American Comedy Awards

Infobox award
name = American Comedy Awards
current_awards =


imagesize =
caption =
description = All forms of comedy
presenter = 1987-2000: American Broadcasting Company 2001: Comedy Central
country = USA
location =
year = 1987
year2 = 2001
website = The American Comedy Awards were a group of awards presented annually in the United States from 1987 to 2001 recognizing performances and performers in the field of comedy, with an emphasis on television comedy and comedy films. They began in 1987 and for all but one year were sponsored by the ABC television network, who initially billed them as the "first awards show to honor all forms of comedy."cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE6D7133CF932A15756C0A961948260 |title=Bette Midler Wins 4 Comedy Awards |publisher=The New York Times |accessdate=2008-09-10]

History

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. [ [http://www.meltzerpr.com/things_done.html Some Interesting & Creative Things We've Done] from the website of the public relations firm of Barbara Meltzer & Associates]

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.cite web | author= | title=American Comedy Awards, USA | url=http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/American_Comedy_Awards_USA/ | work=The Internet Movie Database | date=2008 | accessdate=2008-09-10]

Awards and nominations

1987: 1st annual awards

The first awards were held in May 1987. ABC determined the nominees through letters sent to "about 1,600 performers, producers, directors, writers, talent bookers and entertainment industry executives." Bette Midler won four awards, for female performer of the year, for her role in "Ruthless People", for her album "Mud Will Be Flung Tonight", and a fourth for "lifetime achievement"; Woody Allen was also recognized for "lifetime achievement" and won competitive awards in the categories of "funniest male comic" and "best male comedian in film" for "Hannah and Her Sisters".

In addition to Midler and Allen, eight others received lifetime achievement awards: Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Mary Tyler Moore, Lily Tomlin, Sid Caesar, Steve Allen, Mel Brooks, and Jonathan Winters. A "Lifetime Creative Achievement" award was given to Norman Lear.

2001: 15th annual awards

The 2001 Awards were held in April 2001. [cite web | author= | title=The 15th Annual American Comedy Awards | url=http://www.comedyontap.com/features/ama.html | work=Comedy On Tap | date=2001 | accessdate=2008-05-19]

Television

;Funniest Female Performer In A Television Series (Leading Role)
Jane Kaczmarek – "Malcolm in the Middle"
*Debra Messing – "Will & Grace"
*Sarah Jessica Parker – "Sex and The City"

;Funniest Male Performer In A Television Series (Leading Role)
David Letterman – "The Late Show with David Letterman"
*Kelsey Grammer – "Frasier"
*Ray Romano – "Everybody Loves Raymond"

;Funniest Supporting Female In A Television Series
Megan Mullally – "Will & Grace"
*Jennifer Aniston – "Friends"
*Lisa Kudrow – "Friends"

;Funniest Supporting Male In A Television Series
Sean Hayes – "Will & Grace"
*Will Ferrell – "Saturday Night Live"
*Robert Downey Jr. – "Ally McBeal"
*David Hyde Pierce – "Frasier"

;Funniest Female Performer In A Television Special
Ellen DeGeneres – ""
*Judi Dench – "The Last of the Blonde Bombshells"
*Sarah Jessica Parker – "MTV Movie Awards 2000"

;Funniest Male Performer In A Television Special
Will Ferrell – "Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash 2000"
*Billy Crystal – "72nd Academy Awards"
*Garry Shandling – "52nd Primetime Emmy Awards"
*Jon Stewart –

;Funniest Female Guest Appearance In A Television Series
Bea Arthur – "Malcolm in the Middle"
*Julia Louis-Dreyfus – "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
*Jean Smart – "Frasier"
*Reese Witherspoon – "Friends"

;Funniest Male Guest Appearance In A Television Series
Christopher Walken – "Saturday Night Live"
*Gregory Hines – "Will & Grace"
*Dana Carvey – "Saturday Night Live"
*Bruce Willis – "Friends"

;Funniest Television Series"Everybody Loves Raymond"
*"Sex and The City"
*"Will & Grace"

;Funniest Animated Television Series"The Simpsons"
*"King of the Hill"
*"South Park"

Film

;Funniest Actress In A Motion Picture (Leading Role)
Sandra Bullock – "Miss Congeniality"
*Rob Schneider – "The Hot Chick"
*Renee Zellweger – "Nurse Betty"

;Funniest Actor In A Motion Picture (Leading Role)
Ben Stiller – "Meet The Parents"
*John Cusack – "High Fidelity"
*Robert DeNiro – "Meet The Parents"
*George Clooney – "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"

;Funniest Supporting Actress In A Motion Picture
Catherine O'Hara – "Best In Show"
*Frances McDormand – "Almost Famous"
*Kate Hudson – "Almost Famous"

;Funniest Supporting Actor In A Motion Picture
Fred Willard – "Best In Show"
*Christopher Guest – "Best In Show"
*Rob Schneider – "The Animal"

;Funniest Motion Picture"Best in Show"
*"Almost Famous"
*"Meet The Parents"

Stand-Up

;Viewers' Choice Stand-Up Comic Award - Female
Wanda Sykes
*Sue Murphy
*Judy Gold

;Viewers' Choice Stand-Up Comic Award - Male
Lewis Black
*Dave Attell
*Dom Irrera

Lifetime Achievement

;Lifetime Achievement Award
*George Carlin
*Adam Sandler

ee also

*Mark Twain Prize for American Humor
*BBC New Comedy Awards
*Robert Benchley Society Award for Humor

References