The Emmy Awards are United States television production awards, similar to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment.

Three related but separate organizations present Emmy Awards:

the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences honors national prime time entertainment (excluding sports);
the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences recognizes daytime, sports, news and documentary programming; and
the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences honors programming originating outside the United States.
The best-known of the awards are the Primetime Awards (some of which are classified as "Creative Arts Emmys") and the Daytime Emmy Awards.

1 Primetime Emmys

Primetime Emmys
Primetime Emmys are awarded in the following categories:

Outstanding Comedy Series
Directing
Directing For A Comedy Series
Directing For A Drama Series
Directing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Program
Directing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special
Outstanding Drama Series
Individual Performance In A Variety Or Music Program
Acting
Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie
Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie
Outstanding Made For Television Movie
Outstanding Miniseries
Outstanding Reality Program
Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
Supporting Actor
Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie
Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Supporting Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie
Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series
Writing
Writing For A Comedy Series
Writing For A Drama Series
Writing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Program
Writing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special




Creative Arts Emmys
Creative Arts Emmy are awarded in the following categories:

Animation
Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less than One Hour)
Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour Or More)
Art direction
Art Direction For A Multi-Camera Series
Art Direction For a Single-Camera Series
Art Direction For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special
Art Direction For A Variety Or Music Program
Casting
Casting For A Comedy Series
Casting For A Drama Series
Casting For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special
Outstanding Choreography
Cinematography
Cinematography For A Multi-Camera Series
Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series
Cinematography For A Miniseries Or Movie
Cinematography For Nonfiction Programming
Outstanding Commercial
Costumes
Outstanding Costumes For A Series
Outstanding Costumes For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special
Directing for Nonfiction Programming
Picture Editing
Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series
Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Comedy Series
Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special
Multi-Camera Picture Editing For A Series
Multi-Camera Picture Editing For A Miniseries, Movie or A Special
Picture Editing For Nonfiction Programming
Hairstyling
Hairstyling For A Series
Hairstyling For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special
Outstanding Lighting Direction
Outstanding Main Title Design
Makeup
Makeup For A Series, Miniseries, Movie Or A Special (Prosthetic)
Makeup For A Series (Non-Prosthetic)
Makeup For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special (Non-Prosthetic)
Music
Music Composition For A Series
Music Composition For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special
Music Direction
Outstanding Music And Lyrics
Outstanding Main Title Theme Music
Guest Role
Guest Actor In A Comedy Series
Guest Actor In A Drama Series
Guest Actress In A Comedy Series
Guest Actress In A Drama Series
Outstanding Special Class Program

Nonfiction
Outstanding Nonfiction Special
Outstanding Nonfiction Series
Reality
Outstanding Reality Program
Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
Sound Editing
Sound Editing For A Series
Sound Editing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special
Sound Editing For Nonfiction Programming
Sound Mixing
Single-Camera Sound Mixing For A Series
Single-Camera Sound Mixing For A Miniseries Or A Movie
Multi-Camera Sound Mixing For A Series Or Special
Sound Mixing For A Variety Or Music Series Or Special
Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Programming
Visual Effects
Special Visual Effects For A Series
Special Visual Effects For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special
Stunt Coordination
Technical Direction
Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video For A Series
Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special
Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Special
Writing for Nonfiction Programming




Daytime Emmys
See Daytime Emmy Awards.


Regional Emmys
There are twenty regional divisions of the National Academy which hand out their own awards, with the ATA&S serving the Los Angeles, California area). These awards are less glamourous and sometimes technical: a 2003 Suncoast Emmy Award, given for productions in Florida and parts of Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana, was awarded for spot coverage of a dump truck chase.


International Emmys
The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences hands out awards which honor the best of non-US television.

Identifying these recipients can take months, with judging taking place at various international TV festivals. The best two programs from a particular genre in four regions are selected to go to a semifinal round, from which the nominees are derived. Every nominee is screened at a festival in New York the day before the awards ceremony.


Other Emmys
Awards are also handed out for:

National TV newscasts and documentaries
Sports programs and coverage
Business and financial reporting
Technology & Engineering
Public Service (for public service announcements and whenever TV programs "advance the common good")

History
The first Emmy Awards were presented on January 25, 1949 at the Hollywood Athletic Club. The name "Emmy" was a feminization of "immy", a nickname used for the image orthicon tubes that were common in early television cameras.