		Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Special
    The cast of Designing WomenOutstanding Casting for a Miniseries or Special
    Richard LewisOutstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
    Jimmy Smits
    Susan Dey    		Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Special
    Sela Ward
    Julianne Phillips
    Fred Savage    		Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Special
    Gilbert GottfriedOutstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program
    Rob Morrow
    Jeannine Taylor    		Outstanding Directing for a Variety or Music Program
    Faith Ford
    Mike Myers    		Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program
    Jason Priestley
    Shannen Doherty
    Luke Perry    		Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
    Peter FalkOutstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
    Harry Hamlin
    Nicolette Sheridan    		Outstanding Drama Series
    Sam KinisonOutstanding Editing for a Series – Multi-Camera Production
    Keenan Ivory WayansOutstanding Drama/Comedy Special and Miniseries
    Macaulay CulkinOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
    Marilu Henner
    Carol Kane
    Christopher Lloyd    		Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
    Carol BurnettOutstanding Comedy Series

    Tribute

    A stand-alone tribute was presented to actor Michael Landon by his fellow Little House on the Prairie co-stars Melissa Gilbert and Merlin Olsen. Before the tribute, Gilbert briefly eulogized Lee Remick, Bert Convy, Harry Reasoner and Colleen Dewhurst.