56th Primetime Emmy Awards

{{Short description|2004 American television programming awards}}

{{Infobox award

| name = 56th Primetime Emmy Awards

| image = 56th Prime Time Emmy Awards (2004).jpg

| caption = Title card

| date = {{unbulleted list

| September 19, 2004
{{small|(Ceremony)}}

| September 12, 2004
{{small|(Creative Arts Awards)}}

}}

| location = Shrine Auditorium,
Los Angeles, California

| presenter = Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

| host = Garry Shandling

| network = ABC

| producer = Don Mischer

| director = Louis J. Horvitz

| most_awards = {{unbulleted list

| Major: Angels in America (7)

| All: Angels in America (11)}}

| most_nominations = The Sopranos (12)

| award1_type = Outstanding Comedy Series

| award1_winner = Arrested Development

| award2_type = Outstanding Drama Series

| award2_winner = The Sopranos

| award3_type = Outstanding Miniseries

| award3_winner = Angels in America

| award4_type = Outstanding Reality-Competition Program

| award4_winner = The Amazing Race

| award5_type = Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series

| award5_winner = The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

| previous = 55th

| main = {{nowrap|Primetime Emmy Awards}}

| next = 57th

}}

The 56th Primetime Emmy Awards were held on Sunday, September 19, 2004. The ceremony was hosted by Garry Shandling and was broadcast on ABC.

The HBO miniseries Angels in America had the most successful night. It became the first program to sweep every major category, going 7/7, in Emmy history, until 2020 when Schitt’s Creek repeated the feat. Along with Schitt’s Creek, Caesar's Hour in 1957 and The Crown in 2021, it is one of only four programs to win all four main acting categories.

Upstart comedy series Arrested Development won Outstanding Comedy Series (being the second time Fox won that specific award) and two other major awards overall. Its pilot became the twelfth episode to accomplish the directing/writing double.

After years of winning everything but the top prize, The Sopranos finally took home the crown for Outstanding Drama Series, not only knocking off four-time defending champion The West Wing but by being the first cable show, HBO, ever to beat any of the Big Four television networks for that award. It led all dramas with twelve major nominations and four major wins. One of those wins was for Drea de Matteo for Drama Supporting Actress and, too, was the first time that award went to a cable network. Furthermore, the cable network also won for the first times in the Comedy Lead Actress and Comedy Supporting Actress categories (Sarah Jessica Parker and Cynthia Nixon respectively for Sex and the City).

Entering its final ceremony, five-time series champion Frasier needed five major wins to tie The Mary Tyler Moore Show{{'}}s record of 27 major wins. Because it was only nominated in three major categories, breaking the record was not possible. Though it did not tie the record, Frasier finished its Emmy career on a high note, winning two major awards, the most it had won since 1998. Its 25 major wins put it at second of all time. When adding its wins in technical categories, its total rises to 37, the most for any comedy series.

Winners and nominees

Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold:[http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2004 Emmys.com list of 2004 Nominees & Winners]

File:Kelsey Grammer May 2010 (cropped).jpg, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series winner]]

File:Sarah Jessica Parker at Miami Rhapsody 30th Anniversary Celebration.jpg, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series winner]]

File:The Blacklist - James Spader (cropped).jpg, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series winner]]

File:Allison-Janney in 2014.jpg, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series winner]]

File:Al Pacino.jpg, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie winner]]

File:Meryl Streep from "Florence Foster Jenkins" at Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival 2016 (33644504135) (cropped).jpg, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie winner]]

File:David Hyde Pierce outside Harold Pinter Theatre.jpg, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series winner]]

File:Cynthia Nixon at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.jpg, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series winner]]

File:Chris Moltisanti.jpg, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series winner]]

File:Drea de Matteo 2.jpg, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series winner]]

File:Jeffrey Wright by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie winner]]

File:Mary-Louise Parker by Gage Skidmore.jpg, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie winner]]

File:Elaine Stritch 2009.jpg, Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program winner]]

=Programs=

class="wikitable"

|+ {{sronly|Programs}}

style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Comedy Series}}

| style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Drama Series}}

style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Made for Television Movie}}
  • Something the Lord Made (HBO)
  • And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself (HBO)
  • Ike: Countdown to D-Day (A&E)
  • The Lion in Winter (Showtime)
  • The Reagans (Showtime)
  • | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Miniseries}}

    style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series}}
  • The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
  • Chappelle's Show (Comedy Central)
  • Late Night with Conan O'Brien (NBC)
  • Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)
  • Saturday Night Live (NBC)
  • | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Reality-Competition Program}}

    =Acting=

    ==Lead performances==

    class="wikitable"

    |+ {{sronly|Lead performances}}

    style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series}}

    | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series}}

    style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series}}
  • James SpaderThe Practice as Alan Shore (ABC)
  • James GandolfiniThe Sopranos as Tony Soprano (HBO)
  • Anthony LaPagliaWithout a Trace as Jack Malone (CBS)
  • Martin SheenThe West Wing as President Jed Bartlet (NBC)
  • Kiefer Sutherland24 as Jack Bauer (Fox)
  • | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series}}

    style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie}}
  • Al PacinoAngels in America as Roy Cohn (HBO)
  • Antonio BanderasAnd Starring Pancho Villa as Himself as Pancho Villa (HBO)
  • James BrolinThe Reagans as President Ronald Reagan (Showtime)
  • Mos DefSomething the Lord Made as Vivien Thomas (HBO)
  • Alan RickmanSomething the Lord Made as Alfred Blalock (HBO)
  • | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie}}

    style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" colspan="2" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program}}
  • Elaine StritchElaine Stritch: At Liberty (HBO)
  • Billy Crystal76th Annual Academy Awards (ABC)
  • Ellen DeGeneresEllen DeGeneres: Here and Now (HBO)
  • Bill MaherReal Time with Bill Maher (HBO)
  • Tracey UllmanTracey Ullman in The Trailer Tales (HBO)
  • ==Supporting performances==

    class="wikitable"

    |+ {{sronly|Supporting performances}}

    style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series}}

    | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series}}

    style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series}}
  • Michael ImperioliThe Sopranos as Christopher Moltisanti (HBO)
  • Steve BuscemiThe Sopranos as Tony Blundetto (HBO)
  • Brad DourifDeadwood as Doc Cochran (HBO)
  • Victor GarberAlias as Jack Bristow (ABC)
  • John SpencerThe West Wing as Leo McGarry (NBC)
  • | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series}}

    style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie}}
  • Jeffrey WrightAngels in America as Mr. Lies / Norman "Belize" Ariaga / Homeless Man / the Angel Europa (HBO)
  • Justin KirkAngels in America as Prior Walter / Leatherman in Park (HBO)
  • William H. MacyStealing Sinatra as John Irwin (Showtime)
  • Ben ShenkmanAngels in America as Louis Ironson / the Angel Oceania (HBO)
  • Patrick WilsonAngels in America as Joe Pitt / the Antarctic Eskimo / Mormon Father (HBO)
  • | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie}}

    =Directing=

    class="wikitable"

    |+ {{sronly|Directing}}

    style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series}}

    | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series}}

    style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program}}
  • 76th Annual Academy AwardsLouis J. Horvitz (ABC)
  • Bill Maher: Victory Begins at HomeJohn Moffitt (HBO)
  • Chappelle's ShowNeal Brennan, Andre Allen, and Scott Vincent (Comedy Central)
  • The Daily Show with Jon Stewart – Chuck O'Neil (Comedy Central)
  • Elaine Stritch: At LibertyAndy Picheta, Nick Doob, Chris Hegedus, and D. A. Pennebaker (HBO)
  • Late Show with David LettermanJerry Foley (CBS)
  • | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special}}

    =Writing=

    class="wikitable"

    |+ {{sronly|Writing}}

    style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series}}

    | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series}}

    style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program}}
  • The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
  • Chappelle's Show (Comedy Central)
  • Chris Rock: Never Scared (HBO)
  • Late Night with Conan O'Brien (NBC)
  • Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)
  • | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | {{Award category|#EEDD82|Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special}}

    Most major nominations

    class="wikitable"

    |+Networks with multiple major nominations"Major" constitutes the categories listed above: Program, Acting, Directing, and Writing. Does not include the technical categories.

    Networks

    ! No. of
    Nominations

    style="text-align:center"

    | HBO

    | 56

    style="text-align:center"

    | NBC

    | 33

    style="text-align:center"

    | CBS

    | 19

    style="text-align:center"

    | ABC

    | 12

    class="wikitable"

    |+Programs with multiple major nominations

    Program

    ! Category

    ! Network

    ! No. of
    Nominations

    style="text-align:center"

    | The Sopranos

    | Drama

    | rowspan="3"|HBO

    | 12

    style="text-align:center"

    | Angels in America

    | Miniseries

    | 11

    style="text-align:center"

    | Sex and the City

    | Comedy

    | 8

    style="text-align:center"

    | The West Wing

    | Drama

    | NBC

    | 6

    style="text-align:center"

    | Curb Your Enthusiasm

    | rowspan="2"|Comedy

    | HBO

    | rowspan="3"|5

    style="text-align:center"

    | Everybody Loves Raymond

    | CBS

    style="text-align:center"

    | Something the Lord Made

    | Movie

    | HBO

    style="text-align:center"

    | Arrested Development

    | Comedy

    | Fox

    | rowspan="3"|4

    style="text-align:center"

    | Deadwood

    | Drama

    | HBO

    style="text-align:center"

    | The Reagans

    | rowspan="2"|Movie

    | Showtime

    style="text-align:center"

    | And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself

    | HBO

    | rowspan="8"|3

    style="text-align:center"

    | Chappelle's Show

    | rowspan="2"|Variety

    | rowspan="2"|Comedy Central

    style="text-align:center"

    | The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

    style="text-align:center"

    | Frasier

    | Comedy

    | NBC

    style="text-align:center"

    | Late Show with David Letterman

    | Variety

    | CBS

    style="text-align:center"

    | The Lion in Winter

    | Movie

    | Showtime

    style="text-align:center"

    | Prime Suspect VI: The Last Witness

    | Miniseries

    | PBS

    style="text-align:center"

    | Will & Grace

    | Comedy

    | NBC

    style="text-align:center"

    | 24

    | Drama

    | Fox

    | rowspan="9"|2

    style="text-align:center"

    | The 76th Annual Academy Awards

    | Variety

    | rowspan="2"|ABC

    style="text-align:center"

    | Alias

    | Drama

    style="text-align:center"

    | Elaine Stritch: At Liberty

    | Variety

    | HBO

    style="text-align:center"

    | Friends

    | Comedy

    | NBC

    style="text-align:center"

    | Ike: Countdown to D-Day

    | rowspan="2"|Movie

    | A&E

    style="text-align:center"

    | Iron Jawed Angels

    | HBO

    style="text-align:center"

    | Joan of Arcadia

    | Drama

    | CBS

    style="text-align:center"

    | Late Night with Conan O'Brien

    | Variety

    | NBC

    Most major awards

    class="wikitable"

    |+Networks with multiple major awards"Major" constitutes the categories listed above: Program, Acting, Directing, and Writing. Does not include the technical categories.

    Network

    ! No. of
    Awards

    style="text-align:center"

    | HBO

    | 16

    style="text-align:center"

    | Fox

    | rowspan="2"|3

    style="text-align:center"

    | NBC

    style="text-align:center"

    | ABC

    | rowspan="2"|2

    style="text-align:center"

    | Comedy Central

    class="wikitable"

    |+Programs with multiple major awards

    Program

    ! Category

    ! Network

    ! No. of
    Awards

    style="text-align:center"

    | Angels in America

    | Miniseries

    | rowspan="2"|HBO

    | 7

    style="text-align:center"

    | The Sopranos

    | Drama

    | 4

    style="text-align:center"

    | Arrested Development

    | Comedy

    | Fox

    | 3

    style="text-align:center"

    | The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

    | Variety

    | Comedy Central

    | rowspan="3"|2

    style="text-align:center"

    | Frasier

    | rowspan="2"|Comedy

    | NBC

    style="text-align:center"

    | Sex and the City

    | HBO

    ;Notes

    {{reflist|group="note"}}

    Presenters

    The awards were presented by the following people:{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalhit.com/emmy/56/|title=56th Primetime Emmy Awards|website=DigitalHit|access-date=March 30, 2023}}

    class="wikitable"
    Presenter(s)Role(s)
    Sarah Jessica Parker
    Chris Noth
    Presented the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
    Heather Locklear
    Blair Underwood
    Presented the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
    Simon Cowell
    Donald Trump
    Presented the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    Laura Linney
    John Turturro
    Presented the award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
    Jim Belushi
    Teri Hatcher
    Presented the award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
    Amber Tamblyn
    Zach Braff
    Presented the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
    Mischa Barton
    Adam Brody
    Ben McKenzie
    Presented the award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
    Debra Messing
    Eric McCormack
    Presented the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie
    Jimmy Kimmel
    Ty Pennington
    Presented the award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
    Jon StewartPresented the award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
    Mos Def
    Tony Shalhoub
    Presented the award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
    Sharon Stone
    William Shatner
    Presented the award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
    William Petersen
    Dennis Franz
    Presented the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
    George LopezPresented the award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
    Kathryn Morris
    Anthony LaPaglia
    Presented the award for Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special
    Amy Jo Scholsohn and Bruce Milam JrPresented the award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
    Joely Richardson
    Kiefer Sutherland
    Presented the award for Outstanding Made for Television Movie
    Edie Falco
    James Gandolfini
    Presented the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie
    Anjelica Huston
    James Spader
    Presented the award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special
    Victor Garber
    Taye Diggs
    Presented the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
    Jon Cryer
    Charlie Sheen
    Presented the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
    Conan O'BrienPresented the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
    Gary Sinise
    Melina Kanakeredes
    Presented the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
    Treat Williams
    William H. Macy
    Presented the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
    Barbara WaltersPresented the award for Outstanding Miniseries
    Ellen DeGeneresPresented the award for Outstanding Comedy Series
    Glenn ClosePresented the award for Outstanding Drama Series

    In Memoriam

    References

    {{reflist}}