The American Comedy Awards were a group of awards presented annually in the United States recognizing performances and performers in the field of comedy, with an emphasis on television comedy and comedy films. They began in 1987, billed as the "first awards show to honor all forms of comedy."[1] In 1989, after the death of Lucille Ball, the statue was named "the Lucy" to honor the comic legend.
The awards ceased after 2001. NBC revived the awards for a single year in May 2014.[2]
History
George Schlatter created and produced the American Comedy Awards that first aired on ABC, then on Comedy Central. Only the title was similar. It was a TV special honoring comedians.
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.[1][3]
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.[4] In 2011 Comedy Central created a new annual awards show, The Comedy Awards, which first aired on April 10, 2011.
Billy Crystal – The 72nd Annual Academy Awards Garry Shandling – The 52nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Jon Stewart – Indecision 2000: Election Night – Choose and Lose
Funniest Female Performer in a TV Special – Network, Cable or Syndication
