Primetime Emmy Awards 1979
The 31st Primetime Emmy Awards · Held September 9, 1979 · 22 categories · everything in 1979
Outstanding Drama Series
- Winner Lou Grant · Gene Reynolds, Gary David Goldberg
- Nominee The Paper Chase · Robert Lewin, Albert Aley
- Nominee The Rockford Files · Juanita Bartlett
Outstanding Comedy Series
- Winner Taxi · Glen Charles, Les Charles
- Nominee All in the Family
- Nominee Barney Miller · Reinhold Weege
- Nominee M*A*S*H
- Nominee Mork & Mindy · Dale McRaven
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
- Winner Roots: The Next Generations · David L. Wolper
- Nominee Backstairs at the White House · Ed Friendly, Michael O'Herlihy
- Nominee Blind Ambition · David Susskind, George Schaefer, Renée Valente
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
- Winner Ron Leibman · Kaz
- Nominee Ed Asner · Lou Grant
- Nominee Jack Klugman · Quincy, M.E.
- Nominee James Garner · The Rockford Files
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
- Winner Mariette Hartley · The Incredible Hulk
- Nominee Barbara Bel Geddes · Dallas
- Nominee Sada Thompson · Family
- Nominee Rita Moreno · The Rockford Files
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
- Winner Carroll O'Connor · All in the Family
- Nominee Hal Linden · Barney Miller
- Nominee Alan Alda · M*A*S*H
- Nominee Robin Williams · Mork & Mindy
- Nominee Judd Hirsch · Taxi
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
- Winner Ruth Gordon · Taxi
- Nominee Linda Lavin · Alice
- Nominee Jean Stapleton · All in the Family
- Nominee Katherine Helmond · Soap
- Nominee Isabel Sanford · The Jeffersons
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Winner Peter Strauss · The Jericho Mile
- Nominee Louis Gossett Jr. · Backstairs at the White House
- Nominee Kurt Russell · Elvis
- Nominee Ned Beatty · Friendly Fire
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Winner Bette Davis · Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter
- Nominee Olivia Cole · Backstairs at the White House
- Nominee Carol Burnett · Friendly Fire
- Nominee Mary Tyler Moore
- Nominee Katharine Hepburn · The Corn Is Green
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
- Winner Stuart Margolin · The Rockford Files
- Nominee Robert Walden · Lou Grant
- Nominee Mason Adams · Lou Grant
- Nominee Noah Beery Jr. · The Rockford Files
- Nominee Joe Santos · The Rockford Files
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
- Winner Kristy McNichol · Family
- Nominee Nancy Marchand · Lou Grant
- Nominee Nancy Marchand · Lou Grant
- Nominee Linda Kelsey · Lou Grant
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
- Winner Robert Guillaume · Soap
- Nominee Max Gail · Barney Miller
- Nominee Harry Morgan · M*A*S*H
- Nominee Gary Burghoff · M*A*S*H
- Nominee Danny DeVito · Taxi
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
- Winner Sally Struthers · All in the Family
- Nominee Polly Holliday · Alice
- Nominee Marion Ross · Happy Days
- Nominee Loretta Swit · M*A*S*H
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Winner Marlon Brando · Roots: The Next Generations
- Nominee Robert Vaughn · Backstairs at the White House
- Nominee Ed Flanders · Backstairs at the White House
- Nominee Al Freeman, Jr. · Roots: The Next Generations
- Nominee Paul Winfield · Roots: The Next Generations
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Winner Esther Rolle · Summer of My German Soldier
- Nominee Celeste Holm · Backstairs at the White House
- Nominee Eileen Heckart · Backstairs at the White House
- Nominee Ruby Dee · Roots: The Next Generations
- Nominee Colleen Dewhurst · Silent Victory: The Kitty O'Neil Story
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
- Winner Jackie Cooper · Pilot from The White Shadow
- Nominee Mel Damski · Murder from Lou Grant
- Nominee Gene Reynolds · Prisoner from Lou Grant
- Nominee Burt Brinckerhoff · Schools from Lou Grant
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
- Winner Noam Pitlik · The Harris Incident from Barney Miller
- Nominee Paul Bogart · California, Here We Are - Part II from All in the Family
- Nominee Alan Alda · Dear Sis from M*A*S*H
- Nominee Jay Sandrich · Episode #27 from Soap
- Nominee Charles S. Dubin · Point of View from M*A*S*H
Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Dramatic Special
- Winner David Greene · Friendly Fire
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
- Winner Michele Gallery · Dying from Lou Grant
- Nominee Gene Reynolds · Marathon from Lou Grant
- Nominee James Bridges · The Late Mr. Hart from The Paper Chase
- Nominee Leon Tokatyan · Vet from Lou Grant
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
- Winner Alan Alda · Inga from M*A*S*H
- Nominee Michael J. Leeson · Blind Date from Taxi
- Nominee Milt Josefsberg, Phil Sharp, Bob Schiller, Bob Weiskopf · California, Here We Are - Part II from All in the Family
- Nominee Ken Levine, David Isaacs · Point of View from M*A*S*H
Outstanding Variety Special (Live)
- Winner Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin
- Nominee Arthur Fiedler: Just Call Me Maestro
- Nominee Saturday Night Live
- Nominee Shirley MacLaine at the Lido
- Nominee The Muppet Show
Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Dramatic Special
- Winner Michael Mann · The Jericho Mile
- Nominee Paul Dubov, Gwen Bagni · Book One from Backstairs at the White House
- Nominee Fay Kanin · Friendly Fire
- Nominee Ernest Kinoy · Part I from Roots: The Next Generations
- Nominee Jane-Howard Hammerstein · Summer of My German Soldier