How many Emmy nominations did Roots receive?

• A. 37
• B. 20
• C. 55
• D. 12

Answer: (A)

Big idea here is that a landmark TV event can be recognized across many different parts of the industry, not just for one moment. Roots, which aired in 1977, was a sprawling production that touched acting, writing, directing, and a wide range of technical areas like costume design, makeup, art direction, and production values. That broad excellence across so many categories is why it drew a large number of nominations—37 in total. It isn’t just about a single standout performance; it’s about the overall achievement of bringing a complex history to the screen in a way that earned peers’ recognition across multiple facets. The other numbers would imply fewer areas were acknowledged, which doesn’t fit the scope of Roots, while 55 would overstate the reception for that era. So the correct total is 37.