Primetime Emmy Awards 1981
The 33rd Primetime Emmy Awards · Held September 13, 1981 · 23 categories · everything in 1981
Outstanding Drama Series
- Winner Hill Street Blues · Steven Bochco, Michael Kozoll, Gregory Hoblit
- Nominee Dallas
- Nominee Lou Grant
- Nominee Quincy, M.E.
- Nominee The White Shadow · John Masius
Outstanding Comedy Series
- Winner Taxi
- Nominee Barney Miller
- Nominee M*A*S*H
- Nominee Soap · Stu Silver, Dick Clair, Jenna McMahon
- Nominee WKRP in Cincinnati · Blake Hunter, Steven Kampmann, PJ Torokvei
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
- Winner Shōgun · James Clavell, Eric Bercovici
- Nominee East of Eden · Mace Neufeld, Barney Rosenzweig
- Nominee Masada · George Eckstein
- Nominee Rumpole of the Bailey
- Nominee Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy · Jac Venza, Jonathan Powell
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
- Winner Daniel J. Travanti · Hill Street Blues
- Nominee Jim Davis · Dallas
- Nominee Larry Hagman · Dallas
- Nominee Ed Asner · Lou Grant
- Nominee Louis Gossett Jr.
- Nominee Pernell Roberts · Trapper John, M.D.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
- Winner Barbara Babcock · Hill Street Blues
- Nominee Linda Gray · Dallas
- Nominee Barbara Bel Geddes · Dallas
- Nominee Stefanie Powers · Hart to Hart
- Nominee Veronica Hamel · Hill Street Blues
- Nominee Michael Learned · Nurse
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
- Winner Judd Hirsch · Taxi
- Nominee Hal Linden · Barney Miller
- Nominee Alan Alda · M*A*S*H
- Nominee Richard Mulligan · Soap
- Nominee John Ritter · Three's Company
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
- Winner Isabel Sanford · The Jeffersons
- Nominee Lynn Redgrave · House Calls
- Nominee Cathryn Damon · Soap
- Nominee Katherine Helmond · Soap
- Nominee Eileen Brennan · Taxi
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Winner Anthony Hopkins · The Bunker
- Nominee Peter O'Toole · Masada
- Nominee Peter Strauss · Masada
- Nominee Richard Chamberlain · Shōgun
- Nominee Toshirō Mifune · Shōgun
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Winner Vanessa Redgrave · Playing for Time
- Nominee Joanne Woodward · Crisis at Central High
- Nominee Catherine Hicks · Marilyn: The Untold Story
- Nominee Yoko Shimada · Shōgun
- Nominee Ellen Burstyn · The People vs. Jean Harris
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
- Winner Michael Conrad · Hill Street Blues
- Nominee Charles Haid · Hill Street Blues
- Nominee Bruce Weitz · Hill Street Blues
- Nominee Mason Adams · Lou Grant
- Nominee Robert Walden · Lou Grant
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
- Winner Nancy Marchand · Lou Grant
- Nominee Barbara Barrie · Breaking Away
- Nominee Betty Thomas · Hill Street Blues
- Nominee Barbara Bosson · Hill Street Blues
- Nominee Linda Kelsey · Lou Grant
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
- Winner Danny DeVito · Taxi
- Nominee Steve Landesberg · Barney Miller
- Nominee David Ogden Stiers · M*A*S*H
- Nominee Harry Morgan · M*A*S*H
- Nominee Howard Hesseman · WKRP in Cincinnati
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
- Winner Eileen Brennan · Private Benjamin
- Nominee Anne Meara · Archie Bunker's Place
- Nominee Loretta Swit · M*A*S*H
- Nominee Marla Gibbs · The Jeffersons
- Nominee Loni Anderson · WKRP in Cincinnati
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Winner David Warner · Masada
- Nominee Anthony Quayle · Masada
- Nominee Andy Griffith · Murder in Texas
- Nominee Yūki Meguro · Shōgun
- Nominee John Rhys-Davies · Shōgun
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Winner Jane Alexander · Playing for Time
- Nominee Shirley Knight · Playing for Time
- Nominee Piper Laurie · The Bunker
- Nominee Patty Duke · The Women's Room
- Nominee Colleen Dewhurst · The Women's Room
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
- Winner Robert Butler · Hill Street Station from Hill Street Blues
- Nominee Corey Allen · Jungle Madness from Hill Street Blues
- Nominee Burt Brinckerhoff · Pack from Lou Grant
- Nominee Mel Damski · Pilot from American Dream
- Nominee Gene Reynolds · Strike from Lou Grant
- Nominee Georg Stanford Brown · Up in Arms from Hill Street Blues
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
- Winner James Burrows · Elaine's Strange Triangle from Taxi
- Nominee Jerry Paris · Hello, Mrs. Arcola from Happy Days
- Nominee Noam Pitlik · Liquidation from Barney Miller
- Nominee Burt Metcalfe · No Laughing Matter from M*A*S*H
- Nominee Alan Alda · The Life You Save from M*A*S*H
- Nominee Linda Day · Tough Love from Archie Bunker's Place
- Nominee Rod Daniel · Venus Flytrap Explains the Atom from WKRP in Cincinnati
Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Dramatic Special
- Winner James Goldstone · Kent State
Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series
- Winner Don Mischer · Kennedy Center Honors
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
- Winner Michael Kozoll, Steven Bochco · Hill Street Station from Hill Street Blues
- Nominee Anthony Yerkovich · Jungle Madness from Hill Street Blues
- Nominee Ronald M. Cohen, Barbara Corday · Pilot from American Dream
- Nominee Seth Freeman · Rape from Lou Grant
- Nominee April Smith · Strike from Lou Grant
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
- Winner Michael J. Leeson · Tony's Sister and Jim from Taxi
- Nominee Thad Mumford, Dan Wilcox, Burt Metcalfe, Mike Farrell · Death Takes a Holiday from M*A*S*H
- Nominee David Lloyd · Elaine's Strange Triangle from Taxi
- Nominee Glen Charles, Les Charles · Going Home from Taxi
- Nominee Stephen J. Cannell · Pilot from The Greatest American Hero
Outstanding Variety Special (Live)
- Winner Lily: Sold Out
- Nominee AFI Life Achievement Award
- Nominee The Benny Hill Show
- Nominee The Muppet Show
- Nominee The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Dramatic Special
- Winner Arthur Miller · Playing for Time
- Nominee Richard Friedenberg · Bitter Harvest
- Nominee Eric Bercovici · Part 5 from Shōgun
- Nominee Joel Oliansky · Part IV from Masada
- Nominee Michael Cristofer · The Shadow Box