56th Primetime Emmy Awards


The 56th Primetime Emmy Awards were held on Sunday, September 19, 2004. The ceremony was hosted by Garry Shandling and was broadcast on ABC. 27 awards were presented.
The HBO miniseries Angels [in America (miniseries)|Angels in America] had the most successful night. It became the first program to sweep every major category, going 7/7, in Emmy history, until 72nd [Primetime Emmy Awards|2020] when Schitt’s Creek repeated the feat. Along with Schitt’s Creek, Caesar's Hour in 1957 and The Crown in 2021, it is one of only four programs to win all four main acting categories.
Upstart comedy series Arrested Development won Outstanding Comedy Series and two other major awards overall. Its pilot became the twelfth episode to accomplish the directing/writing double.
After years of winning everything but the top prize, The Sopranos finally took home the crown for Outstanding Drama Series, not only knocking off four-time defending champion The West Wing but by being the first cable show, HBO, ever to beat any of the Big Four television networks for that award. It led all dramas with twelve major nominations and four major wins. One of those wins was for Drea de Matteo for Primetime Emmy Award for [Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series|Drama Supporting Actress] and, too, was the first time that award went to a cable network. Furthermore, the cable network also won for the first times in the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding [Lead Actress in a Comedy Series|Comedy Lead Actress] and Comedy Supporting Actress categories.
Entering its final ceremony, five-time series champion Frasier needed five major wins to tie The [Mary Tyler Moore Show]s record of 27 major wins. Because it was only nominated in three major categories, breaking the record was not possible. Though it did not tie the record, Frasier finished its Emmy career on a high note, winning two major awards, the most it had won since 1998. Its 25 major wins put it at second of all time. When adding its wins in technical categories, its total rises to 37, the most for any comedy series.

Winners and nominees

Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold:

Programs

Arrested Development
The Sopranos
  • * 24
  • * CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
  • * Joan of Arcadia
  • * The West Wing
    • Something the Lord Made
  • * And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself
  • * Ike: Countdown to D-Day
  • * The [Lion in Winter (2003 film)|The Lion in Winter]
  • * The Reagans
    		• Angels in America
  • * American Family
  • * Hornblower
  • * Prime Suspect VI: The Last Witness
  • * Traffic
    • The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
  • * Chappelle's Show
  • * Late Night with Conan O'Brien
  • * Late Show with David Letterman
  • * Saturday Night Live
    		• The Amazing Race
  • * American Idol
  • * The Apprentice
  • * Last Comic Standing
  • * Survivor

    • Most major nominations

    ProgramCategoryNetworkNo. of
    Nominations
    The SopranosDramaHBO12
    Angels in AmericaMiniseriesHBO11
    Sex and the CityComedyHBO8
    The West WingDramaNBC6
    Curb Your EnthusiasmComedyHBO5
    Everybody Loves RaymondComedyCBS5
    Something the Lord MadeMovieHBO5
    Arrested DevelopmentComedyFox4
    DeadwoodDramaHBO4
    The ReagansMovieShowtime4
    And Starring Pancho Villa as HimselfMovieHBO3
    Chappelle's ShowVarietyComedy Central3
    The Daily Show with Jon StewartVarietyComedy Central3
    FrasierComedyNBC3
    Late Show with David LettermanVarietyCBS3
    The Lion in WinterMovieShowtime3
    Prime Suspect VI: The Last WitnessMiniseriesPBS3
    Will & GraceComedyNBC3
    24DramaFox2
    The 76th Annual Academy AwardsVarietyABC2
    AliasDramaABC2
    Elaine Stritch: At LibertyVarietyHBO2
    FriendsComedyNBC2
    Ike: Countdown to D-DayMovieA&E2
    Iron Jawed AngelsMovieHBO2
    Joan of ArcadiaDramaCBS2
    Late Night with Conan O'BrienVarietyNBC2

    Most major awards

    ProgramCategoryNetworkNo. of
    Awards
    Angels in AmericaMiniseriesHBO7
    The SopranosDramaHBO4
    Arrested DevelopmentComedyFox3
    The Daily Show with Jon StewartVarietyComedy Central2
    FrasierComedyNBC2
    Sex and the CityComedyHBO2

    ;Notes

    Presenters

    The awards were presented by the following people:
    PresenterRole
    Sarah Jessica Parker
    Chris Noth    		Presented the award for Primetime Emmy Award for [Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series]
    Heather Locklear
    Blair Underwood    		Presented the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
    Simon Cowell
    Donald Trump    		Presented the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    Laura Linney
    John Turturro    		Presented the award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
    Jim Belushi
    Teri Hatcher    		Presented the award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
    Amber Tamblyn
    Zach Braff    		Presented the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
    Mischa Barton
    Adam Brody
    Ben McKenzie    		Presented the award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
    Debra Messing
    Eric McCormack    		Presented the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie
    Jimmy Kimmel
    Ty Pennington    		Presented the award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
    Jon StewartPresented the award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
    Mos Def
    Tony Shalhoub    		Presented the award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
    Sharon Stone
    William Shatner    		Presented the award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
    William Petersen
    Dennis Franz    		Presented the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
    George LopezPresented the award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
    Kathryn Morris
    Anthony LaPaglia    		Presented the award for Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special
    Amy Jo Scholsohn and Bruce Milam JrPresented the award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
    Joely Richardson
    Kiefer Sutherland    		Presented the award for Outstanding Made for Television Movie
    Edie Falco
    James Gandolfini    		Presented the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie
    Anjelica Huston
    James Spader    		Presented the award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special
    Victor Garber
    Taye Diggs    		Presented the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
    Jon Cryer
    Charlie Sheen    		Presented the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
    Conan O'BrienPresented the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
    Gary Sinise
    Melina Kanakeredes    		Presented the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
    Treat Williams
    William H. Macy    		Presented the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
    Barbara WaltersPresented the award for Outstanding Miniseries
    Ellen DeGeneresPresented the award for Outstanding Comedy Series
    Glenn ClosePresented the award for Outstanding Drama Series

    In Memoriam