How the Emmy Judging Process Works

The Emmys celebrate excellence in television...with the announcement of the nominees in May and the awarding of statuettes in June. In case you have ever wondered, this is how the process works:  In January, we receive hundreds and hundreds of entries.  After a quick check for errors, they are sent to top television markets, such as New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco and San Diego.

There, they are screened by seasoned program producers, news directors, assistant news directors, creative service directors, sports directors and long time TV veterans. In fact, one judge wrote on his credentials that he had been in the business for 43 years, so don't let anyone tell you that our Emmys are judged by interns and secretaries - your entries are judged by topnotch professionals. When the scores come in, the Awards Committee uses predetermined guidelines to pick nominees in categories known only to our accounting firm, Lively & Company. The accounting firm then takes those blind results and translates them into nominees and awardees in every category. Lively & Company then prepares the envelopes that are opened on Emmy Night, and maybe you or someone you know walks away with that golden statuette, Emmy.