21st Primetime Emmy Awards
The 21st Emmy Awards—also known since 1974 as the 21st Primetime Emmy Awards—were handed out on June 8, 1969. The ceremony was co-hosted by Bill Cosby and Merv Griffin.
| 21st Emmy Awards | |
|---|---|
| Date | June 8, 1969 |
| Location | Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California |
| Presented by | Academy of Television Arts and Sciences |
| Hosted by | Bill Cosby Merv Griffin |
| Highlights | |
| Most awards | 1968 Summer Olympics Get Smart Male of the Species The People Next Door (2) |
| Most nominations | Hallmark Hall of Fame: "Teacher, Teacher" Mission: Impossible (6) |
| Outstanding Comedy Series | Get Smart |
| Outstanding Dramatic Series | NET Playhouse |
| Outstanding Dramatic Program | Hallmark Hall of Fame: "Teacher, Teacher" |
| Outstanding Variety or Music Series | Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In |
| Television/radio coverage | |
| Network | CBS |
The top shows of the night were Get Smart, which won Outstanding Comedy Series for the second consecutive year, and Outstanding Dramatic Series winner NET Playhouse. NET Playhouse, from the PBS predecessor National Educational Television Network, became the first show outside the Big Three television networks to win a top series award.
Due to several categories being combined for the ceremony, no show received more than two major wins. The most drastic rule change was that all shows that had aired more than two seasons were ineligible. The cause of this change was due to the rise in repeat winners in recent years. There was no winner in the category of Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, because the judges felt that none of the nominees were worthy of an award.