51st Primetime Emmy Awards

The 51st Primetime Emmy Awards were held on Sunday, September 12, 1999. The ceremony show was hosted by Jenna Elfman and David Hyde Pierce. It was broadcast on Fox.

The comedy-drama Ally McBeal won Outstanding Comedy Series, which not only dethroned five-time defending champion Frasier but also became the first time Fox won that award. In the drama field The Practice won Outstanding Drama Series for the second straight year, and led all shows with three major wins on the night.

Freshman series The Sopranos led all shows with 10 major nominations. From that show, Edie Falco not only became the first actress from a Cable network (HBO) to win Lead Actress, Drama series, she became the first person from any Cable TV show series to win a Major Acting award. (Though David Clennon did win for only a guest performance in HBO's Dream On in 1993).

The real winner of the night was television writer David E. Kelley. Kelley was the creator and head writer for both series champions, Ally McBeal and The Practice. This accomplishment has not been matched since.

Most major awards

 * Notes

In Memoriam

 * Ellen Corby
 * Richard Denning
 * Gary Morton
 * Mary Frann
 * Anthony Newley
 * Mark Warren
 * Norman Fell
 * Dana Plato
 * Noam Pitlik
 * Dick O'Neill
 * Sylvia Sidney
 * David Strickland
 * Peggy Cass
 * Virginia Graham
 * Dane Clark
 * Ed Herlihy
 * Mel Tormé
 * Mario Puzo
 * Bill Wendell
 * John Holliman
 * Rory Calhoun
 * Susan Strasberg
 * Allen Funt
 * Joseph Cates
 * Esther Rolle
 * Roddy McDowall
 * Gene Siskel
 * Flip Wilson
 * DeForest Kelley
 * Gene Autry