The 45th Primetime Emmy Awards were held on Sunday, September 19, 1993.

For its fourth season, Seinfeld won its first, and only, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series.

On the drama side, Northern Exposure was the defending champion and was seen heavily as the favourite coming into the ceremony being the most nominated show with nine major nominations—but in a major upset, Picket Fences took home Outstanding Drama Series.

Northern Exposure set the dubious record for the largest shutout of all time, as it lost all 11 major nominations; including its Creative Arts Emmy Awards nominations, the record increases to 0/16.

With David Clennon's win for Outstanding Comedy Guest Actor, this was the first time HBO won an Acting Emmy.