11th Primetime Emmy Awards
The 11th Emmy Awards, later referred to as the 11th Primetime Emmy Awards, were held on May 6, 1959, to honor the best in television of the year. The ceremony was held at the Moulin Rouge Nightclub in Hollywood, California. It was hosted by Raymond Burr. All nominations are listed, with winners in bold and series' networks are in parentheses.
11th Primetime Emmy Awards | |
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Date | May 6, 1959 |
Location | Moulin Rouge Nightclub, Hollywood, California |
Presented by | Academy of Television Arts and Sciences |
Hosted by | Raymond Burr |
Television/radio coverage | |
Network | NBC |
For the first time in Emmy history, all major categories were split into genre-specific fields, this would become standard for later ceremonies. The top show of the night was the NBC special, An Evening with Fred Astaire, it tied the record of five major wins. Playhouse 90 only took home one award, but it did set the record (since broken) for most major nominations, with 14. Father Knows Best also set a milestone, becoming the first show to be nominated in every major category (series, writing, directing, and the four major acting categories).
Winners and nominees
Programs
Best Comedy Series | Best Dramatic Series Less than One Hour |
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Best Dramatic Series One Hour or Longer | Best Musical or Variety Series |
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Best Public Service Program or Series | Best Western Series |
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Best Panel, Quiz or Audience Participation Series | Best Special Musical or Variety Program - One Hour or Longer |
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Most Outstanding Single Program of the Year | |
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Acting
Lead performances
Best Performance by an Actor (Continuing Character) in a Musical or Variety Series |
Best Performance by an Actress (Continuing Character) in a Musical or Variety Series |
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Best Actor in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series | Best Actress in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series |
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Best Actor in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series | Best Actress in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series |
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Supporting performances
Best Supporting Actor (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series | Best Supporting Actress (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series |
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Best Supporting Actor (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series | Best Supporting Actress (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series |
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Single performances
Best Single Performance by an Actor | Best Single Performance by an Actress |
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Directing
Best Direction of a Single Musical or Variety Program | Best Direction of a Single Program of a Comedy Series |
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Best Direction of a Single Program of a Dramatic Series Less Than One Hour | Best Direction of a Single Dramatic Program - One Hour or Longer |
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Writing
Best Writing of a Single Musical or Variety Program | Best Writing of a Single Program of a Comedy Series |
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Best Writing of a Single Program of a Dramatic Series Less Than One Hour | Best Writing of a Single Dramatic Program One Hour or Longer |
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Most major nominations
- By network [note 1]
- CBS – 69
- NBC – 57
- ABC – 16
- By program
- Playhouse 90 (CBS) – 14
- Father Knows Best (NBC) / Peter Gunn (NBC) – 7
- Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre (NBC) / The Bob Cummings Show (NBC) / An Evening with Fred Astaire (NBC)
Hallmark Hall of Fame (NBC) / The Phil Silvers Show (CBS) / The Real McCoys (ABC) – 5 - General Electric Theatre (CBS) / Gunsmoke (CBS) / The Jack Benny Show (CBS) / The Steve Allen Show (NBC) – 4
Most major awards
- By network [note 1]
- NBC – 19
- CBS – 10
- ABC – 1
- By program
- An Evening with Fred Astaire (NBC) – 5
- Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre (NBC) / Hallmark Hall of Fame (NBC) / The Jack Benny Show (CBS) – 3
- The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (NBC) / Father Knows Best (CBS) / Perry Mason (CBS) – 2
- Notes
- "Major" constitutes the categories listed above: Program, Acting, Directing, and Writing. Does not include the technical categories.