32nd Primetime Emmy Awards


The 32nd Primetime Emmy Awards were held on Sunday, September 7, 1980, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The awards show was hosted by Steve Allen and Dick Clark and broadcast on NBC. For the second year in a row, the top series awards went to the same shows, Taxi and Lou Grant. Lou Grant was the most successful show of the night winning five major awards. It also received 14 major nominations, tying the record for most major nominations by a drama series, set by Playhouse 90 in 1959.
The ceremony was held in the midst of a strike by members of the Screen Actors Guild; in a show of support for their union, 51 of the 52 nominated performers boycotted the event. Powers Boothe was the only nominated actor to attend; acknowledging his presence in his acceptance speech, he remarked, "This is either the most courageous moment of my career or the stupidest."

Winners and nominees

Programs

Outstanding Comedy SeriesOutstanding Drama Series

  • Taxi,
  • * Barney Miller,
  • * M*A*S*H,
  • * Soap,
  • * WKRP in Cincinnati,
  • Lou Grant,
  • * Dallas,
  • * Family,
  • * The Rockford Files,
  • * The White Shadow,
    • Outstanding Variety or Music ProgramOutstanding Drama or Comedy Special
  • Baryshnikov on Broadway,
  • * The Benny Hill Show,
  • * Goldie and Liza Together,
  • * The Muppet Show,
  • * Shirley MacLaine... 'Every Little Movement',
  • The Miracle Worker,
  • * Amber Waves,
  • * ',
  • * Hallmark Hall of Fame,,
  • * Hallmark Hall of Fame,,
    • Outstanding Limited Series
  • Edward & Mrs. Simpson, '
  • * Disraeli: Portrait of a Romantic,
  • * The Duchess of Duke Street,
  • * The Scarlett O'Hara War, The Silent Lovers, This Year's Blonde'',

    • Acting

    Lead performances

    Supporting performances

    Directing

    Writing

    Most major nominations

    ;By network
    ; By program
    ;By network
    ; By program
    ;Notes