The American Comedy Awards were a group of awards presented annually in the United States recognizing performances and performers in the field of comedy, with an emphasis on television comedy and comedy films. They began in 1987, billed as the "first awards show to honor all forms of comedy." In 1989, after the death of Lucille Ball, the statue was named "the Lucy" to honor the comic legend. The awards ceased after 2001. NBC revived the awards for a single year in May 2014. History George Schlatter created and produced the American Comedy Awards that first aired on ABC, then on Comedy Central. Only the title was similar. It was a TV special honoring comedians. 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. 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. In 2011 Comedy Central created a new annual awards show, The Comedy Awards, which first aired on April 10, 2011. 1987 awards Creative Achievement Award Norman Lear (Presented by Bea Arthur) Lifetime Achievement Award Presented for Woman by Walter Matthau, and for Man by Betty White Steve Allen Woody Allen Lucille Ball Mel Brooks Carol Burnett George Burns Sid Caesar Bette Midler Mary Tyler Moore Lily Tomlin Jonathan Winters Special Appearance Lily Tomlin Ed Begley Jr. Shirley MacLaine Whoopi Goldberg Ellen Greene George Carlin Betty White Ed McMahon Steven Wright Mark Russell 1988 awards Creative Achievement Award Blake Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award George Burns Imogene Coca 1989 awards Creative Achievement Award Neil Simon Lifetime Achievement Award Katharine Hepburn Red Skelton 1990 awards Creative Achievement Award Garry Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award Art Carney Betty White 1991 awards Creative Achievement Award Carl Reiner Lifetime Achievement Award Doris Day Jack Lemmon 1992 awards Creative Achievement Award Penny Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award Johnny Carson Phyllis Diller 1993 awards Creative Achievement Award Billy Crystal Lifetime Achievement Award Shirley MacLaine Richard Pryor 1994 awards Creative Achievement Award Mike Nichols Lifetime Achievement Award Dick Van Dyke Elaine May 1995 awards Creative Achievement Award Rodney Dangerfield Lifetime Achievement Award Bob Hope Audrey Meadows 1996 awards Creative Achievement Award James Burrows Lifetime Achievement Award Anne Bancroft Milton Berle 1997 awards