33rd Primetime Emmy Awards

33rd Primetime Emmy Awards
33rd Primetime Emmy Awards
Date	September 13, 1981 ; (Ceremony); September 12, 1981 ; (Creative Arts Awards);
Location	Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, California
Presented by	Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
Hosted by	Shirley MacLaine ; Edward Asner
Highlights
Most awards	Hill Street Blues (6)
Most nominations	Hill Street Blues (14)
Outstanding Comedy Series	Taxi
Outstanding Drama Series	Hill Street Blues
Outstanding Limited Series	Shōgun
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program	Lily: Sold Out
Television/radio coverage
Network	CBS

The 33rd Primetime Emmy Awards were held on Sunday, September 13, 1981. The ceremony was broadcast on CBS. It was hosted by Shirley MacLaine and Edward Asner.

For the third consecutive year, the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series went to Taxi. The top show on the drama side was Hill Street Blues which, in its first season, tied the record for most major nominations (14) and wins (6) by a non-miniseries. NBC's ratings juggernaut Shōgun received eight major nominations, but only won one, for Outstanding Limited Series.