The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special is awarded to one television special each year. In the 1960s and between 1979 and 2008, specials competed alongside nominees for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series.
In the following list, the first titles listed in gold are the winners; those not in gold are nominees, which are listed in alphabetical order. The years given are those in which the ceremonies took place:
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Winners and nominations
1970s Year Program Nominees Network Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy, Variety or Music 1970 Annie, the Women in the Life of a Man Gary Belkin, Peter Bellwood, Thomas Meehan, Herb Sargent and Judith Viorst CBS Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In: "Buddy Hackett" Jim Carlson, John Carsey, Jack Douglas, Gene Farmer, Coslough Johnson, Paul Keyes, Jeremy Lloyd, Marc London, Allan Manings, Jim Mulligan, David Panich, John Rappaport and Stephen SpearsNBC Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In: "Nancy Sinatra" Jim Abell, Jim Carlson, John Carsey, Jack Douglas, Chet Dowling, Gene Farmer, Coslough Johnson, Jeremy Lloyd, Marc London, Allan Manings, Jim Mulligan, David Panich, John Rappaport, Stephen Spears and Barry Took Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy, Variety or Music1971 Singer Presents Burt Bacharach Bob Ellison and Marty Farrell CBS The Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff Special Alex Barris, Gary Belkin, Ernest Chambers and Saul Ilson CBS Timex Presents Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary Special Hal Goldman, Al Gordon, Hilliard Marks and Hugh Wedlock NBC1972 The Trial of Mary Lincoln Anne Howard Bailey PBS Jack Lemmon in 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin Martin Charnin NBC Julie and Carol at Lincoln Center Bob Ellison, Marty Farrell, Ken Welch and Mitzi Welch CBS1973 Acts of Love and Other Comedies Joseph Bologna and Renée Taylor ABC Liza with a Z Fred Ebb NBC The Lily Tomlin Show Ann Elder, Karyl Geld, Allan Manings, Richard Pryor, John Rappaport, Jim Rusk, Lily Tomlin, Jane Wagner, Rod Warren and George Yanok CBSBest Writing in Comedy-Variety, Variety or Music (A Special Program)1974 Lily Rosalyn Drexler, Ann Elder, Karyl Geld, Robert Illes, Lorne Michaels, Richard Pryor, Jim Rusk, Herb Sargent, James Stein, Lily Tomlin, Jane Wagner, Rod Warren and George Yanok ABC Barbra Streisand...and Other Musical Instruments Larry Gelbart, Ken Welch and Mitzi WelchCBS Paradise Joseph Bologna and Renée TaylorOutstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special1975 Shirley MacLaine: If They Could See Me Now John Bradford, Cy Coleman and Robert Wells CBS Lily Sybil Adelman, Gloria Banta, Stuart Birnbaum, Barbara Gallagher, Lorne Michaels, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Pat Nardo, Matt Neuman, Earl Pomerantz, Rosie Ruthchild, Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner ABC1976 Lily Tomlin Ann Elder, Christopher Guest, Lorne Michaels, Earl Pomerantz, Jim Rusk, Lily Tomlin, Jane Wagner, Rod Warren and George Yanok ABC Gypsy in My Soul Fred EbbCBS Mitzi...Roarin' in the 20's Jerry Mayer Van Dyke and Company Allan Blye, George Burditt, Bob Einstein, Robert Illes, Steve Martin, Jack Mendelsohn, Rick Mittleman, James Stein and Dick Van Dyke NBC1977 America Salutes Richard Rodgers: The Sound of His Music Buz Kohan and Ted Strauss CBS The Barry Manilow Special Steve Binder, Don Clark, Susan Clark, Barry Manilow, Ronny Pearlman, Alan Thicke and Bruce Vilanch ABC An Evening with Diana Ross Bill Dyer and Ntozake Shange NBC John Denver and Friend George Schlatter and Digby Wolfe ABC Sills and Burnett at the Met Gail Parent, Kenny Solms, Ken Welch and Mitzi Welch CBS1978 The Paul Simon Special Chevy Chase, Tom Davis, Al Franken, Charles Grodin, Lorne Michaels, Paul Simon, Lily Tomlin and Alan Zweibel NBC Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back Jerry Blatt, Tom Eyen, Buz Kohan, Pat McCormick, Bette Midler, Bruce Vilanch and Rod Warren NBC The George Burns One-Man Show Fred Fox, Seaman Jacobs and Elon Packard CBS The Second Barry Manilow Special Ernest Chambers and Barry ManilowABC The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots Michael H. Kagan1979No award givenIn 1979, the only award for writing in a variety program was Outstanding Writing in a Comedy or Comedy-Variety or Music Series. The winner was Alan Alda for the M*A*S*H episode "Inga".
1980s Year Program Nominees Network Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program 1980 Shirley MacLaine... Every Little Moment Buz Kohan CBS Carol Burnett & Company with Sally Field Bob Arnott, Roger Beatty, Dick Clair, Tim Conway, Ann Elder, Arnie Kogen, Buz Kohan, Jenna McMahon and Kenny Solms ABC Goldie and Liza Together Fred Ebb CBS The Muppet Show with Alan Arkin Jim Henson, Don Hinkley, Jerry Juhl and David Odell Syndicated Saturday Night Live with Teri Garr Peter Aykroyd, Anne Beatts, Tom Davis, Jim Downey, Brian Doyle-Murray, Al Franken, Lorne Michaels, Matt Neuman, Don Novello, Sarah Paley, Herb Sargent, Tom Schiller, Harry Shearer, Rosie Shuster, Alan Zweibel, Tom Gammill and Max Pross NBC Outstanding Writing in a Variety, Music or Comedy Program 1981 The Muppet Show with Carol Burnett| Jerry Juhl, Chris Langham and David Odell| Syndicated|- | The American Film Institute Salute to Fred Astaire | Joseph McBride and George Stevens Jr. | rowspan=2|CBS |- | Lily: Sold Out | Nancy Audley, Ann Elder, Irene Mecchi, Elaine Pope, Ziggy Steinberg, Rocco Urbisci, Jane Wagner and Rod Warren |- | Sylvia Fine Kaye's Musical Comedy Tonight II | Sylvia Fine Kaye | PBS |- | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 18th Anniversary Show | Michael Barrie, Greg Fields, Hal Goodman, Larry Klein, Pat McCormick, Jim Mulholland, Kevin Mulholland, Gary Murphy, Raymond Siller and Robert Smith | NBC |- ! colspan=4 | Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program |- | rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1982 |- style="background:#FAEB86" | SCTV Network: "Moral Majority"| Jeffrey Barron, Dick Blasucci, John Candy, Chris Cluess, Bob Dolman, Joe Flaherty, Paul Flaherty, Stuart Kreisman, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, John McAndrew, Brian McConnachie, Rick Moranis, Catherine O'Hara, Mert Rich, Michael Short, Doug Steckler and Dave Thomas| NBC|- | I Love Liberty | Richard Alfieri, Rita Mae Brown, Norman Lear, Rick Mitz and Arthur Allan Seidelman | ABC |- | SCTV Network: "The Great White North Palace" | Dick Blasucci, John Candy, Tom Couch, Bob Dolman, Joe Flaherty, Paul Flaherty, Eddie Gorodetsky, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, John McAndrew, Rick Moranis, Don Novello, Catherine O'Hara, Michael Short, Doug Steckler and Dave Thomas | rowspan=3|NBC |- | SCTV Network: "I'm Taking My Own Head..." | Jeffrey Barron, Dick Blasucci, John Candy, Bob Dolman, Joe Flaherty, Paul Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, John McAndrew, Rick Moranis, Catherine O'Hara, Mert Rich, Doug Steckler and Dave Thomas |- | SCTV Network: "SCTV Staff Christmas Party" | Jeffrey Barron, Dick Blasucci, John Candy, Bob Dolman, Joe Flaherty, Paul Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, John McAndrew, Rick Moranis, Catherine O'Hara, Doug Steckler and Dave Thomas |- | rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1983 |- style="background:#FAEB86" | SCTV Network: "Sweeps Week"| Dick Blasucci, John Candy, Bob Dolman, Joe Flaherty, Paul Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, John McAndrew, Martin Short, Michael Short, Doug Steckler and Mary Charlotte Wilcox| NBC|- | SCTV Network: "Christmas 1982" | Dick Blasucci, John Candy, Bob Dolman, Joe Flaherty, Paul Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, John McAndrew, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, Michael Short, Doug Steckler and Mary Charlotte Wilcox | rowspan=4|NBC |- | SCTV Network: "Jane Eyrehead" | Jeffrey Barron, Dick Blasucci, John Candy, Bob Dolman, Joe Flaherty, Paul Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, John McAndrew, Martin Short, Michael Short, Doug Steckler, Dave Thomas and Mary Charlotte Wilcox |- | SCTV Network: "Midnight Cowboy II" | Jeffrey Barron, Dick Blasucci, John Candy, Bob Dolman, Joe Flaherty, Paul Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, John McAndrew, Martin Short, Michael Short, Doug Steckler and Mary Charlotte Wilcox |- | SCTV Network: "Towering Inferno" | Jeffrey Barron, Dick Blasucci, John Candy, Bob Dolman, Joe Flaherty, Paul Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, John McAndrew, Martin Short, Michael Short, Doug Steckler, Dave Thomas and Mary Charlotte Wilcox |- | rowspan=8 style="text-align:center" | 1984 |- style="background:#FAEB86" | Late Night with David Letterman: "312"| Chris Elliott, Sanford Frank, Ted Greenberg, David Letterman, Merrill Markoe, Jeff Martin, Gerard Mulligan, Steve O'Donnell, Joe Toplyn, Matt Wickline and David Yazbek| NBC|- | 38th Tony Awards | Hildy Parks | rowspan=3| CBS |- | The 6th Annual Kennedy Center Honors | L.T. Ilehart, Marc London, Sara Lukinson and George Stevens Jr. |- | The American Film Institute Salute to Lillian Gish | Joseph McBride and George Stevens Jr. |- | Late Night with David Letterman: "285" | Andy Breckman, Jim Downey, Sanford Frank, David Letterman, Merrill Markoe, George Meyer, Gerard Mulligan and Steve O'Donnell | rowspan=3|NBC |- | Late Night with David Letterman: "291" | Jim Downey, Chris Elliott, Sanford Frank, David Letterman, Merrill Markoe, George Meyer, Gerard Mulligan, Steve O'Donnell, Joe Toplyn, Matt Wickline, Tom Gammill and Max Pross |- | Saturday Night Live: "Billy Crystal, Ed Koch, Edwin Newman, Don Novello and Betty Thomas" | Jim Belushi, Andy Breckman, Robin Duke, Adam Green, Mary Gross, Nate Herman, Tim Kazurinsky, Kevin Kelton, Andrew Kurtzman, Michael McCarthy, Eddie Murphy, Pamela Norris, Margaret Oberman, Joe Piscopo, Herb Sargent, Andrew Smith, Bob Tischler and Eliot Wald |- | rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1985 |- style="background:#FAEB86" | Late Night with David Letterman: "Christmas with the Lettermans"| Randy Cohen, Kevin Curran, Chris Elliott, Sanford Frank, Eddie Gorodetsky, Fred Graver, Larry Jacobson, David Letterman, Merrill Markoe, Jeff Martin, Gerard Mulligan, Joe Toplyn and Matt Wickline| NBC|- | The American Film Institute Salute to Gene Kelly | Jeffrey Lane and George Stevens Jr. | CBS |- | Late Night with David Letterman: "Late Night in Los Angeles" | Randy Cohen, Kevin Curran, Chris Elliott, Sanford Frank, Fred Graver, Larry Jacobson, David Letterman, Merrill Markoe, Jeff Martin, Gerard Mulligan, Steve O'Donnell, Joe Toplyn and Matt Wickline | rowspan=3|NBC |- | Late Night with David Letterman: "The Late Night Morning Show" | Randy Cohen, Kevin Curran, Chris Elliott, Sanford Frank, Fred Graver, Larry Jacobson, David Letterman, Jeff Martin, Gerard Mulligan, Steve O'Donnell, Joe Toplyn and Matt Wickline |- | Motown Returns to the Apollo | Peter Elbling, Buz Kohan and Samm-Art Williams |- | rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1986 |- style="background:#FAEB86" | Late Night with David Letterman 4th Anniversary Special| Randy Cohen, Kevin Curran, Chris Elliott, Sanford Frank, Fred Graver, Larry Jacobson, David Letterman, Merrill Markoe, Jeff Martin, Gerard Mulligan, Steve O'Donnell, Joe Toplyn and Matt Wickline| NBC|- | 40th Tony Awards | Hildy Parks | CBS |- | The American Film Institute Salute to Billy Wilder | Jeffrey Lane and George Stevens Jr. | NBC |- | Sylvia Fine Kaye's Musical Comedy Tonight III | Sylvia Fine Kaye | PBS |- | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: "David Letterman, Maureen McGovern and Adela Rivera" | Michael Barrie, Gary Belkin, Hal Goodman, Bob Keane, Larry Klein, Jim Mulholland, Kevin Mulholland, Raymond Siller, Andrew Nicholls and Darrell Vickers | NBC |- | rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1987 |- style="background:#FAEB86" | Late Night with David Letterman 5th Anniversary Special| Randy Cohen, Kevin Curran, Chris Elliott, Sanford Frank, Fred Graver, Larry Jacobson, David Letterman, Jeff Martin, Gerard Mulligan, Steve O'Donnell, Adam Resnick, Joe Toplyn and Matt Wickline| NBC|- | 41st Tony Awards | Jeffrey Lane | CBS |- | Saturday Night Live