Every Emmys Outstanding Variety Special winner

18 ceremonies, 2000–2017. 14 different winners. The longest run was The Kennedy Center Honors, 5 years straight (2009–2013).

It was awarded for the last time in 2017.

It was previously known as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special.

For 2018 it was restructured into Outstanding Variety Special (Live) and Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded).

From 2018 the Emmys awarded Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) instead.

The Kennedy Center Honors ×5

Each band is one winner’s reign. Wider means a longer run. Colored by network; hover for details.

Saturday Night Live: The 25th Anniversary Special'00

Cirque du Soleil's Dralion'01

America: A Tribute to Heroes'02

Cher: The Farewell Tour'03

Elaine Stritch at Liberty'04

The 58th Annual Tony Awards'05

The XX Olympic Winter Games - Opening Ceremony'06

Tony Bennett: An American Classic'07

Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project'08

The Kennedy Center Honors'09–'13×5

AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Mel Brooks'14

Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special'15

The Late Late Show Carpool Karaoke Primetime Special'16

Carpool Karaoke Primetime Special 2017'17

Wins by network

CBS844%
NBC528%
HBO211%
Bravo16%
Syndicated16%
TNT16%

Who kept losing

Counting nominations in this category only, 2000–2017.

Most losses

The Kennedy Center Honors5L · 5W

The full list

Year	Winner	Network
2017	Carpool Karaoke Primetime Special 2017 beat 4 others Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents Not the White House Correspondents' Dinner Louis C.K. 2017 Sarah Silverman: A Speck of Dust Stephen Colbert's Live Election Night Democracy's Series Finale: Who's Going to Clean Up This Sh*t?	CBS
2016	The Late Late Show Carpool Karaoke Primetime Special beat 4 others Adele: Live in New York City Amy Schumer: Live at the Apollo The Kennedy Center Honors Lemonade	CBS
2015	Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special beat 5 others Bill Maher: Live from D.C. The Kennedy Center Honors Louis C.K.: Live at the Comedy Store Mel Brooks: Live at the Geffen Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga: Cheek to Cheek Live!	NBC
2014	AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Mel Brooks beat 5 others Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays Best of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Primetime Special The Kennedy Center Honors The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to The Beatles Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles	TNT
2013	The Kennedy Center Honorsrepeat beat 4 others Louis C.K.: Oh My God Mel Brooks Strikes Back! with Mel Brooks and Alan Yentob Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday (Part One) 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief	CBS
2012	The Kennedy Center Honorsrepeat beat 4 others Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute to America's Golden Girl Kathy Griffin: Tired Hooker Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again Tony Bennett: Duets II (Great Performances)	CBS
2011	The Kennedy Center Honorsrepeat beat 4 others Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On Carrie Fisher in Wishful Drinking Lady Gaga Presents the Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square Garden The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway	CBS
2010	The Kennedy Center Honorsrepeat beat 5 others Bill Maher... But I'm Not Wrong Hope for Haiti Now Robin Williams: Weapons of Self Destruction The 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert Wanda Sykes: I'ma Be Me	CBS
2009	The Kennedy Center Honors beat 4 others Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger Kathy Griffin: She'll Cut a Bitch Ricky Gervais: Out of England - The Stand-Up Special Will Ferrell: You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush	CBS
2008	Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project beat 5 others Bill Maher: The Decider George Carlin: It's Bad for Ya! James Taylor: One Man Band (Great Performances) Kathy Griffin: Straight to Hell The Kennedy Center Honors	HBO
2007	Tony Bennett: An American Classic beat 5 others The Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner The Kennedy Center Honors Lewis Black: Red, White and Screwed A Tribute to James Taylor (Great Performances) Wanda Sykes: Sick and Tired	NBC
2006	The XX Olympic Winter Games - Opening Ceremony beat 4 others The 78th Annual Academy Awards Bill Maher: I'm Swiss George Carlin: Life Is Worth Losing McCartney in St. Petersburg	NBC
2005	The 58th Annual Tony Awardsunverified beat 4 others The 77th Annual Academy Awards Dave Chappelle: For What It's Worth Everybody Loves Raymond: The Laugh Laugh The Games of the XXVIII Olympiad - Opening Ceremony	CBS
2004	Elaine Stritch at Liberty beat 4 others A&E In Concert: Paul McCartney in Red Square The 76th Annual Academy Awards Chris Rock: Never Scared Ellen DeGeneres: Here and Now	HBO
2003	Cher: The Farewell Tour beat 4 others The 75th Annual Academy Awards Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: Live in Barcelona Robin Williams: Live on Broadway Rolling Stones - Licks World Tour, Live from Madison Square Garden	NBC
2002	America: A Tribute to Heroes beat 5 others The 74th Annual Academy Awards Carol Burnett: Show Stoppers Cirque du Soleil's Alegria The Concert for New York City Opening Ceremony: Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games	Syndicated
2001	Cirque du Soleil's Dralion beat 4 others The 73rd Annual Academy Awards Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: Live in New York City Ellen DeGeneres: The Beginning Saturday Night Live: Presidential Bash 2000	Bravo
2000	Saturday Night Live: The 25th Anniversary Special beat 4 others The 72nd Annual Academy Awards Chris Rock: Bigger & Blacker Cirque du Soleil: Quidam Eddie Izzard: Dress to Kill	NBC

More Emmys categories

Comedy Series Limited Series Lead Actor (Drama)Lead Actress (Drama)Directing (Limited)Writing (Limited)Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)Variety Special (Live)Animated Program Animated (One Hour or Less)Animated (Over One Hour)Documentary Series Supp. Actor (Drama)Supp. Actress (Drama)Supp. Actor (Comedy)Supp. Actress (Comedy)All 34 categories

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