Emmy Awards Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Emmy Awards
Emmy statuette | Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images
Emmy Awards
The Emmy Awards are presented annually to recognize excellence in the TV industry and emerging media. Three sister organizations administer the awards: the Television Academy, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Several Emmy events happen throughout the year, including Daytime, Primetime, Sports, News & Documentary, Technology & Engineering, and College TV. Winners receive a golden Emmy statuette — a winged woman holding an atom. TV engineer Louis McManus designed the trophy, modeled after his wife. The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences selected his design in 1948 after reviewing and rejecting 47 other submissions. The Emmy Awards are one of the four major entertainment honors in the United States. The others are the Academy Awards, Grammys, and Tonys. People who have won all four are called "EGOTs," an acronym representing each award. As of 2023, 18 actors, composers, directors, and producers have reached EGOT status.
- First award ceremony: 1949
- Genre: Television
- Most memorable Emmy Awards show moments: Viola Davis' powerful acceptance speech at the 2015 ceremony; all Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series nominees' taking the stage at the same time to support one another; Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's joint appearances
Visit the Emmy Awards website.
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Entertainment
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Award Shows

Son Suk-ku, Song Hye-kyo, Kim Hye-soo, and Hong Kyung for 59th Baeksang Arts Awards.

’59th Baeksang Arts Awards’: The K-Drama Nominees From Song Hye-kyo to ‘My Liberation Notes’

JTBC's 'My Liberation Notes' has raked up many nominees for the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards. Son Suk-ku and Kim Ji-won are nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress for their leading roles.

by Gabriela Silva

Published on April 7, 2023

3 min read

Zendaya attends the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 26, 2023 in Los Angeles, California

Celebrity

Zendaya Wore a Staggering $2.7 Million in Statement Necklaces at the SAG Awards

Once again, Zendaya was turning heads on the red carpet — this time with some statement necklaces at the 2023 SAG Awards.

by Perry Carpenter

Prince William and Kate Middleton at the 2019 BAFTAs (1)

Royal family

Kate Middleton Diffused an Awkward Moment at the BAFTAs With 3 Words

Kate Middleton joked about how the crowd behaved during her and Prince William's 2019 BAFTAs entrance, making an observation as she took her seat.

by Mandi Kerr

Jerry Seinfeld Once Refused to Host the Oscars Because It Wouldn’t Be Fun

Jerry Seinfeld once opened up about how he really felt regarding hosting the Oscars someday.

by Antonio Stallings

Published on April 26, 2024

3 min read

Pregnant Vanessa Hudgens standing next to a large Oscar statue

Celebrity

Vanessa Hudgens Debuts Baby Bump on Oscars Red Carpet

Vanessa Hudgens is expecting her first baby with husband Cole Taylor, whom she married in December 2023.

by Megan Elliott

A collection of Oscar statues at the Academy Awards, for which the best actor nominees include Bradley Cooper, Jeffrey Wright, and more in 2024.

Celebrity / TV

2024 Oscars: How Old Are the Best Actor Nominees?

The best actor nominees for the 2024 Academy Awards are 11 years apart or less.

by Mandi Kerr

Taylor Swift’s Grammys Outfit Has Royal Fans Seeing a Kate Middleton Connection

Taylor Swift accessorized a white gown with black gloves at the Grammys not unlike Kate Middleton did at a 2023 red carpet event.

by Mandi Kerr

Published on February 5, 2024

3 min read

Close up of Miley Cyrus on the 2024 Grammys red carpet

Celebrity

Miley Cyrus Turns Heads With Barely There Mesh Dress at 2024 Grammys

Miley Cyrus is nominated for six awards at this year's Grammys, including Album of the Year for 'Endless Summer Vacation.'

by Megan Elliott

U2 performing onstage during rehearsals for the 48th Grammy Awards

Music

U2 at the Grammys Through the Years

Since 1988, Irish rockers U2 have won 22 Grammys. At Sunday's ceremony, they'll perform live from the Sphere in Las Vegas.

by Megan Elliott

Daytime Emmys: 8 Soap Operas With the Most Outstanding Drama Series Wins

Soap operas tend to dominate the Daytime Emmys. Find out which soap opera holds the record for most Outstanding Drama Series wins — and which soap is right on its tail.

by Robert Yaniz Jr.

Actor Mike Manning holds up a Daytime Emmy award.

Daytime Emmys 2022: Date, Time, and How to Watch

The 2022 Daytime Emmys are Friday, June 24. Here’s how to watch the ceremony on TV and how to stream it.

by Robert Yaniz Jr.

Celebrity

Samira Wiley Was Rejected From Multiple Theater Schools Long Before Winning a Primetime Emmy

Before starring in multiple hit TV shows over the years and winning an Emmy, Samira Wiley was rejected from several theater schools!

by Produced by Digital Editors

Celebrity

Julie Andrews, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Viola Davis, and Al Pacino Are All Members of the Talented ‘Almost-EGOT’ Club

for people with awards that cut across the board, otherwise known as EGOT. Julie Andrews, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Viola Davis, and Al Pacino are all members of the talented 'almost-EGOT' club. So what is an EGOT, and who has received it?

by Produced by Digital Editors

Zac Efron Quietly Won an Emmy 15 Years After ‘High School Musical’

Zac Efron isn't just an actor. He won an Emmy for his travel show, 'Down to Earth with Zac Efron,' long after 'High School Musical' made him famous.

by Felix Fauster

Celebrity

How Did Audrey Hepburn Earn Her EGOT?

Although Audrey Hepburn officially became an EGOT member after her death in 1993, she remains one of the headliners in an exclusive club.

by Produced by Digital Editors

Celebrity

How Many Celebrities Have an EGOT?

Earning an EGOT is a pretty incredible feat and a true testament to a celebrity's talent. The list currently includes John Legend, Rita Moreno, and Audrey Hepburn.

by Produced by Digital Editors

2022 Daytime Emmys: When They Air, How to Watch, and Full Nomination List

2022 Daytime Emmy Awards are returning soon. The nomination list and premiere date have been released; when does the 2022 Daytime Emmy Awards air and how can you watch it?

by Tamara Grant

Gaming & Comics

‘Moon Knight’: Marvel’s ‘Season Finale’ Tweets Could Cause Trouble in Awards Season

Marvel could land itself in hot water with the Television Academy for calling 'Moon Knight' Episode 6 the 'season finale.' Here's why.

by Elise Nelson

‘Squid Game’: Is the Netflix K-Drama Eligible for an Emmy?

According to the Emmy Award's 'foreign content' rule, K-dramas are excluded from being nominated because they air on South Korean television. 'Squid Game' breaks another threshold and becomes eligible for an Emmy as it was created, produced and exclusively released by Netflix.

by Gabriela Silva

‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’: K-Drama Nominated for 2021 International Emmy

Actors Kim Soo-Hyun and Seo Ye-Ji starred in the hit Netflix and tvN K-drama, 'It's Okay to Not Be Okay' and is now nominated for a 2021 International Emmy alongside 'The I-Land' in the Non-Scripted Entertainment category.

by Gabriela Silva

Celebrity

RuPaul Makes Emmys History for Most Wins by a Black Artist

RuPaul made history at the 2021 Emmy Awards by breaking the record for the most wins by a person of color. Here's what he said in his acceptance speech and who held the record before him.

by Grace Turney

Emmys 2021: ‘WandaVision’ Stars Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany May Have Lost, But They Still Made Marvel History

The ‘WandaVision’ Emmys performance resulted in Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, and Kathryn Hahn all being bested. However, the nominations are a landmark for Olsen, Bettany, and Marvel Studios, marking their first acting Emmy nominations ever. The Marvel actors will continue appearing as Scarlet Witch and the Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

by Andrew Addessi

‘Ted Lasso’: How Every Emmy Acceptance Speech Was in Character — Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, and Brett Goldstein

Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein and Jason Sudeikis all stayed completely in character to deliver their 'Ted Lasso' acceptance speeches at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards.

by Rachel Hunt

‘Outlander’s Last Emmy Nomination Was for Costumes — Here’s How They’re Made

While 'Outlander' Emmy nominations are few, the show is still a global hit. The STARZ series has been nominated for its costume designs in past seasons. And in a new interview, the 'Outlander' costume designer revealed how her costumes came together.

by Kelli Boyle

Before ‘WandaVision’ and ‘The Boys’ This Year, Have Superhero Shows Been Nominated for Emmys in the Past?

'WandaVision' and 'The Boys' didn't bring home any Emmy Awards. However they weren't the first superhero shows ever nominated.

by Alani Vargas

Emmys 2021: The 3 Most Awkward Moments You Missed During the Show

From a super long speech to a really awkward salute, this year's Emmy Awards weren't short on cringeworthy moments.

by Whitney Danhauer

Michael K. Williams Loses Emmy For ‘Lovecraft Country,’ An Award His Friends Say He ‘Doesn’t Need’

Michael K. Williams earned an 2021 Emmy nomination for his performance in the HBO series 'Lovecraft Country.' Close friends and relatives to Williams explain why he doesn't need an Emmy award.

by Karelle McKay

Celebrity

Emmy Nominee Anya Taylor-Joy Once Revealed That She Doesn’t Consider Herself Beautiful: ‘I’m Weird-Looking’

Anya Taylor-Joy may be beautiful to fans, but she doesn't think of herself as good-looking, sharing in a previous interview that she doesn't consider her appearance to be up to Hollywood's beauty standards.

by Bre Williams

Celebrity

Evan Peters Screams Kate Winslet’s Name During Emmy Award Acceptance Speech

Evan Peters won an Emmy Award for his work on "Mare of Easttown" and gave a very special shout-out to his co-star Kate Winslet in his acceptance speech. Find out what he said here and how fans are reacting to his win.

by Grace Turney