They began in 1987, billed as the "first awards show to honor all forms of comedy.
"[1] In 1989, after the death of Lucille Ball, the statue was named "the Lucy" to honor the comic legend.
ABC had broadcast a similar awards program for two years in the 1970s; it was called the "American Academy of Humor" and was "founded" by Alan King.
[1][3] The last ACA ceremony in 2001 was held under the auspices of the cable network Comedy Central; in 2003 that network replaced them with its own Commie Awards in what turned out to be a one-time replacement.
Mark Linn-Baker - Perfect Strangers (TV series) Roseanne Barr - The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Sam Kinison - Rodney Dangerfield's Young Comedians Whoopi Goldberg Bette Midler Joan Rivers Whoopi Goldberg Lily Tomlin Betty White Jay Leno Eddie Murphy Richard Pryor Steve Martin George Carlin Bronson Pinchot Michael J.