61st Primetime Emmy Awards
Date	September 20, 2009
Site	Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, California
Creative Arts Awards	September 12, 2009
Host	Neil Patrick Harris (Primetime) Kathy Griffin (Creative Arts)
TV in the United States
Network	CBS (Primetime) E! (Creative Arts)
< 60th Primetime Primetime Emmy Awards 62nd Primetime >

The 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards took place on September 20, 2009.^[1] CBS broadcasted the Primetime event and E! the Creative Arts event; both take place at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The nominations for the Awards were announced on July 16.^[2]

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced in July 2009 that Neil Patrick Harris would host the Primetime event.^[3] The Creative Arts Emmys for primetime were hosted by Kathy Griffin.^[4]

After the previous year's lackluster performance in ratings, the Emmy Awards were hoping to achieve success by selecting Harris as sole host, as opposed to a group of hosts as in the previous year. The 61st Primetime Emmy awards earned a 4.2 rating in the 18-49 demo and drew 13.3 million, 1.1 million more than the previous year's all-time low.^[5]

Contents 1 Primetime Telecast nominations 1.1 Network breakdown 2 Results 2.1 Programs 2.2 Acting 2.2.1 Lead roles 2.2.2 Supporting roles 2.3 Hosting 2.4 Directing 2.5 Writing 3 Creative Arts awards 3.1 Programs 3.2 Directing 3.3 Guest acting 4 References 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] Primetime Telecast nominations

• Winners are listed first in bold.

[edit] Network breakdown

Network	Nominations	Awards[6]
HBO	99	21
NBC	67	16
ABC	55	10
CBS	49	9
Fox	42	10
Showtime	29	6
PBS	26	9
AMC	23	5
Comedy Central	13	3
Bravo	11	1
FX	11	2
TNT	10	0
Disney Channel	3	2
Nickelodeon	2	0

[edit] Results

Nominees and winners in the categories Programs, Acting, Hosting, Directing and Writing include:

[edit] Programs

Outstanding Drama Series	Outstanding Comedy Series
Mad Men (AMC) Big Love (HBO) Breaking Bad (AMC) Damages (FX) Dexter (Showtime) House (Fox) Lost (ABC)	30 Rock (NBC) Entourage (HBO) Family Guy (Fox) Flight of the Conchords (HBO) How I Met Your Mother (CBS) The Office (NBC) Weeds (Showtime)
Outstanding Miniseries	Outstanding Made for Television Movie
Little Dorrit (PBS) Generation Kill (HBO)	Grey Gardens (HBO) Coco Chanel (Lifetime) Into the Storm (HBO) Prayers for Bobby (Lifetime) Taking Chance (HBO)
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series	Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central) The Colbert Report (Comedy Central) Late Show with David Letterman (CBS) Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO) Saturday Night Live (NBC)	The Kennedy Center Honors (CBS) Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger (HBO) Kathy Griffin: She'll Cut a Bitch (Bravo) Ricky Gervais: Out of England -- The Stand-Up Special (HBO) You're Welcome America: A Final Night with George W. Bush (HBO)
Outstanding Reality-Competition Program	Special Class Animated Program
The Amazing Race (CBS) American Idol (Fox) Dancing with the Stars (ABC) Project Runway (Bravo) Top Chef (Bravo)	Phineas and Ferb (Disney Channel) SpongeBob SquarePants (Nickelodeon)

[edit] Acting

[edit] Lead roles

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Bryan Cranston for playing Walter White on Breaking Bad (AMC) Simon Baker for playing Patrick Jane on The Mentalist (CBS) 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)	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) Elisabeth Moss for playing Peggy Olson on Mad Men (AMC) Kyra Sedgwick for playing Brenda Leigh Johnson on The Closer (TNT)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin for playing Jack Donaghy on 30 Rock (NBC) Steve Carell for playing Michael Scott on The Office (NBC) Jemaine Clement for playing Jemaine on Flight of the Conchords (HBO) Jim Parsons for playing Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory (CBS) Tony Shalhoub for playing Adrian Monk on Monk (USA) Charlie Sheen for playing Charlie Harper on Two and a Half Men (CBS)	Toni Collette for playing Tara Gregson/Alice/Buck/T on United States of Tara (Showtime) Christina Applegate for playing Samantha "Sam" Newly on Samantha Who? (ABC) Tina Fey for playing Liz Lemon on 30 Rock (NBC) 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) Sarah Silverman for playing Sarah Silverman on The Sarah Silverman Program (Comedy Central)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
Brendan Gleeson for playing Winston Churchill on Into the Storm (HBO) Kevin Bacon for playing Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl on Taking Chance (HBO) Kenneth Branagh for playing Kurt Wallander on Wallander: One Step Behind (PBS) Kevin Kline for playing Cyrano de Bergerac on Cyrano de Bergerac (Great Performances) (PBS) Ian McKellen for playing King Lear on King Lear (Greatest Performances) (PBS) Kiefer Sutherland for playing Jack Bauer on 24: Redemption (Fox)	Jessica Lange for playing Edith "Big Edie" Ewing Bouvier Beale on Grey Gardens (HBO) Drew Barrymore for playing Edith "Little Edie" Bouvier Beale on Grey Gardens (HBO) Shirley MacLaine for playing Coco Chanel on Coco Chanel (Lifetime) Sigourney Weaver for playing Mary Griffith on Prayers for Bobby (Lifetime) Chandra Wilson for playing Yvonne on Accidental Friendship (Hallmark Channel)

[edit] Supporting roles

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Michael Emerson for playing Benjamin Linus on Lost (ABC) Christian Clemenson for playing Jerry Espenson on Boston Legal (ABC) William Hurt for playing Daniel Purcell on Damages (FX) Aaron Paul for playing Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad (AMC) William Shatner for playing Denny Crane on Boston Legal (ABC) John Slattery for playing Roger Sterling on Mad Men (AMC)	Cherry Jones for playing President Allison Taylor on 24 (Fox) Rose Byrne for playing Ellen Parsons on Damages (FX) Hope Davis for playing Mia on In Treatment (HBO) Sandra Oh for playing Dr. Cristina Yang on Grey's Anatomy (ABC) Dianne Wiest for playing Gina on In Treatment (HBO) Chandra Wilson for playing Dr. Miranda Bailey on Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
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) Jack McBrayer for playing Kenneth Parcell on 30 Rock (NBC) Tracy Morgan for playing Tracy Jordan on 30 Rock (NBC) Rainn Wilson for playing Dwight Schrute on The Office (NBC)	Kristin Chenoweth for playing Olive Snook on Pushing Daisies (ABC) Jane Krakowski for playing Jenna Maroney on 30 Rock (NBC) Elizabeth Perkins for playing Celia Hodes on Weeds (Showtime) Amy Poehler for playing various characters on Saturday Night Live (NBC) Kristen Wiig for playing various characters on Saturday Night Live (NBC) 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
Ken Howard for playing Phelan Beale on Grey Gardens (HBO) Len Cariou for playing Franklin D. Roosevelt on Into The Storm (HBO) Sir Tom Courtenay for playing Mr.Dorrit on Little Dorrit (PBS) Andy Serkis for playing Rigaud on Little Dorrit (PBS) Bob Newhart for playing Judson on The Librarian (TNT)	Shohreh Aghdashloo for playing Sajida on House Of Saddam (HBO) Jeanne Tripplehorn for playing Jackie O. on Grey Gardens (HBO) Janet McTeer for playing Clementine Churchill on Into The Storm (HBO) Cicely Tyson for playing Pearl on Relative Stranger (Hallmark) Marcia Gay Harden for playing Janina on The Courageous Heart Of Irena Sendler (Hallmark Hall Of Fame Presentation) (CBS)

[edit] Hosting

Outstanding Host for a Reality Show or Reality Competition
Jeff Probst for Survivor (CBS) Tom Bergeron for Dancing with the Stars (ABC) Phil Keoghan for The Amazing Race (CBS) Heidi Klum for Project Runway (Bravo) Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio for Top Chef (Bravo) Ryan Seacrest for American Idol (Fox)

[edit] Directing

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series	Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
Rod Holcomb for ER (episode: "And in the End") (NBC) Phil Abraham for Mad Men (episode "The Jet Set") (AMC) Bill D'Elia for Boston Legal (episode: "Made In China/Last Call") (ABC) Todd A. Kessler for Damages (episode: "Trust Me") (FX) Michael Rymer for Battlestar Galactica (episode: "Daybreak Part 2") (Syfy)	Jeffrey Blitz for The Office (episode: "Stress Relief") (NBC) James Bobin for Flight of the Conchords (episode: "The Tough Brets") (HBO) Julian Farino for Entourage (episode: "Tree Trippers") (HBO) Todd Holland for 30 Rock (episode: "Generalissimo") (NBC) Beth McCarthy-Miller for 30 Rock (episode: "Reunion") (NBC) Millicent Shelton for 30 Rock (episode "Apollo, Apollo") (NBC)
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special	Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music Or Comedy Special
Dearbhla Walsh for Little Dorrit (Part 1) (PBS) Ross Katz for Taking Chance (HBO) Philip Martin for Wallander: One Step Behind (PBS) Thaddeus O'Sullivan for Into the Storm (HBO) Michael Sucsy for Grey Gardens (HBO) Susanna White for Generation Kill (episode: "Bomb in the Garden") (HBO)	American Idol for Show 833 (The Final Three), Bruce Gowers, Director (Fox) Late Show With David Letterman for Episode 2932 Jerry Foley, Director (CBS) Real Time With Bill Maher Hal Grant, Director (HBO) Saturday Night Live Don Roy King, Director (NBC) The Colbert Report Jim Hoskinson, Director (Comedy Central) The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Chuck O'Neil, Director (Comedy Central)

[edit] Writing

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series	Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
Kater Gordon and Matthew Weiner for Mad Men (episode: "Meditations in an Emergency") (AMC) Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof for Lost (episode: "The Incident") (ABC) Andre Jacquemetton, Maria Jacquemetton and Matthew Weiner for Mad Men (episode: "Six Month Leave") (AMC) Robin Veith and Matthew Weiner for Mad Men (episode: "A Night to Remember") (AMC) Matthew Weiner for Mad Men (episode: "The Jet Set") (AMC)	Matt Hubbard for 30 Rock (episode: "Reunion") (NBC) James Bobin, Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie for Flight of the Conchords (episode: "Prime Minister") (HBO) Jack Burditt and Robert Carlock for 30 Rock (episode: "Kidney Now!") (NBC) Robert Carlock for 30 Rock (episode: "Apollo, Apollo") (NBC) Ron Weiner for 30 Rock (episode "Mamma Mia") (NBC)
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special	Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special
Andrew Davies for Little Dorrit (PBS) David Simon for Generation Kill (episode: "Bomb in the Garden") (HBO) Michael Sucsy and Patricia Rozema for Grey Gardens (HBO) Michael Strobl and Ross Katz for Taking Chance (HBO) Hugh Whitemore for Into the Storm (HBO)	Chris Rock for Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger (HBO) 81st Annual Academy Awards (ABC) Louis C.K. for Louis C.K.: Chewed Up (Showtime) Will Ferrell for Will Ferrell: You're Welcome America. A Last Night with George W. Bush (HBO) Ricky Gervais for Ricky Gervais: Out of England (HBO)
Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Series	Outstanding Writing for Nonfictional Programming
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central) Late Night with Conan O'Brien (NBC) Late Show with David Letterman (CBS) Saturday Night Live (NBC) The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)	Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (HBO) American Experience (episode: "The Trials Of J. Robert Oppenheimer") (PBS) American Masters (episode: "Jerome Robbins: Something To Dance About") (PBS) Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business Of America (episode: "When I'm Bad, I'm Better--The Groundbreakers") (PBS) Penn & Teller: Bullshit! (episode: "New Age Medicine") (Showtime)

[edit] Creative Arts awards

The Prime time Creative Arts Emmy Awards for 2009 included an expanded list of categories. According to the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences:

The majority of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, which honor excellence in more than 70 categories, are dedicated to key technical disciplines and behind-the-scenes crafts essential to television production — including art direction, cinematography, hairstyling, makeup, music, picture editing, sound editing and mixing, special visual effects, stunts and more. Awards are also handed out for animation, commercials, reality series and other programming, as well as four [Outstanding Guest] acting categories.^[4]

[edit] Programs

Outstanding Reality Program	Outstanding Children's Program
Intervention (A&E) Antiques Roadshow (PBS) Dirty Jobs (Discovery Channel) Dog Whisperer (National Geographic Channel) Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (Bravo) MythBusters (Discovery Channel)	Wizards of Waverly Place (Disney Channel) Hannah Montana (Disney Channel) iCarly (Nickelodeon)

[edit] Directing

Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special	Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming
Bucky Gunts for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony (NBC) Marty Callner for Will Ferrell: You're Welcome America. A Last Night with George W. Bush (HBO) Roger Goodman for 81st Annual Academy Awards (ABC) Don Mischer for Bruce Springsteen Super Bowl Halftime Show (NBC) Glenn Weiss for The Neighborhood Ball: An Inauguration Celebration (ABC)	Marina Zenovich for Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (HBO)

[edit] Guest acting

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series	Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Michael J. Fox for playing Dwight on Rescue Me (episode: "Sheila") (FX) Edward Asner for playing Abraham Klein on CSI: NY (episode: "Yahrzeit") (CBS) Ernest Borgnine for playing Paul Manning on ER (episode: "And in the End") (NBC) Ted Danson for playing Arthur Forbisher on Damages (episode: "They Had to Tweeze That Out of My Kidney") (FX) Jimmy Smits for playing Miguel Prado on Dexter (episode: "Go Your Own Way") (Showtime)	Ellen Burstyn for playing Bernardette Stabler on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (episode: "Swing") (NBC) Brenda Blethyn for playing Linnie Malcolm/Caroline Cantwell on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (episode: "Persona") (NBC) Carol Burnett for playing Bridget "Birdie" Sulloway on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (episode: "Ballerina") (NBC) Sharon Lawrence for playing Robbie Stevens on Grey's Anatomy (episode: "No Good At Saying Sorry (One More Chance)") (ABC) C. C. H. Pounder for playing Mrs. Curtin on The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (episode: "The Boy With The African Heart") (HBO)
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series	Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Justin Timberlake for playing various characters on Saturday Night Live (episode: "Host: Justin Timberlake") (NBC) Alan Alda for playing Milton Greene on 30 Rock (episode: "Mamma Mia") (NBC) Beau Bridges for playing Eli Scruggs on Desperate Housewives (episode: "The Best Thing That Ever Could Have Happened") (ABC) Jon Hamm for playing Dr. Drew Baird on 30 Rock (episode: "The Bubble") (NBC) Steve Martin for playing Gavin Volure on 30 Rock (episode: "Gavin Volure") (NBC)	Tina Fey for playing Governor Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live (episode: "Presidential Bash 2008") (NBC) Jennifer Aniston for playing Claire on 30 Rock (episode: "The One With The Cast Of 'Night Court'") (NBC) Christine Baranski for playing Beverly Hofstadter on The Big Bang Theory (episode: "The Maternal Capacitance") (CBS) Gena Rowlands for playing Marge on Monk (episode: "Mr. Monk And The Lady Next Door") (USA) Elaine Stritch for playing Colleen Donaghy on 30 Rock (episode: "Christmas Special") (NBC) Betty White for playing Crazy Witch Lady on My Name Is Earl (episode: "Witch Lady") (NBC)

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
• Emmy Awards
• 66th Golden Globe Awards
• 15th Screen Actors Guild Awards

[edit] External links

• Academy of Television Arts and Sciences website

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