Many would say creativity and fantasy work go hand in hand. HBO’s hit series Game of Thrones certainly proved as much last Saturday at the creative arts Emmy Awards.
The addictive series based on the works of George R. R. Martin lead the pack, receiving a total of six statuettes at the weekend ceremony. Somewhere, several dire wolves are howling with joy. This was more trophies than any other winning show took home. If you’re a fan, I know you’re not really surprised. These awards, by the way, were designed to recognize technical achievements and give honor in categories not mentioned in more main stream awards programs.
The biggest winner of the night; however, was the Game of Thrones network, HBO, which earned a whopping 17 creative arts Emmys. How did the other networks fare? Well, CBS garnered 13 wins, PBS gathered 11, Discovery won six times, NBC earned five, and ABC and the Cartoon Network both took home four trophies each. Fox won twice.
A few of those categories Game of Thrones was recognized for were best special visual effects, outstanding costumes for a series, outstanding sound editing for a series, and outstanding art direction for a single-camera series. In that last category, Thrones actually tied Boardwalk Empire, but I suppose that was okay since both series belong to HBO.
Game of Thrones will being a drool-worthy third season beginning March 31st, 2013.
If you are wondering about the Emmys we are more familiar with, the telecast with 26 categories, which include acting, writing and directing, will air live on ABC at 8 p.m. EDT next Sunday. It’ll be the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards and Jimmy Kimmel is hosting.
As for the creative arts ceremony, there was at least one major upset of the night. It happened when actor Jeremy Davies won for his guest appearance on the gun-slinging FX series, Justified. Davies plays Dickie Bennett, who is a rival for main character, Deputy Marshall Raylan Givens, played by Timothy Olyphant. Raylan gave Dickie a permanent injury in their younger days and the two are practically mirror images of each other, one light (if not willing to bend the rules more than just a little), and the other dark. I’m a fan of the series and of Davies’s character.
Davies joked,
I have redefined the meaning of flabbergasted. [This] means that I think I’m officially getting away with my misfit self in this business. Is this actually happening? Is it too late for a recount?
Though Davies got the award for best guest on a drama, comedy series Two and a Half Men also shocked by earning a trophy. But it was guest star and long time acting talent Kathy Bates who took home the award for the CBS show. Comedies get a separate category for guest appearances. Though her series, Murphy’s Law was recently cancelled, she’s been nominated for her work there in the category of best drama actress. The results, as I mentioned, will be televised at the Primetime Emmy Award ceremony to air Sept. 23rd.
Moments I personally applaud from the creative arts list of winners are Hatfields & McCoys taking Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries or a Movie and Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Series, which went to So You Think You Can Dance. The latter is in my opinion one of the most dynamic reality show contests on the air.