Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Series
The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Series is a category in the Primetime Emmy Awards. It is awarded annually to the best variety show or similarly formatted program of the year. The award is sometimes known by other names, such as “Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Program” and “Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series.”
History
From 1979 to 1989 and in 1991, variety series and specials competed together. Single programs dominated as winners during this time until the Outstanding Variety Special category was formed. Since 1994, all of the winners in this category have been late-night talk shows, except in 1997.The Daily Show with Jon Stewart won the award for ten years consecutively, the longest winning streak for a television show in Primetime Emmy Award history. In 2015, this category was separated into two categories – Outstanding Variety Sketch Series and Outstanding Talk Series.
The split was reversed in 2026 and the category will return at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards with the merging of the two categories.
Programs with multiple awards
Totals include wins for Outstanding Talk Series and Outstanding Scripted Variety Series.;11 awardsThe Daily Show with Jon Stewart
;7 awardsLast Week Tonight with John Oliver
;6 awardsLate Show with David LettermanSaturday Night Live
;3 awardsThe Andy Williams ShowThe Carol Burnett Show
;2 awardsThe Colbert ReportThe David Frost ShowThe Dinah Shore Chevy ShowKennedy Center HonorsRowan & Martin's Laugh-InThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Programs with multiple nominations
Totals include nominations for Outstanding Talk Series and Outstanding Scripted Variety Series.;27 nominationsSaturday Night Live
;17 nominationsLate Show with David Letterman
;15 nominationsThe Daily Show with Jon StewartThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
;12 nominationsReal Time with Bill Maher
;11 nominationsThe Carol Burnett ShowJimmy Kimmel Live!Late Night with David Letterman
;10 nominationsThe Colbert ReportThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno
;8 nominationsLast Week Tonight with John OliverPolitically Incorrect
;7 nominationsDennis Miller Live
;6 nominationsDrunk HistoryThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert
;5 nominationsAFI Life Achievement AwardThe Daily Show with Trevor NoahThe Dean Martin ShowThe Dick Cavett ShowThe Garry Moore ShowLate Night with Conan O'BrienMTV UnpluggedThe Muppet ShowThe Perry Como ShowYour Show of Shows
;4 nominationsThe Andy Williams ShowThe Ed Sullivan ShowFull Frontal with Samantha BeeThe Jackie Gleason ShowKennedy Center HonorsThe Late Late Show with James CordenPortlandiaRowan & Martin's Laugh-InThe Smothers Brothers Comedy HourTony AwardsThe Tracey Ullman Show
;3 nominationsA Black Lady Sketch ShowThe Colgate Comedy HourThe David Frost ShowThe Dinah Shore Chevy ShowDocumentary Now!Evening at PopsThe Flip Wilson ShowIn Living ColorLate Night with Jimmy FallonThe Sonny & Cher Comedy HourToast of the TownThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonTracey Takes On...
;2 nominationsThe Arsenio Hall ShowAt Home with Amy SedarisThe Benny Hill ShowThe Chris Rock ShowConanThe Danny Kaye ShowThe Dinah Shore ShowGreat PerformancesHere's EdieThe Hollywood PalaceI Love You, America with Sarah SilvermanInside Amy SchumerThe Jack Benny ProgramKey & PeeleTonight Starring Jack PaarThe Judy Garland ShowOmnibusThe Red Skelton HourSCTV NetworkThe Steve Allen Show