60th_Primetime_Emmy

60th Primetime Emmy Awards

60th Primetime Emmy Awards

Date September 21, 2008

Site Nokia Theatre,
Los Angeles, California

Creative Arts Awards September 13, 2008

Host Tom Bergeron
Heidi Klum
Howie Mandel
Jeff Probst
Ryan Seacrest^[1]

Network ABC

Producer Ken Ehrlich^[2]

← 59th Primetime 61st Primetime →

The 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held on Sunday, September 21, 2008, at the newly opened Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California.^[3] They were hosted by Tom Bergeron, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, Jeff Probst, and Ryan Seacrest^[4] (all nominated for Outstanding Host for a Reality Show or Reality Competition) and televised in the United States on ABC.

The Creative Arts Awards were held eight days earlier (September 13) at the same venue. They were hosted by Neil Patrick Harris and Sarah Chalke.

The telecast was viewed by 12.20 million^[5] with a household rating of 8.86/12.79^[6] making it the lowest rated and least viewed ceremony in its televised history. Many critics pointed out to the lackluster performances of the five hosts as a reason for the huge decline.^[7] Others pointed out to the field of nominees which were dominated by low-rated and sparsely viewed programs.^[8], thus making the Emmys widely considered as a bust, which was panned by critics as "... the worst ever, laid a big, fat ratings egg as well ..."^[9]

1 Nominations
2 References
3 External links

Nominations

The nominees were announced on July 17 by nominees Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris and Academy president John Schaffley.^[10]

Summary per network

Network	Nominations^[11]	Awards^[12]
ABC	76	12
AMC	20	8
CBS	51	10
FOX	28	4
FX Networks	11	3
HBO	85	26
NBC	50	10
PBS	33	10

Primetime Telecast Nominations

Winners are listed first in BOLD. Other nominees are in alphabetical order

Outstanding Drama Series	Outstanding Comedy Series
Mad Men (AMC) Boston Legal (ABC) Damages (FX) Dexter (Showtime) House (FOX) Lost (ABC)	30 Rock (NBC) Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO) Entourage (HBO) The Office (NBC) Two and a Half Men (CBS)
Outstanding Miniseries	Outstanding Made for Television Movie
John Adams (HBO) The Andromeda Strain (A&E) Cranford (BBC) Tin Man (Sci-Fi)	Recount (HBO) Bernard and Doris (HBO) Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale (HBO/BBC) The Memory Keeper's Daughter (Lifetime) A Raisin in the Sun (ABC)
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series	Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
The Daily Show (Comedy Central) The Colbert Report (Comedy Central) Late Show with David Letterman (CBS) Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO) Saturday Night Live (NBC)	The Amazing Race (CBS) American Idol (FOX) Dancing With the Stars (ABC) Project Runway (Bravo) Top Chef (Bravo)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series	Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
*Bryan Cranston for playing Walter White on Breaking Bad* (AMC)** Gabriel Byrne for playing Dr. Paul Weston on In Treatment (HBO) Michael C. Hall for playing Dexter Morgan on Dexter (Showtime) Jon Hamm for playing Don Draper on Mad Men (AMC) Hugh Laurie for playing Dr. Gregory House on House (FOX) James Spader for playing Alan Shore on Boston Legal (ABC)	*Alec Baldwin for playing Jack Donaghy on 30 Rock* (NBC)** Steve Carell for playing Michael Scott on The Office (NBC) Lee Pace for playing Ned on Pushing Daisies (ABC) Tony Shalhoub for playing Adrian Monk on Monk (USA) Charlie Sheen for playing Charlie Harper on Two and a Half Men (CBS)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
*Glenn Close for playing Patricia "Patty" Hewes on Damages* (FX)** Sally Field for playing Nora Walker on Brothers & Sisters (ABC) Mariska Hargitay for playing Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) Holly Hunter for playing Grace Hanadarko on Saving Grace (TNT) Kyra Sedgwick for playing Brenda Leigh Johnson on The Closer (TNT)	*Tina Fey for playing Liz Lemon on 30 Rock* (NBC)** Christina Applegate for playing Samantha "Sam" Newly on Samantha Who? (ABC) America Ferrera for playing Betty Suarez on Ugly Betty (ABC) Julia Louis-Dreyfus for playing Christine Campbell on The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS) Mary-Louise Parker for playing Nancy Botwin on Weeds (Showtime)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
*Paul Giamatti for playing John Adams in John Adams* (HBO)** Ralph Fiennes for playing Bernard Lafferty in Bernard and Doris (HBO) Ricky Gervais for playing Andy Millman in Extras (HBO/BBC) Kevin Spacey for playing Ron Klain in Recount (HBO) Tom Wilkinson for playing James Baker in Recount (HBO)	*Laura Linney for playing Abigail Adams in John Adams* (HBO)** Dame Judi Dench for playing Matty Jenkyns in Cranford (BBC) Catherine Keener for playing Gertrude Baniszewski in An American Crime (Showtime) Phylicia Rashād for playing Lena Younger in A Raisin in the Sun (ABC) Susan Sarandon for playing Doris Duke in Bernard and Doris (HBO)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series	Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
*Željko Ivanek for playing Ray Fiske on Damages* (FX)** Ted Danson for playing Arthur Frobisher on Damages (FX) Michael Emerson for playing Benjamin Linus on Lost (ABC) William Shatner for playing Denny Crane on Boston Legal (ABC) John Slattery for playing Roger Sterling on Mad Men (AMC)	*Jeremy Piven for playing Ari Gold on Entourage* (HBO)** Jon Cryer for playing Alan Harper on Two and a Half Men (CBS) Kevin Dillon for playing Johnny "Drama" Chase on Entourage (HBO) Neil Patrick Harris for playing Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother (CBS) Rainn Wilson for playing Dwight Schrute on The Office (NBC)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
*Dianne Wiest for playing Gina on In Treatment* (HBO)** Candice Bergen for playing Shirley Schmidt on Boston Legal (ABC) Rachel Griffiths for playing Sarah Whedon on Brothers and Sisters (ABC) Sandra Oh for playing Dr. Christina Yang on Grey's Anatomy (ABC) Chandra Wilson for playing Dr. Miranda Bailey on Grey's Anatomy (ABC)	*Jean Smart for playing Regina Newly on Samantha Who?* (ABC)** Kristin Chenoweth for playing Olive Snook on Pushing Daisies (ABC) Amy Poehler for playing various characters on Saturday Night Live (NBC) Holland Taylor for playing Evelyn Harper on Two and a Half Men (CBS) Vanessa L. Williams for playing Wilhelmina Slater on Ugly Betty (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
*Tom Wilkinson for playing Benjamin Franklin in John Adams* (HBO)** Bob Balaban for playing Benjamin Ginsburg in Recount (HBO) Stephen Dillane for playing Thomas Jefferson in John Adams (HBO) Denis Leary for playing Michael Whouley in Recount (HBO) David Morse for playing George Washington in John Adams (HBO)	*Dame Eileen Atkins for playing Miss Deborah in Cranford* (BBC)** Laura Dern for playing Katherine Harris in Recount (HBO) Ashley Jensen for playing Maggie Jacobs in Extras (HBO/BBC) Audra McDonald for playing Ruth Younger in A Raisin in the Sun (ABC) Alfre Woodard for playing Edna Reilly in Pictures of Hollis Woods (CBS)
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special	Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Special
Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (HBO) Bill Maher: The Decider (HBO) George Carlin: It's Bad For Ya! (HBO) James Taylor: One Man Band (Great Performances) (PBS) Kathy Griffin: Straight To Hell (Bravo) The Kennedy Center Honors (CBS)	*Don Rickles for Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project* (HBO)** Stephen Colbert for The Colbert Report (Comedy Central) Tina Fey for Saturday Night Live (NBC) David Letterman for Late Show with David Letterman (CBS) Jon Stewart for 80th Annual Academy Awards (ABC)
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series	Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
*Greg Yaitanes for House* (episode: "House's Head") (FOX)** Arlene Sanford for Boston Legal (episode: "The Mighty Rogues") (ABC) Vince Gilligan for Breaking Bad (episode: "Pilot") (AMC) Allen Coulter for Damages (episode: "Get Me A Lawyer" (Pilot)) (FX) Alan Taylor for Mad Men (episode: "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" (Pilot)) (AMC)	*Barry Sonnenfeld for Pushing Daisies* (episode: "Pie-Lette") (ABC)** Dan Attias for Entourage (episode: "No Cannes Do") (HBO) James Bobin for Flight of the Conchords (episode: "Sally Returns") (HBO) Paul Feig for The Office (episode: "Goodbye, Toby") (NBC) Paul Lieberstein for The Office (episode: "Money") (NBC) Michael Engler for 30 Rock (episode: "Rosemary's Baby") (NBC)
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series	Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
*Matthew Weiner for Mad Men* (episode: "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" (Pilot)) (AMC)** Michael Angeli for Battlestar Galactica (episode: "Six of One") (SciFi) Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler and Daniel Zelman for Damages (episode: "Get Me A Lawyer" (Pilot)) (FX) Matthew Weiner and Robin Veith for Mad Men (episode: "The Wheel") (AMC) David Simon and Ed Burns for The Wire (episode: "–30–") (HBO)	*Tina Fey for 30 Rock* (episode: "Cooter") (NBC)** James Bobin, Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie for Flight of the Conchords (episode: "Yoko") (HBO) Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky for The Office (episode: "Dinner Party") (NBC) Bryan Fuller for Pushing Daisies (episode: "Pie-lette") (ABC) Jack Burditt for 30 Rock (episode: "Rosemary's Baby") (NBC)
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special	Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special
*Jay Roach for Recount* (HBO)** Bob Balaban for Bernard and Doris (HBO) Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant for Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale (HBO/BBC) Tom Hooper for John Adams (HBO) Mikael Salomon for The Company (TNT)	*Kirk Ellis for John Adams* (episode: "Part 2: Independence") (HBO)** Hugh Costello for Bernard and Doris (HBO) Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant for Extras (HBO/BBC) Heidi Thomas for Cranford (BBC) Danny Strong for Recount (HBO)
Outstanding Directing for a Variety or Music Program	Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program
*Louis J. Horvitz for 80th Annual Academy Awards* (ABC)** Lonny Price for Company (Great Performances) (PBS) Don Roy King for Saturday Night Live (NBC) Jim Hoskinson for The Colbert Report (Comedy Central) Chuck O'Neil for The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)	The Colbert Report (Comedy Central) Late Night with Conan O'Brien (NBC) Late Show with David Letterman (CBS) Saturday Night Live (NBC) The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
Outstanding Host for a Reality Show or Reality Competition	Outstanding Writing for Nonfictional Programming
*Jeff Probst for Survivor* (CBS)** Tom Bergeron for Dancing with the Stars (ABC) Heidi Klum for Project Runway (Bravo) Howie Mandel for Deal or No Deal (NBC) Ryan Seacrest for American Idol (FOX)	Geoffrey C. Ward for The War (episode: "Pride of Our Nation") (PBS) Jeff Grogan for Intervention (episode: "Caylee") (A&E) David de Vries for Life After People (History) Ira Glass for This American Life (episode: "Escape") (Showtime) Mark Zwonitzer for American Experience (episode: "Walt Whitman") (PBS)

Creative Arts winners

The Creative Arts Emmy Awards for the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards were held at the Nokia Theatre on September 13, 2008. The ceremony was broadcast a week later on September 20 on E!, the night before the Primetime telecast.

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series	Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Glynn Turman for playing Alex Sr. on In Treatment (HBO) Charles Durning for playing John Gavin, Sr. on Rescue Me (FX) Robert Morse for playing Bertram Cooper on Mad Men (AMC) Oliver Platt for playing Freddie Prune on Nip/Tuck (FX) Stanley Tucci for playing Dr. Kevin Moretti on ER (NBC) Robin Williams for playing Merritt Rook on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC)	Tim Conway for playing Bucky Bright on 30 Rock (NBC) Will Arnett for playing Devon Banks on 30 Rock (NBC) Shelley Berman for playing Nat David on Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO) Steve Buscemi for playing Lem on 30 Rock (NBC) Rip Torn for playing Don Geiss on 30 Rock (NBC)
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series	Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Cynthia Nixon for playing Janis Donovan on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) Ellen Burstyn for playing Nancy Dutton on Big Love (HBO) Diahann Carroll for playing Jane Burke on Grey's Anatomy (ABC) Sharon Gless for playing Colleen Rose on Nip/Tuck (FX) Anjelica Huston for playing Cynthia Keener on Medium (NBC)	Kathryn Joosten for playing Karen McCluskey on Desperate Housewives (ABC) Polly Bergen for playing Stella Wingfield on Desperate Housewives (ABC) Edie Falco for playing Celeste 'C.C.' Cunningham on 30 Rock (NBC) Carrie Fisher for playing Rosemary Howard on 30 Rock (NBC) Sarah Silverman for playing Marci Maven on Monk (USA) Elaine Stritch for playing Colleen Donaghy on 30 Rock (NBC)

References

^ http://www.emmys.tv/media/releases/2008/rel-pte60-host.php
^ The Hollywood Reporter
^ "Emmys will move to new venue". USA Today. Retrieved on 2008-03-11.
^ http://www.emmys.tv/media/releases/2008/rel-pte60-host.php
^ [1]
^ [2]
^ The Live Feed; 60th Emmy Awards reviews
^ Give Emmys to Craig from Broadcasting and Cable
^ Emmys bomb in ratings and reviews
^ "Noms work=".
^ Berman, Marc (2007-07-16). "Emmy Award Nominations: HBO Leads; ABC Well Above CBS and NBC". MediaWeek.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-20.
^ Mesger, Robin (2008-09-21). "Emmy Award Winners Release". Academy of Television. Retrieved on 2008-10-01.

External links

Academy of Television Arts and Sciences website

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