Posthumous Honors: Cancelled TV Shows Win 2009 Emmy Awards

It’s become an annual tradition. TV shows that have ended or have been cancelled — and in some cases have been off the air for a year — are given television’s biggest honor. It kind of feels like waiting until after someone’s died to say nice things about them.

This time around, the first award of the night went to a cancelled show veteran. Kristin Chenoweth took home a statuette for her role as quirky waitress Olive Snook on the quirky Pushing Daisies series. The tiny actress struggled to hold onto the heavy award and was overcome by emotion.

Backstage, the Tony Award-winner said, ” I wasn’t expecting to cry, and wasn’t expecting to win… This is the most special experience in my career.” After talking to the press, she was checked out by onsite paramedics because of signs of a migraine.

Other awards that went to shows no longer on the air include:

Outstanding Art Direction for a Single-Camera Series
Pushing Daisies • ABC

Outstanding Costumes for a Series
Pushing Daisies • ABC

Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic)
Pushing Daisies • ABC

Outstanding Makeup for a Multi-Camera Series or Special (Non-Prosthetic)
MADtv • FOX

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
ER • NBC (series finale)

Outstanding Animated Programming (One Hour or More)
Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends • Cartoon Network