The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded the 2011-2012 Primetime Emmys for programs and individual achievements last night at the Nokia Theatre L.A. This was the second time the event was broadcast live on the ABC Television Network since being located at the Nokia Theatre. Jimmy Kimmel hosted the ceremony and Don Mischer was executive producer of the telecast.
In addition to Emmys in 26 categories announced last night, Emmys in 76 other categories and areas for programs and individual achievements were presented at the Creative Arts Awards on Sept. 15 at the Nokia Theatre. Additionally, the Governors Award was presented to the “It Gets Better Project,” an organization devoted to supporting LGBT young people via its website, initiatives and the posting of original videos with messages of empathy, encouragement and hope for a positive future. The awards were tabulated by the independent accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP.
Overall, HBO dominated the awards with 23 awards in total, (including Creative Arts Emmys). CBS was second with 16 Emmys followed by PBS with 12. HBO’s success was buoyed by its popular Game of Thrones, (which took six creative arts Emmys but was shut out of the Primetime Emmys), as well as Game Change with five Emmys.
AMC’s Mad Men was shut out last night, winning none of the nine Emmys for which it was nominated. Larry David also went home empty-handed last night, with his running tally of having won two Emmys out of 23 nominations.
Saturday Night Live maintained its status as the most nominated show on television, having received 156 total Emmy nominations.
While the below-the-line crafts were honored at a separate event last week, there was still plenty of recognition of the behind-the-scenes talent that makes it all possible.
In her acceptance speech, Claire Danes, (who won outstanding lead actress in a drama series for Showtime’s Homeland) recognized the immense contributions of the show’s crew, which she described as “kick-ass.”
“Audiences don’t really get the Herculean effort of the crew; the work that it takes mount a show like this,” Danes said. “It’s easy for me to kvetch, but my days are shorter and I have days off and they don’t. I actually am in awe of their stamina. Every time I catch myself complaining, I look at them and am checked and humbled.”
Homeland tied with HBO’s Game of Thrones with a total of six Emmys, followed by HBO’s Game Change, History’s Hatfields & McCoys and ABC’s Modern Family with five each.
When all of Homeland’s representatives were interviewed for their win for outstanding drama series, there was a unified recognition of the series’ director of photography, Nelson Cragg.
Comedian Louis C.K., while accepting his second Emmy of the night, thanked Paul Koestner, director of photography for Louis C.K.: Live at the Beacon for making everything he did in the special look so great. These awards were C.K.’s second and third Emmy wins after 15 nominations overall.
Steve Levitan, who was awarded the Emmy for outstanding directing for a comedy series, recognized Modern Family’s director of photography, James Bogdanas, assistant director Jim Hensz, Abraham Higginbottham, who wrote the episode for which Levitan won, as well as the whole editing and AD staff.
“Our first DP, Jim Bogdanas really protects me when I direct, along with our first AD Jim Hensz,” Levitan said.
For a complete list of winners, please visit http://www.emmys.tv.
