Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special is a category at the Primetime Emmy Awards. It is awarded annually to the singularly best pre-recorded varietal, musical or comedic special of the year. It was previously presented as Outstanding Variety Special until it was restructured alongside Outstanding Special Class Program for the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards.
The Kennedy Center Honors has won seven awards, including five consecutive wins from 2009 to 2013. It also won twice for Outstanding Variety Series when the two categories were combined.
Winners and nominations
1960s
Outstanding Variety or Musical Program1970s
Outstanding Special – Comedy, Variety or Music| Year | Program | Producers | Network |
| 1975 (27th) | - | - | - |
| 1975 (27th) | An Evening with John Denver | Jerry Weintraub, executive producer; Al Rogers and Rich Eustis, producers; John Denver, performer | ABC |
| 1975 (27th) | Lily | Irene Pinn, executive producer; Jane Wagner and Lorne Michaels, producers; Lily Tomlin, performer | ABC |
| 1975 (27th) | Shirley MacLaine: If They Could See Me Now | Bob Wells, producer; Shirley MacLaine, performer | CBS |
| 1976 (28th) | - | - | - |
| 1976 (28th) | Gypsy in My Soul | William O. Harbach, executive producer; Cy Coleman and Fred Ebb, producers; Shirley MacLaine, performer | CBS |
| 1976 (28th) | John Denver: Rocky Mountain Christmas | Jerry Weintraub, executive producer; Al Rogers and Rich Eustis, producers; John Denver, performer | CBS |
| 1976 (28th) | Lily Tomlin | Irene Pinn, executive producer; Jane Wagner and Lorne Michaels, producers; Lily Tomlin, performer | ABC |
| 1976 (28th) | The Monty Python Show: Wide World Special | Ian MacNaughton, producer | ABC |
| 1976 (28th) | Steve and Eydie: "Our Love Is Here to Stay" | Gary Smith, executive producer; Dwight Hemion, producer; Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé, performers | CBS |
| 1977 (29th) | - | - | - |
| 1977 (29th) | The Barry Manilow Special | Miles Lourie, executive producer; Steve Binder, producer; Barry Manilow, performer | ABC |
| 1977 (29th) | Doug Henning's World of Magic | Jerry Goldstein, executive producer; Walter C. Miller, producer; Doug Henning, performer | NBC |
| 1977 (29th) | The Neil Diamond Special | Jerry Weintraub, executive producer; Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion, producers; Neil Diamond, performer | NBC |
| 1977 (29th) | The Shirley MacLaine Special: Where Do We Go from Here? | George Schlatter, producer; Shirley MacLaine, performer | CBS |
| 1977 (29th) | Sills and Burnett at the Met | Joe Hamilton, producer; Beverly Sills and Carol Burnett, performers | CBS |
| 1978 (30th) | - | - | - |
| 1978 (30th) | Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back | Aaron Russo, executive producer; Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion, producers; Bette Midler, performer | NBC |
| 1978 (30th) | Doug Henning's World of Magic | Jerry Goldstein, executive producer; Walter C. Miller, producer; Doug Henning, performer | NBC |
| 1978 (30th) | The George Burns One-Man Show | Irving Fein, executive producer; Stan Harris, producer; George Burns, performer | CBS |
| 1978 (30th) | Neil Diamond: I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight | Jerry Weintraub, executive producer; Art Fisher, producer; Neil Diamond, performer | NBC |
| 1978 (30th) | The Second Barry Manilow Special | Miles Lourie, executive producer; Ernest Chambers, producer; Barry Manilow, producer/performer | ABC |
From 1979 to 1989, the category was combined as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program.
1990s
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special| Year | Program | Producers | Network |
| 1990 (42nd) | - | - | - |
| 1990 (42nd) | Sammy Davis Jr.'s 60th Anniversary Celebration | George Schlatter, producer; Jeff Margolis, Buz Kohan, Gary Necessary and Maria S. Schlatter, co-producers | ABC |
| 1990 (42nd) | The 62nd Annual Academy Awards | Gilbert Cates, producer | ABC |
| 1990 (42nd) | Billy Crystal: Midnight Train to Moscow | Billy Crystal and David Steinberg, executive producers; Robert Dalrymple, producer; Carmi Zlotnik, co-producer; Jay Roewe, line producer | HBO |
| 1990 (42nd) | The 43rd Annual Tony Awards | Don Mischer, executive producer; David J. Goldberg, producer | CBS |
| 1990 (42nd) | The Best of the Tracey Ullman Show | Jerry Belson, James L. Brooks, Heide Perlman and Sam Simon, executive producers; Marc Flanagan, supervising producer; Richard Sakai, Ted Bessell and Dinah Kirgo, producers; Jay Kogen and Wallace Wolodarsky, co-producers | Fox |
In 1991, the category was combined as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program.
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program
| Year | Program | Producers | Network |
| 1992 (44th) | - | - | - |
| 1992 (44th) | Cirque Du Soleil II: A New Expérience | Hélène Dufresne, producer | HBO |
| 1992 (44th) | Comic Relief V | John Moffitt, Pat Tourk Lee and Bob Zmuda, executive producers | HBO |
| 1992 (44th) | Unforgettable, with Love: Natalie Cole Sings the Songs of Nat King Cole | Dan Cleary and Jac Venza, executive producers; David Horn, producer; John Walker, coordinating producer | PBS |
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special
| Year | Program | Producers | Network |
| 1993 (45th) | - | - | - |
| 1993 (45th) | Bob Hope: The First 90 Years | Linda Hope, executive producer; Nancy Malone, supervising producer; Don Mischer, producer | NBC |
| 1993 (45th) | The 65th Annual Academy Awards | Gilbert Cates, producer | ABC |
| 1993 (45th) | The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe | Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner, executive producers; Paula Mazur, producer | Showtime |
| 1993 (45th) | Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall | David Horn and Jac Venza, executive producers; John Walker, producer | PBS |
| 1993 (45th) | The 46th Annual Tony Awards | Joseph Cates, executive producer; Walter C. Miller, producer | CBS |
| 1994 (46th) | - | - | - |
| 1994 (46th) | The Kennedy Center Honors | George Stevens Jr. and Don Mischer, producers | CBS |
| 1994 (46th) | The 66th Annual Academy Awards | Gilbert Cates, producer | ABC |
| 1994 (46th) | Comic Relief VI | John Moffitt, Pat Tourk Lee and Bob Zmuda, executive producers | HBO |
| 1994 (46th) | The 47th Annual Tony Awards | Gary Smith, executive producer | CBS |
| 1994 (46th) | Tracey Ullman Takes On New York | Allan McKeown, executive producer; Marc Flanagan, supervising producer; David Wimbury, producer; John H. Starke, line producer | HBO |
| 1995 (47th) | - | - | - |
| 1995 (47th) | Barbra Streisand: The Concert | Martin Erlichman and Gary Smith, executive producers; Barbra Streisand and Dwight Hemion, producers | HBO |
| 1995 (47th) | The 67th Annual Academy Awards | Gilbert Cates, producer | ABC |
| 1995 (47th) | AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Steven Spielberg | George Stevens Jr., executive producer; Michael Stevens, producer | NBC |
| 1995 (47th) | A Comedy Salute to Andy Kaufman | George Shapiro, Howard West, Bob Zmuda and John Davies, producers; Michael Petok, co-producer | NBC |
| 1995 (47th) | Eagles: Hell Freezes Over | Irving Azoff and Joel Stillerman, executive producers; Carol Donovan, producer | MTV |
| 1996 (48th) | - | - | - |
| 1996 (48th) | The Kennedy Center Honors | George Stevens Jr. and Don Mischer, producers | CBS |
| 1996 (48th) | The 68th Annual Academy Awards | Quincy Jones, executive producer; David Salzman, producer | ABC |
| 1996 (48th) | The Best of Tracey Takes On... | Allan McKeown and Tracey Ullman, executive producers; Kevin Berg, Kim Fuller, Molly Newman, Jenji Kohan, Gail Parent, Tony Sheehan and Thomas Schlamme, producers; Ian La Frenais and Dick Clement, supervising producers; Allen J. Zipper, coordinating producer | HBO |
| 1996 (48th) | Dennis Miller: Citizen Arcane | Dennis Miller, John Moffitt and Pat Tourk Lee,executive producers; Nancy Kurshner, supervising producer | HBO |
| 1996 (48th) | Sinatra: 80 Years My Way | George Schlatter, executive producer; Maria S. Schlatter, producer; Donn Hoyer, co-producer; Buz Kohan and Gary Necessary, supervising producers | ABC |
| 1997 (49th) | - | - | - |
| 1997 (49th) | Chris Rock: Bring the Pain | Chris Rock, Michael Rotenberg and Sandy Chanley, executive producers; Tom Bull, producer | HBO |
| 1997 (49th) | The 69th Annual Academy Awards | Gilbert Cates, producer | ABC |
| 1997 (49th) | Bette Midler in Concert: Diva Las Vegas | Bette Midler and Bonnie Bruckheimer, executive producers; Marty Callner, producer; Bill Brigode, Douglas C. Forbes and Randall Gladstein, co-producer | HBO |
| 1997 (49th) | George Carlin: 40 Years of Comedy | John Moffitt, Pat Tourk Lee, Stu Smiley and Brenda Carlin, executive producers; Kimber Rickabaugh, producer; Keiren Fisher, line producer; Nancy Kurshner, supervising producer | HBO |
| 1997 (49th) | The 50th Annual Tony Awards | Gary Smith, executive producer; Walter C. Miller, producer; Roy Somlyo, supervising producer | CBS |
| 1998 (50th) | - | - | - |
| 1998 (50th) | The 1997 Tony Awards | Gary Smith, executive producer; Walter C. Miller, producer; Roy Somlyo, supervising producer | CBS |
| 1998 (50th) | The 70th Annual Academy Awards | Gilbert Cates, producer | ABC |
| 1998 (50th) | Christopher Reeve: A Celebration of Hope | Christopher Reeve, executive producer; Don Mischer, producer; Danette Herman, coordinating producer; Michael B. Seligman, supervising producer | ABC |
| 1998 (50th) | Garth: Live from Central Park | Garth Brooks, executive producer; Jon Small, producer; Douglas C. Forbes, supervising producer; Shelby Werwa, line producer; Tom Forrest and Randall Gladstein, co-producers | HBO |
| 1998 (50th) | Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella | Whitney Houston, Debra Martin Chase, Craig Zadan, David R. Ginsburg and Neil Meron, executive producers; Chris Montan and Mike Moder, producers | ABC |
| 1999 (51st) | - | - | - |
| 1999 (51st) | The 1998 Tony Awards | Gary Smith, executive producer; Rosie O'Donnell, producer; Roy Somlyo, supervising producer | CBS |
| 1999 (51st) | The 71st Annual Academy Awards | Gilbert Cates, producer | ABC |
| 1999 (51st) | George Carlin: You Are All Diseased | George Carlin and Jerry Hamza, executive producers; Kimber Rickabaugh and Rocco Urbisci, producers | HBO |
| 1999 (51st) | Jerry Seinfeld: "I'm Telling You for the Last Time" | Jerry Seinfeld, executive producer; Marty Callner, producer; Jeff Thorsen, line producer | HBO |
| 1999 (51st) | John Leguizamo's Freak | John Leguizamo and Robert Morton, executive producer; David Bar Katz, co-executive producer; Denis Biggs, producer; Krysia Plonka, coordinating producer | HBO |
2010s
Outstanding Variety Special| Year | Program | Producers | Network |
| 2012 (64th) | - | - | - |
| 2012 (64th) | The Kennedy Center Honors | George Stevens Jr. and Michael Stevens, producers | CBS |
| 2012 (64th) | Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute to America's Golden Girl | Brad Lachman, Jon Macks and Steve Ridgeway, executive producers; Bill Bracken, producer | NBC |
| 2012 (64th) | Kathy Griffin: Tired Hooker | Kathy Griffin, Kimber Rickabaugh, Paul Miller, Andy Cohen and Jenn Levy, executive producers | Bravo |
| 2012 (64th) | Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again | Andrea Grossman, executive producer; Steve Haberman and Rudy De Luca, producers; Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett, performers | HBO |
| 2012 (64th) | Tony Bennett: Duets II | Danny Bennett, executive producer; David Horn, executive producer for Great Performances; Jennifer Lebeau, producer; Tony Bennett, principal performer | PBS |
| 2013 (65th) | - | - | - |
| 2013 (65th) | The Kennedy Center Honors | George Stevens Jr. and Michael Stevens, producers | CBS |
| 2013 (65th) | Louis C.K.: Oh My God | Louis C.K., executive producer/performer; Blair Breard, Dave Becky and Mike Berkowitz, executive producers | HBO |
| 2013 (65th) | Mel Brooks Strikes Back! with Mel Brooks and Alan Yentob | Mel Brooks, executive producer; Steve Haberman and Rudy De Luca, produced by | HBO |
| 2013 (65th) | Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday | Lorne Michaels, executive producer; Ken Aymong, supervising producer; Lindsay Shookus, Erin Doyle, Steve Higgins, Erik Kenward and Alex Baze, producers | NBC |
| 2013 (65th) | 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief | James L. Dolan, Harvey Weinstein and John Sykes, executive producers; Michael Dempsey and Dan Parise, producers | |
| 2014 (66th) | - | - | - |
| 2014 (66th) | AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Mel Brooks | Bob Gazzale, executive producer; Cort Casady, supervising producer; Chris Merrill, producer; Martin Short, performer/host | TNT |
| 2014 (66th) | Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays | Billy Crystal, executive producer/performer; Janice Crystal, Larry Magid and David Steinberg, executive producers; Des McAnuff and Alan Zweibel, co-executive producers; Benn Fleishman, supervising producer | HBO |
| 2014 (66th) | Best of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Primetime Special | Lorne Michaels, executive producer; Rob Crabbe and Jim Juvonen, supervising producers; Gavin Purcell, producer; Josh Lieb, produced by; Jimmy Fallon, host | NBC |
| 2014 (66th) | The Kennedy Center Honors | George Stevens Jr. and Michael Stevens, produced by | CBS |
| 2014 (66th) | The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to The Beatles | Ken Elrich and R.A. Clark, executive producers; Renato Basile, producer | CBS |
| 2014 (66th) | Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles | Sarah Silverman, executive producer/performer; Heidi Herzon, Mike Farah, Anna Wenger, Betsy Koch and Amy Zvi, executive producers; Stephanie Meurer, producer | HBO |
| 2015 (67th) | - | - | - |
| 2015 (67th) | Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special | Lorne Michaels, executive producer; Ken Aymong, supervising producer; Lindsay Shookus, Erin Doyle and Rhys Thomas, producers; Steve Higgins and Erik Kenward, produced by | NBC |
| 2015 (67th) | Bill Maher: Live from D.C. | Bill Maher, executive producer/performer; Marc Gurvitz and Troy Miller, executive producers; Benn Fleishman, supervising producer | HBO |
| 2015 (67th) | The Kennedy Center Honors | Bill Urban, Danette Herman and Sara Lukinson, co-executive producers; George Stevens Jr. and Michael Stevens, produced by | CBS |
| 2015 (67th) | Louis C.K.: Live at the Comedy Store | Louis C.K., Blair Breard, Dave Becky and Mike Berkowitz, executive producers; John Skidmore, produced by | LouisCK.net |
| 2015 (67th) | Mel Brooks: Live at the Geffen | Mel Brooks, executive producer/performer; Kevin Salter, Steve Haberman and Rudy De Luca, producers | HBO |
| 2015 (67th) | Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga: Cheek to Cheek Live! | Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, David Horn, Danny Bennett and Bobby Campbell, executive producers; Mitch Owgang, producer | PBS |
| 2016 (68th) | - | - | - |
| 2016 (68th) | The Late Late Show Carpool Karaoke Primetime Special | Rob Crabbe and Ben Winston, executive producers; Mike Gibbons, co-executive producer; Sheila Rogers, Michael Kaplan, Jeff Kopp and Josie Cliff, supervising producers; James Corden, producer/host | CBS |
| 2016 (68th) | Adele: Live in New York City | Lorne Michaels, Adele and Jonathan Dickins, executive producers; Paul Chagares and Ken Aymong, supervising producers; Lindsay Shookus and Erik Kenward, producers; Matt Roberts, Erin David and Rhys Thomas, produced by | NBC |
| 2016 (68th) | Amy Schumer: Live at the Apollo | Amy Schumer, executive producer/performer; Jimmy Miller, Mike Berkowitz, Tony Hernandez and Steven Ast, executive producers; Kim Caramele and Kevin Kane, producers; John Skidmore, produced by | HBO |
| 2016 (68th) | The Kennedy Center Honors | Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss, executive producers; Robert Paine, supervising producer; Stephen Colbert, host | CBS |
| 2016 (68th) | Lemonade | Beyoncé Knowles Carter, executive producer/performer; Todd Tourso, Erinn Williams, Dora Melissa Vargas, Steve Pamon and Ed Burke, executive producers | HBO |
| 2017 (69th) | - | - | - |
| 2017 (69th) | Carpool Karaoke Primetime Special 2017 | Ben Winston and Rob Crabbe, executive producers; Amy Ozols, co-executive producer; Josie Cliff, Sheila Rogers, Michael Kaplan, James Longman, and Jeff Kopp, supervising producers; James Corden, producer/host; Diana Miller, producer | CBS |
| 2017 (69th) | Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents Not the White House Correspondents' Dinner | Samantha Bee, executive producer/host; Jo Miller, Jason Jones, Tony Hernandez, and Miles Kahn, executive producers; Alison Camillo, co-executive producer; Pat King, supervising producer; Kristen Everman, produced by | TBS |
| 2017 (69th) | Louis C.K. 2017 | Louis C.K., executive producer/performer; Dave Becky, Mike Berkowitz, and Tony Hernandez, executive producers; Ryan Cunningham, producer; John Skidmore, produced by | Netflix |
| 2017 (69th) | Sarah Silverman: A Speck of Dust | Sarah Silverman, executive producer/performer; Amy Zvi, Nicholas Veneroso, and Daniel Kellison, executive producers; Mickey Meyer, co-executive producer | Netflix |
| 2017 (69th) | Stephen Colbert's Live Election Night Democracy's Series Finale: Who's Going to Clean Up This Sh*t? | Stephen Colbert, executive producer/host; Chris Licht, Tom Purcell, and Jon Stewart, executive producers; Barry Julien, co-executive producer; Denise Rehrig, senior supervising producer; Tanya Michnevich Bracco, Paul Dinello, Matt Lappin, Liz Levin, Opus Moreschi, Emily Gertler, Aaron Cohen, supervising producers; Paige Kendig, producer | Showtime |
Outstanding Variety Special
| Year | Program | Producers | Network |
| 2018 (70th) | - | - | - |
| 2018 (70th) | Dave Chappelle: Equanimity | Dave Chappelle and Stan Lathan, executive producers; Rikki Hughes, supervising producer | Netflix |
| 2018 (70th) | The Carol Burnett Show: 50th Anniversary Special | Carol Burnett, executive producer/host; Steve Sauer, Allen Shapiro, Mike Mahan, Mark Bracco, Paul Miller and Leslie Kolins Small, executive producers; Ben Roy, co-executive producer; Linda Gierahn, supervising producer | CBS |
| 2018 (70th) | Carpool Karaoke Primetime Special 2018 | Ben Winston and Rob Crabbe, executive producers; Josie Cliff, Sheila Rogers, Michael Kaplan, James Longman, Matt Roberts and Jeff Kopp, supervising producers; James Corden, producer/host; Diana Miller, producer | CBS |
| 2018 (70th) | Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents: The Great American* Puerto Rico (*It's Complicated) | Samantha Bee, executive producer/host; Jason Jones, Tony Hernandez, Miles Kahn, Alison Camillo and Pat King, executive producers; Kim Burdges, Allana Harkin, Chris Savage and Melinda Taub, producers | TBS |
| 2018 (70th) | Steve Martin & Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life | Lorne Michaels, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Marc Gurvitz and Erin David, executive producers; Marcus Raboy, producer; Neal Marshall, produced by | Netflix |
| 2019 (71st) | - | - | - |
| 2019 (71st) | Carpool Karaoke: When Corden Met McCartney Live from Liverpool | Ben Winston and Rob Crabbe, executive producers; James Longman, co-executive producer; Josie Cliff, Sheila Rogers, Jeff Kopp and Carly Shackleton, supervising producers; James Corden, Lou Fox, Lauren Greenberg, Ian Karmel, Diana Miller, Benjamin Riad and Gabe Turner, producers | CBS |
| 2019 (71st) | Hannah Gadsby: Nanette | Kevin Whyte and Kathleen McCarthy, executive producers; Frank Bruzzese, producer; Hannah Gadsby, performer | Netflix |
| 2019 (71st) | Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé | Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, executive producer/performer; Steve Pamon, Erinn Williams and Ed Burke, executive producers | Netflix |
| 2019 (71st) | Springsteen on Broadway | Bruce Springsteen, executive producer/performer; Jon Landau, George Travis and Thom Zimny, producers | Netflix |
| 2019 (71st) | Wanda Sykes: Not Normal | Wanda Sykes, executive producer/performer; Page Hurwitz, executive producer | Netflix |