8th Primetime Emmy Awards

The 8th Emmy Awards, later referred to as the 8th Primetime Emmy Awards, were held on March 17, 1956 to honor the best in television of the year. The ceremony was held at the Pan Pacific Auditorium in Hollywood, California. All nominations are listed, with winners in bold and series' networks are in parentheses.

Awards, Winners, & Nominations

Best Situation Comedy

• The Bob Cummings Show (CBS)
• Caesar's Hour (NBC)
• The George Gobel Show (NBC)
• The Jack Benny Program (CBS)
• Make Room for Daddy (ABC)
• The Phil Silvers Show (CBS)

Best Dramatic Program

• Climax (CBS)
• Goodyear Television Playhouse (NBC)
• Producers' Showcase (NBC)
• Studio One (CBS)
• The United States Steel Hour (ABC)

Best Variety Program

• The Dinah Shore Show (NBC)
• Ford Star Jubilee (CBS)
• The Perry Como Show (NBC)
• Shower of Stars (CBS)
• Toast of the Town (CBS)

Best Audience Participation Series

• The $64,000 Question (CBS)
• I've Got a Secret (CBS)
• People Are Funny (NBC)
• What's My Line? (CBS)
• You Bet Your Life (NBC)

Best Music Series

• Coke Time (NBC)
• The Dinah Shore Show (NBC)
• The Perry Como Show (NBC)
• The Voice of Firestone (CBS)
• Your Hit Parade (NBC)

Best Documentary Program

• Meet the Press (NBC)
• Omnibus (CBS)
• Person to Person (CBS)
• See It Now (CBS)
• Wide Wide World (NBC)

Best News Commentator or Reporter

• John Daly
• Douglas Edwards
• Edward R. Murrow
• Clete Roberts
• John Cameron Swayze

Best Action or Adventure Series

• Alfred Hitchcock Presents (CBS)
• Disneyland (ABC)
• Dragnet (NBC)
• Gunsmoke (CBS)
• The Lineup (CBS)

Best Contributing to Daytime Programming

• The Bob Crosby Show (CBS)
• The Garry Moore Show (CBS)
• Home (NBC)
• Matinee Theatre (NBC)
• The Today Show (NBC)

Best Comedian

• Jack Benny
• Art Carney
• Sid Caesar
• George Gobel
• Phil Silvers

Best Comedienne

• Gracie Allen
• Eve Arden
• Lucille Ball
• Nanette Fabray
• Ann Sothern

Best MC or Program Host - Male or Female

• Perry Como
• Alistair Cooke
• John Daly
• Alfred Hitchcock
• Dave Garroway

Best Actor Starring in a Regular Series

• Robert Cummings for The Bob Cummings Show
• Jackie Gleason for The Honeymooners
• Phil Silvers for The Phil Silvers Show
• Danny Thomas for Make Room for Daddy
• Robert Young for Father Knows Best

Best Actress Starring in a Regular Series

• Gracie Allen for The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
• Eve Arden for Our Miss Brooks
• Lucille Ball for I Love Lucy
• Jean Hagen for Make Room for Daddy
• Ann Sothern for Private Secretary
• Ruth DeVoure for Mama's Little Babies

Best Supporting Actor in a Regular Series

• Ed Begley for Kraft Television Theatre
• Art Carney for The Honeymooners
• William Frawley for I Love Lucy
• Carl Reiner for Caesar's Hour
• Cyril Ritchard for Producers' Showcase

Best Supporting Actress in a Regular Series

• Ann B. Davis for The Bob Cummings Show
• Nanette Fabray for Caesar's Hour
• Audrey Meadows for The Honeymooners
• Thelma Ritter for Goodyear Television Playhouse

Best Male Singer

• Harry Belafonte
• Perry Como
• Eddie Fisher
• Gordon MacRae
• Frank Sinatra

Best Female Singer

• Rosemary Clooney
• Judy Garland
• Peggy Lee
• Gisele MacKenzie
• Dinah Shore

Best Children's Series

• Ding Dong School (NBC)
• Kukla, Fran and Ollie (ABC)
• Lassie (CBS)
• Mickey Mouse Club (ABC)
• The Pinky Lee Show (NBC)
• Puppet Playhouse (NBC)