Could ‘Beyoncé Bowl’ Top ‘SNL50’ at 2025 Emmys? Well, It’s Hard to Compete With a Nice, Round Number

Awards: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program, Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction

Notes: This all-star variety special celebrated the centennial of the Actors’ Fund of America. The 100 stars included Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett, Cher, Dick Clark, Christopher Cross, Sammy Davis Jr., Placido Domingo, Andy Gibb, Liza Minnelli and Lionel Richie. It was mostly a parade of solo personalities, but there were also some groups or ensembles – the Doobie Brothers, the Radio City Rockettes and the New York Yankees. One of the 100 stars was Grace Kelly, who died in a car crash in September 1982.

Award: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program

Notes: This show featured reunions of The Jackson 5, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles and Diana Ross & The Supremes, and a fun “battle of the bands” featuring The Temptations and The Four Tops, but it is most remembered for being the program where Michael Jackson first unveiled his moonwalk.

Awards: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program, Outstanding Achievement in Choreography

Notes: Bea Arthur, Rosemary Clooney, Michael Feinstein, Bob Hope, Shirley MacLaine, Natalie Cole, Tony Bennett and Ray Charles were among the guests on this special, which was taped at Carnegie Hall on May 11, 1988, Berlin’s 100th birthday; broadcaster Walter Cronkite gave the program added gravitas. The legendary songwriter died in 1989 at 101.

Award: Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts

Notes: This Great Performances special was a celebration of Leonard Bernstein. The conductor, composer and pianist died in October 1990 at 72.

Award: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special

Notes: Michael Jackson, Eddie Murphy, Ella Fitzgerald, Whitney Houston, Anita Baker, Clint Eastwood, Bill Cosby and more paid tribute to the trailblazing star, who was marking his 60th anniversary in show business. Jackson and Buz Kohan co-wrote the song “You Were There,” which Jackson introduced on this special, which was taped at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Davis died in May 1990 at age 64, after the special aired but before it won the Emmy.

Awards: Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts, Outstanding Individual Achievement – Classical Music/Dance Programming

Notes: Yo-Ya Ma (who also won an Emmy for outstanding individual achievement), Jessye Norman, Itzhak Perlman and conductor Yuri Temirkanov were featured on this program, which paid tribute to the famed Russian composer, who was born Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in May 1840.

Award: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special

Notes: Paula Abdul, Garth Brooks, Peabo Bryson, Lucie Arnaz and bandleader Les Brownwere among the guests on this program, which honored the legendary comedian, who turned 90 in May 1993.The program was executive produced by his daughter, Linda Hope. Bob Hope died in July 2003 at age 100.

Award: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special

Notes: The show included musical performances by Al Green, Eurythmics and the Beastie Boys (who were joined by Elvis Costello).

Award: Outstanding Special Class Program

Notes: This Live From Lincoln Center special was a celebration of choreographer George Balanchine on the centennial of his birth. He had died in 1983 at age 79.

Awards:Outstanding Variety Special, Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special, Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special; Outstanding Makeup for a Multi-Camera Series or Special (Non-Prosthetic)

Notes: The show featured musical performances by Paul McCartney, Miley Cyrus, Kanye West and Paul Simon. (McCartney, Cyrus and Simon also performed on SNL50: The Anniversary Special.)

Award: Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)

Notes: Such stars as Cher and Julie Andrews gathered to honor the beloved comedian. Katy Perry sang the theme song from The Carol Burnett Show. The special also featured musical performances by Kristin Chenoweth & Bernadette Peters, Darren Criss & Sutton Foster and the team of Peters, Jane Lynch, Billy Porter and Aileen Quinn.