8th Primetime Emmy Awards
The 8th Emmy Awards, later referred to as the 8th Primetime Emmy Awards, were held on March 17, 1956, to honor the best in television of the year. The ceremony was held at the Pan Pacific Auditorium in Hollywood, California and was hosted by Art Linkletter and John Charles Daly. All nominations are listed, with winners in bold and series' networks are in parentheses.
The top shows of the night were The Phil Silvers Show, and Producers' Showcase. Each show won a record four major awards. Producers' Showcase, with its twelve major nominations, became the first show to receive over ten major nominations..
Winners and nominees
Programs
Best Comedy Series | Best Dramatic Series |
| |
Best Variety Series | Best Audience Participation Series |
Best Action or Adventure Series | Best Children's Series |
Best Documentary Program | Best Special Event or News Program |
Best Music Series | Best Contribution to Daytime Programming |
Best Single Program of the Year | |
Acting
Lead performances
Supporting performances
Single performances
Directing
Producing
Writing
Best Specialty Act - Single or Group
Most major nominations
;By network; By program
- Producers' Showcase – 12
- The United States Steel Hour – 7
- Ford Star Jubilee / Make Room for Daddy – 6
- The Bob Cummings Show / The Phil Silvers Show – 5
- Caesar's Hour / Climax! – 4
- Alcoa-Goodyear Playhouse / Disneyland / The George Gobel Show / The Honeymooners / I Love Lucy / Kraft Television Theatre – 3
Most major awards
- CBS – 14
- NBC – 8
- ABC – 2
- The Phil Silvers Show / Producers' Showcase – 4
- Ford Star Jubilee – 3
- Disneyland - 2