American Comedy Awards
| American Comedy Awards | |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | Outstanding comedy in film, television and stage |
| Country | United States |
| Presented by |
ABC (1987–97) Fox (1998–2000) Comedy Central (2001) NBC (2014) |
| First awarded | 1987 |
The American Comedy Awards are a group of awards presented annually in the United States recognizing performances and performers in the field of comedy, with an emphasis on television comedy and comedy films. They began in 1987, billed as the "first awards show to honor all forms of comedy."[1] In 1989, after the death of Lucille Ball, the statue was named "the Lucy" to honor the comic legend.
In 2001, the last edition for 13 years was presented on Comedy Central. NBC revived the awards in May 2014.[2]
History
George Schlatter created and produced the American Comedy Awards that first aired on ABC, then on Comedy Central. Only the title was similar. It was a TV special honoring comedians. ABC had broadcast a similar awards program for two years in the 1970s; it was called the "American Academy of Humor" and was "founded" by Alan King.[1][3]
The last ACA ceremony in 2001 was held under the auspices of the cable network, Comedy Central; in 2003 that network replaced them with its own Commie Awards in what turned out to be a one-time replacement.[4] In 2011 Comedy Central created a new annual awards show, The Comedy Awards, which first aired on April 10, 2011.
1987 Awards
| Category | Winner | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Woody Allen | Hannah and Her Sisters |
| Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Bette Midler | Ruthless People |
| Funniest Newcomer – Male or Female | Woody Harrelson | Cheers |
| Funniest Female Stand-Up Comic | Lily Tomlin | |
| Funniest Female Performer of the Year | Bette Midler | |
| Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic | Robin Williams | |
| Funniest Male Performer of the Year | Robin Williams | |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | Johnny Carson | The Tonight Show |
| Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | Betty White | The Golden Girls |
| Funniest Television Star in a Special – Male or Female | Robin Williams | Robin Williams: An Evening at the Met |
Creative Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
1988 awards
| Category | Winner | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Robin Williams | Good Morning, Vietnam |
| Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Bette Midler | Outrageous Fortune |
| Funniest Female Stand-Up Comic | Lily Tomlin | |
| Funniest Female Performer of the Year | Tracey Ullman | |
| Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic | Robin Williams | |
| Comedy Club Stand-Up Comic – Female | Judy Tenuta | |
| Funniest Male Performer of the Year | Robin Williams | |
| Comedy Club Stand-Up Comic – Male | Jerry Seinfeld | |
| Funniest Supporting Male Performer – Motion Picture or TV | Albert Brooks | Broadcast News |
| Funniest Female Performer in a TV Special – Network, Cable or Syndication | Roseanne Barr | On Location: The Roseanne Barr Show |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Special – Network, Cable or Syndication | Robin Williams | Comic Relief '87 |
| Funniest Supporting Female Performer – Motion Picture or TV | Olympia Dukakis | Moonstruck |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | Garry Shandling | It's Garry Shandling's Show |
| Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | Tracey Ullman | The Tracey Ullman Show |
Creative Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
1989 awards
| Category | Winner | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Tom Hanks | Big |
| Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Bette Midler | Big Business |
| Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture | Arsenio Hall | Coming to America |
| Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | Joan Cusack | Working Girl |
| Funniest Female Stand-Up Comic | Roseanne Barr | |
| Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic | Robin Williams | |
| Comedy Club Stand-Up Comic – Female | Paula Poundstone | |
| Comedy Club Stand-Up Comic – Male | Bobby Slayton | |
| Funniest Female Performer in a TV Special – Network, Cable or Syndication | Tracey Ullman | Tracey Ullman: Backstage |
| Funniest Supporting Male Performer in a TV Series | Dana Carvey | Saturday Night Live |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Special – Network, Cable or Syndication | David Letterman | Late Show with David Letterman: 6th Anniversary Special |
| Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series | Rhea Perlman | Cheers |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | John Goodman | Roseanne |
| Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | Roseanne Barr | Roseanne |
Creative Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
1990 awards
Creative Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
1991 awards
| Category | Winner | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Macaulay Culkin | Home Alone |
| Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Meryl Streep | Postcards from the Edge |
| Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture | Al Pacino | Dick Tracy |
| Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | Whoopi Goldberg | Ghost |
| Funniest Female Stand-Up Comic | Ellen DeGeneres | |
| Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic | Dennis Wolfberg | |
| Funniest Female Performer in a TV Special – Network, Cable or Syndication | Lily Tomlin | An Evening With... Friends of the Environment |
| Funniest Supporting Male Performer in a TV Series | Dana Carvey | Saturday Night Live |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Special – Network, Cable or Syndication | Jonathan Winters | Jonathan Winters and His Traveling Road Show |
| Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series | Estelle Getty | The Golden Girls |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | Ted Danson | Cheers |
| Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | Tracey Ullman | The Tracey Ullman Show |
Creative Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
1992 awards
| Category | Winner | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Billy Crystal | City Slickers |
| Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Lily Tomlin | The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe |
| Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture | Jack Palance | |
| Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | Mercedes Ruehl | The Fisher King |
| Funniest Female Stand-Up Comic | Cathy Ladman | |
| Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic | Bill Engvall | |
| Funniest Female Performer in a TV Special – Network, Cable or Syndication | Tracey Ullman | Funny Women of Television |
| Funniest Supporting Male Performer in a TV Series | Jason Alexander | Seinfeld |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Special – Network, Cable or Syndication | Billy Crystal | The 63rd Annual Academy Awards |
| Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series | Estelle Getty | The Golden Girls |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | Jerry Seinfeld | Seinfeld |
| Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | Candice Bergen | Murphy Brown |
Creative Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
1993 awards
| Category | Winner | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Joe Pesci | My Cousin Vinny |
| Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Whoopi Goldberg | Sister Act |
| Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture | Tom Hanks | A League of Their Own |
| Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | Kathy Najimy | Sister Act |
| Funniest Female Stand-Up Comic | Pam Stone | |
| Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic | Richard Jeni | |
| Funniest Female Performer in a TV Special – Network, Cable or Syndication | Bette Midler | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: 2nd to Last Tonight Show |
| Funniest Supporting Male Performer in a TV Series | Jason Alexander | Seinfeld |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Special – Network, Cable or Syndication | Billy Crystal | The 64th Annual Academy Awards |
| Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series | Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Seinfeld |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | Jerry Seinfeld | Seinfeld |
| Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | Roseanne Barr | Roseanne |
Creative Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
1994 awards
| Category | Winner | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Robin Williams | Mrs. Doubtfire |
| Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Meg Ryan | Sleepless in Seattle |
| Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture | Charles Grodin | Dave |
| Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | Lily Tomlin | Short Cuts |
| Funniest Female Stand-Up Comic | Margaret Cho | |
| Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic | Carrot Top | |
| Funniest Female Performer in a TV Special – Network, Cable or Syndication | Tracey Ullman | Tracey Takes on New York |
| Funniest Supporting Male Performer in a TV Series | Rip Torn | The Larry Sanders Show |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Special – Network, Cable or Syndication | Billy Crystal | The 65th Annual Academy Awards |
| Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series | Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Seinfeld |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | David Letterman | Late Show with David Letterman |
| Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | Helen Hunt | Mad About You |
Creative Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
1995 awards
| Category | Winner | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Tom Hanks | Forrest Gump |
| Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Jamie Lee Curtis | True Lies |
| Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture | Martin Landau | Ed Wood |
| Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | Dianne Wiest | Bullets Over Broadway |
| Funniest Female Stand-Up Comic | Margaret Smith | |
| Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic | George Wallace | |
| Funniest Female Performer in a TV Special – Network, Cable or Syndication | Ellen DeGeneres | The 46th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards |
| Funniest Supporting Male Performer in a TV Series | David Hyde Pierce | Frasier |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Special – Network, Cable or Syndication | David Letterman | Late Show with David Letterman: Video Special |
| Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series | Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Seinfeld |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | Kelsey Grammer | Frasier |
| Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | Helen Hunt | Mad About You |
Creative Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
1996 awards
Creative Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
1997 awards
| Category | Winner | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Nathan Lane | The Birdcage |
| Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Frances McDormand | Fargo |
| Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture | Cuba Gooding Jr. | Jerry Maguire |
| Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | Dianne Wiest | The Birdcage |
| Funniest Female Stand-Up Comic | Wendy Liebman | |
| Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic | Craig Shoemaker | |
| Funniest Female Performer in a TV Special – Network, Cable or Syndication | Kathy Bates | The Late Shift |
| Funniest Supporting Male Performer in a TV Series | David Hyde Pierce | Frasier |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Special – Network, Cable or Syndication | George Carlin | George Carlin Back in Town |
| Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series | Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Seinfeld |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | John Lithgow | 3rd Rock from the Sun |
| Funniest Female Guest Appearance in a TV Series | Carol Burnett | Mad About You |
| Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | Rosie O'Donnell | The Rosie O'Donnell Show |
| Funniest Male Guest Appearance in a TV Series | Mel Brooks | Mad About You |
Creative Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
1998 awards
| Category | Winner | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Jack Nicholson | As Good as It Gets |
| Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Helen Hunt | As Good as It Gets |
| Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture | Rupert Everett | My Best Friend's Wedding |
| Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | Joan Cusack | In & Out |
| Funniest Female Stand-Up Comic | Mary Ellen Hooper | |
| Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic | Jeff Dunham | |
| Funniest Female Performer in a TV Special – Network, Cable or Syndication | Bette Midler | Bette Midler in Concert: Diva Las Vegas |
| Funniest Supporting Male Performer in a TV Series | David Hyde Pierce | Frasier |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Special – Network, Cable or Syndication | George Carlin | George Carlin: 40 Years of Comedy |
| Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series | Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Seinfeld |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | Garry Shandling | The Larry Sanders Show |
| Funniest Female Guest Appearance in a TV Series | Carol Burnett | Mad About You |
| Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | Tracey Ullman | Tracey Takes On... |
| Funniest Male Guest Appearance in a TV Series | Jerry Stiller | Seinfeld |
Creative Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
1999 awards
Creative Achievement Award
2000 Awards
| Category | Winner(s) | Work | Nominees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Mike Myers | Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me | Jim Carrey – Man on the Moon Robert De Niro – Analyze This Kevin Spacey – American Beauty |
| Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Annette Bening | American Beauty | Drew Barrymore – Never Been Kissed Janeane Garofalo – Mystery Men Reese Witherspoon – Election |
| Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture | John Malkovich | Being John Malkovich | Eugene Levy – American Pie William H. Macy – Happy, Texas |
| Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | Joan Cusack | Runaway Bride | Cameron Diaz – Being John Malkovich Lisa Kudrow – Analyze This |
| Funniest Motion Picture | Analyze This | American Beauty Being John Malkovich | |
| Funniest Female Performer in a TV Special – Network, Cable or Syndication | Kathy Bates | Annie | Whoopi Goldberg – The 71st Annual Academy Awards Lisa Kudrow – 1999 MTV Movie Awards |
| Funniest Supporting Male Performer in a TV Series | David Hyde Pierce | Frasier | Peter Boyle – Everybody Loves Raymond Sean Hayes – Will & Grace |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Special – Network, Cable or Syndication | Chris Rock | Chris Rock: Bigger & Blacker | Billy Crystal – Saturday Night Live 25 Bill Murray – Saturday Night Live 25 David Hyde Pierce – The 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards |
| Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series | Lisa Kudrow | Friends | Megan Mullally – Will & Grace Doris Roberts – Everybody Loves Raymond |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | Ray Romano | Everybody Loves Raymond | Michael J. Fox – Spin City Chris Rock – The Chris Rock Show |
| Funniest Female Guest Appearance in a TV Series | Betty White | Ally McBeal | Christine Baranski – Frasier Bebe Neuwirth – Frasier Tracey Ullman – Ally McBeal |
| Funniest Television Series | Frasier | Everybody Loves Raymond Will & Grace | |
| Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) – Network, Cable or Syndication | Tracey Ullman | Tracey Takes On... | Debra Messing – Will & Grace Sarah Jessica Parker – Sex and the City |
| Funniest Male Guest Appearance in a TV Series | Mel Brooks | Mad About You | Hank Azaria – Mad About You Tim Conway – Mad About You |
Lifetime Achievement Award
2001 awards
Lifetime Achievement Award
2014 awards
See also
- The Comedy Awards
- Mark Twain Prize for American Humor
- BBC Radio New Comedy Awards
- Robert Benchley Society Award for Humor
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Bette Midler Wins 4 Comedy Awards". The New York Times. 1987-05-21. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
- ↑ "NBC Revives American Comedy Awards (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. October 23, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
- ↑ Some Interesting & Creative Things We've Done from the website of the public relations firm of Barbara Meltzer & Associates
- ↑ "American Comedy Awards, USA". The Internet Movie Database. 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-10.