| class="wikitable" style="width:100%" |
| bgcolor="#bebebe"
! width="5%" | Year
! width="50%" | Program
! width="40%" | Nominees
! width="5%" | Network |
rowspan="4" align=center|1971
[{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1971/outstanding-directing-for-a-variety-series|title=Nominees/Winners|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|access-date=June 30, 2017}}] |
| style="background:#FAEB86;"
| Peggy Fleming at Sun Valley
| Sterling Johnson
| NBC |
| The Anatomy of a Symphony Orchestra (New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts)
| Roger Englander
| CBS |
| George M!
| Martin Charnin and Walter C. Miller
| NBC |
rowspan="4" align=center|1972
[{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1972/outstanding-directing-for-a-variety-series|title=Nominees/Winners|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|access-date=June 30, 2017}}] |
| style="background:#FAEB86;"
| Jack Lemmon in 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin
| Martin Charnin and Walter C. Miller
| NBC |
| Julie and Carol at Lincoln Center
| Dave Powers
| rowspan=2|CBS |
| Liszt and the Devil (New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts)
| Roger Englander |
rowspan="6" align=center|1973
[{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1973/outstanding-directing-for-a-variety-series|title=Nominees/Winners|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|access-date=June 30, 2017}}] |
| style="background:#FAEB86;"
| Liza with a Z
| Bob Fosse
| NBC |
| Duke Ellington... We Love You Madly
| Stan Harris
| CBS |
| Jack Lemmon: Get Happy
| Martin Charnin and Dave Wilson
| NBC |
| Once Upon a Mattress
| Ron Field and Dave Powers
| CBS |
| You're a Good Man Charlie Brown (Hallmark Hall of Fame)
| Walter C. Miller
| NBC |
rowspan="5" align=center|1974
[{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1974/outstanding-directing-for-a-variety-series|title=Nominees/Winners|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|access-date=June 30, 2017}}] |
| style="background:#FAEB86;"
| Barbra Streisand...and Other Musical Instruments
| Dwight Hemion
| CBS |
| Magnavox Presents Frank Sinatra
| Marty Pasetta
| NBC |
| Mitzi... A Tribute to the American Housewife
| Tony Charmoli
| CBS |
| Peggy Fleming Visits the Soviet Union
| Sterling Johnson
| NBC |
rowspan="4" align=center|1975
[{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1975/outstanding-directing-for-a-variety-special|title=Nominees/Winners|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|access-date=June 30, 2017}}] |
| style="background:#FAEB86;"
| An Evening with John Denver
| Bill Davis
| ABC |
| Ann-Margret Olsson
| Dwight Hemion
| NBC |
| Shirley MacLaine: If They Could See Me Now
| Tony Charmoli
| ABC |
rowspan="4" align=center|1976
[{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1976/outstanding-directing-for-a-variety-special|title=Nominees/Winners|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|access-date=June 30, 2017}}] |
| style="background:#FAEB86;"
| Steve and Eydie: "Out Love Is Here to Stay"
| Dwight Hemion
| CBS |
| John Denver: Rocky Mountain Christmas
| Bill Davis
| ABC |
| Mitzi... Roarin' in the 20's"
| Tony Charmoli
| CBS |
| rowspan=9 style="text-align:center" | 1977
! colspan="4"| Outstanding Directing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special[{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1977/outstanding-directing-for-a-variety-special|title=Nominees/Winners|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|access-date=June 30, 2017}}] |
| style="background:#FAEB86;"
| America Salutes Richard Rodgers: The Sound of His Music
| Dwight Hemion
| CBS |
| The Barry Manilow Special
| George Schaefer
| ABC |
| Doug Henning's World of Magic
| Walter C. Miller
| NBC |
| Sills and Burnett at the Met
| David Powers
| rowspan=2|CBS |
| The Shirley MacLaine Special: Where Do We Go from Here?
| Tony Charmoli |
colspan="4"| Outstanding Achievement in Coverage of Special Events - Individuals[{{cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1977/outstanding-achievement-in-coverage-of-special-events-individuals |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Television Academy |access-date=April 18, 2020}}][As a juried award, nominees had to garner 50% approval to win the award.] |
|---|
| style="background:#FAEB86;"
| The 28th Annual Emmy Awards
| John Moffitt
| ABC |
| The 48th Annual Academy Awards
| Marty Pasetta
| ABC |
| rowspan=8 style="text-align:center" | 1978
! colspan="4"| Outstanding Directing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special[{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1978/outstanding-directing-for-a-variety-special|title=Nominees/Winners|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|access-date=June 30, 2017}}] |
| style="background:#FAEB86;"
| The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots
| Dwight Hemion
| ABC |
| Doug Henning's World of Magic
| Walter C. Miller
| NBC |
| Mitzi... Zings Into Springs
| Tony Charmoli
| CBS |
| The Paul Simon Special
| Dave Wilson
| NBC |
| The Second Barry Manilow Special
| George Schaefer
| ABC |
colspan="4"| Outstanding Achievement in Coverage of Special Events - Individuals[{{cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1978/outstanding-achievement-in-coverage-of-special-events-individuals |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Television Academy |access-date=April 18, 2020}}][As a juried award, nominees had to garner 50% approval to win the award. The nominee did not meet the benchmark and no award was given.] |
|---|
| Footlights: The 1978 Tony Awards
| Clark Jones
| CBS |