60th Primetime Emmy Awards

60th Primetime Emmy Awards
Date	September 21, 2008 (Ceremony) September 13, 2008 (Creative Arts Awards)
Location	Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, California
Host	Tom Bergeron Heidi Klum Howie Mandel Jeff Probst Ryan Seacrest[1]
Television/Radio coverage
Network	ABC
Producer	Ken Ehrlich[2]
< 59th Primetime Emmy Awards 61st >

The 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards was 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^[1] (all were nominated in the debut category, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program) and televised in the United States on ABC.

The nominees were announced on July 17 by nominees Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris and Academy president John Schaffley.^[4] The Creative Arts Awards was 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 cited lackluster performances from the five hosts as a reason for the huge decline.^[7] Others pointed 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]

When TV Guide Network re-did their "25 Biggest TV Blunders" list in 2011, the ceremony was included.

For the first time in a decade, the Outstanding Comedy Series award was won by the defending champion. 30 Rock was the top show of the night receiving five major awards, including the top prize. It also made history when it tied the record for most major nominations by a comedy series of 13 set by The Cosby Show in 1986, it would break this record the next year. It set another record when it received seven nominations in the guest acting categories, a mark that has not been matched since.

Outstanding Drama Series went to freshmen series Mad Men. This marked the first series award for a program on a basic cable station. Mad Men led all dramas with seven major nominations.

This would be the final ceremony to have five nominees per category, most major categories (acting, and programs) were expanded to include at least six slots the following year.

Winners and nominees

Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.

Programs

Outstanding Comedy Series	Outstanding Drama Series
30 Rock (NBC) Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO) Entourage (HBO) The Office (NBC) Two and a Half Men (CBS)	Mad Men (AMC) Boston Legal (ABC) Damages (FX) Dexter (Showtime) House (Fox) Lost (ABC)
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 (NBC) Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO) Saturday Night Live (NBC)	Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (HBO) Bill Maher: The Decider (HBO) George Carlin... It's Bad for Ya! (HBO) Great Performances (Episode: "James Taylor: One Man Band") (PBS) Kathy Griffin: Straight to Hell (Bravo) Kennedy Center Honors (CBS)
Outstanding Made for Television Movie	Outstanding Miniseries
Recount (HBO) Bernard and Doris (HBO) Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale (HBO) The Memory Keeper's Daughter (Lifetime) A Raisin in the Sun (ABC)	John Adams (HBO) The Andromeda Strain (A&E) Cranford (PBS) Tin Man (Sci-Fi)
Outstanding Reality/Competition Program
The Amazing Race (CBS) American Idol (Fox) Dancing with the Stars (ABC) Project Runway (Bravo) Top Chef (Bravo)

Acting

Lead performances

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy on 30 Rock (Episode: "Rosemary's Baby") (NBC) Steve Carell as Michael Scott on The Office (Episode: "Goodbye, Toby") (NBC) Lee Pace as Ned on Pushing Daisies (Episode: "Pie-lette") (ABC) Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk on Monk (Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Naked Man") (USA) Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper on Two and a Half Men (Episode: "Is There a Mrs. Waffles?") (CBS)	Tina Fey as Liz Lemon on 30 Rock (Episode: "Sandwich Day") (NBC) Christina Applegate as Samantha Newly on Samantha Who? (Episode: "The Restraining Order") (ABC) America Ferrera as Betty Suarez on Ugly Betty (Episode: "Odor in the Court") (ABC) Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell on The New Adventures of Old Christine (Episode: "One and a Half Men") (CBS) Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin on Weeds (Episode: "Bill Sussman") (Showtime)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Bryan Cranston as Walter White on Breaking Bad (Episode: "Pilot") (AMC) Gabriel Byrne as Dr. Paul Weston on In Treatment (Episode: "Week 4: Paul and Gina") (HBO) Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan on Dexter (Episode: "There's Something About Harry") (Showtime) Jon Hamm as Don Draper on Mad Men (Episode: "The Wheel") (AMC) James Spader as Alan Shore on Boston Legal (Episode: "The Court Supreme") (ABC) Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House on House (Episode: "House's Head") (Fox)	Glenn Close as Patty Hewes on Damages (Episode: "Get Me a Lawyer") (FX) Sally Field as Nora Walker on Brothers & Sisters (Episode: "History Repeating") (ABC) Mariska Hargitay as Det. Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Episode: "Undercover") (NBC) Holly Hunter as Grace Hanadarko on Saving Grace (Episode: "Tacos, Tulips, Duck, and Spices") (TNT) Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson on The Closer (Episode: "Manhunt") (TNT)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
Paul Giamatti as John Adams on John Adams (HBO) Ralph Fiennes as Bernard Lafferty on Bernard and Doris (HBO) Ricky Gervais as Andy Millman on Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale (HBO) Kevin Spacey as Ron Klain on Recount (HBO) Tom Wilkinson as James Baker on Recount (HBO)	Laura Linney as Abigail Adams on John Adams (HBO) Judi Dench as Matilda "Matty" Jenkyns on Cranford (PBS) Catherine Keener as Gertrude Baniszewski on An American Crime (Showtime) Phylicia Rashād as Lena Younger on A Raisin in the Sun (ABC) Susan Sarandon as Doris Duke on Bernard and Doris (HBO)

Supporting performances

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold on Entourage (Episode: "The Day Fuckers") (HBO) Jon Cryer as Dr. Alan Harper on Two and a Half Men (Episode: "Meander to Your Dander") (CBS) Kevin Dillon as Johnny "Drama" Chase on Entourage (Episode: "The Dream Team") (HBO) Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother (Episode: "The Goat") (CBS) Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute on The Office ("Money") (NBC)	Jean Smart as Regina Newly on Samantha Who? (Episode: "The Girlfriend") (ABC) Kristin Chenoweth as Olive Snook on Pushing Daisies (Episode: "Girth") (ABC) Amy Poehler as Various Characters on Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host: Tina Fey") (NBC) Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper on Two and a Half Men (Episode: "Media Room Slash Dungeon") (CBS) Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater on Ugly Betty (Episode: "Bananas for Betty") (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Željko Ivanek as Ray Fiske on Damages (Episode: "I Hate These People") (FX) Ted Danson as Arthur Frobisher on Damages (Episode: "Jesus, Mary, and Joe Cocker") (FX) Michael Emerson as Ben Linus on Lost (Episode: "The Shape of Things to Come") (ABC) William Shatner as Denny Crane on Boston Legal (Episode: "Mad About You") (ABC) John Slattery as Roger Sterling, Jr. on Mad Men (Episode: "Long Weekend") (AMC)	Dianne Wiest as Dr. Gina Toll on In Treatment (Episode: "Week 6: Paul and Gina") (HBO) Candice Bergen as Shirley Schmidt on Boston Legal (Episode: "The Mighty Rogues") (ABC) Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon on Brothers and Sisters (Episode: "Domestic Issues") (ABC) Sandra Oh as Dr. Christina Yang on Grey's Anatomy (Episode: "The Becoming") (ABC) Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey on Grey's Anatomy (Episode: "Lay Your Hands on Me") (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
Tom Wilkinson as Benjamin Franklin on John Adams (HBO) Bob Balaban as Benjamin Ginsberg on Recount (HBO) Stephen Dillane as Thomas Jefferson on John Adams (HBO) Denis Leary as Michael Whouley on Recount (HBO) David Morse on George Washington in John Adams (HBO)	Eileen Atkins as Deborah Jenkyns on Cranford (PBS) Laura Dern as Katherine Harris on Recount (HBO) Ashley Jensen as Maggie Jacobs on Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale (HBO) Audra McDonald as Ruth Younger on A Raisin in the Sun (ABC) Alfre Woodard as Edna Reilly on Pictures of Hollis Woods (CBS)

Guest performances

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series	Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Tim Conway as Bucky Bright on 30 Rock (Episode: "Subway Hero") (NBC) Will Arnett as Devon Banks on 30 Rock (Episode: "Jack Gets in the Game") (NBC) Shelley Berman as Nat David on Curb Your Enthusiasm (Episode: "The Rat Dog") (HBO) Steve Buscemi as Lenny "Len" Wosniak on 30 Rock (Episode: "The Collection") (NBC) Rip Torn as Don Geiss on 30 Rock (Episode: "Jack Gets in the Game") (NBC)	Kathryn Joosten as Karen McCluskey on Desperate Housewives (Episode: "Welcome to Kanagawa") (ABC) Polly Bergen as Stella Wingfield on Desperate Housewives (Episode: "Distant Past") (ABC) Edie Falco as Celeste "C.C." Cunningham on 30 Rock (Episode: "Episode 210") (NBC) Carrie Fisher as Rosemary Howard on 30 Rock (Episode: "Rosemary's Baby") (NBC) Sarah Silverman as Marci Maven on Monk (Episode: "Mr. Monk and His Biggest Fan") (USA) Elaine Stritch as Colleen Donaghy on 30 Rock (Episode: "Ludachristmas") (NBC)
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series	Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Glynn Turman as Alex Prince, Sr. on In Treatment (Episode: "Week 8: Alex") (HBO) Charles Durning as John Gavin, Sr. on Rescue Me (Episode: "Yaz") (FX) Robert Morse as Bertram "Bert" Cooper on Mad Men (Episode: "Nixon vs. Kennedy") (AMC) Oliver Platt as Freddie Prune on Nip/Tuck (Episode: "Carly Summers") (FX) Stanley Tucci as Dr. Kevin Moretti on ER (Episode: "The War Comes Home") (NBC) Robin Williams as Merritt Rook on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Episode: "Authority") (NBC)	Cynthia Nixon as Janis Donovan on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Episode: "Alternate") (NBC) Ellen Burstyn as Nancy Dutton on Big Love (Episode: "Take Me As I Am") (HBO) Diahann Carroll as Jane Burke on Grey's Anatomy (Episode: "Love/Addiction") (ABC) Sharon Gless as Colleen Rose on Nip/Tuck (Episode: "Kyle Ainge") (FX) Anjelica Huston as Cynthia Keener on Medium (Episode: "Wicked Game: Part II") (NBC)

Hosting

Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program
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)

Directing

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series	Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
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) Michael Engler for 30 Rock (Episode: "Rosemary's Baby") (NBC) Paul Feig for The Office (Episode: "Goodbye, Toby") (NBC) Paul Lieberstein for The Office (Episode: "Money") (NBC)	Greg Yaitanes for House (Episode: "House's Head") (Fox) Allen Coulter for Damages (Episode: "Get Me a Lawyer") (FX) Vince Gilligan for Breaking Bad (Episode: "Pilot") (AMC) Arlene Sanford for Boston Legal (Episode: "The Mighty Rogues") (ABC) Alan Taylor for Mad Men (Episode: "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes") (AMC)
Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program	Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
Louis J. Horvitz for The 80th Annual Academy Awards (ABC) Jim Hoskinson for The Colbert Report (Comedy Central) Don Roy King for Saturday Night Live (NBC) Chuck O'Neil for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central) Lonny Price for Company (PBS)	Jay Roach for Recount (HBO) Bob Balaban for Bernard and Doris (HBO) Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant for Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale (HBO) Tom Hooper for John Adams (HBO) Mikael Salomon for The Company (TNT)

Writing

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series	Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
Tina Fey for 30 Rock (Episode: "Cooter") (NBC) James Bobin, Jemaine Clement, and Bret McKenzie for Flight of the Conchords (Episode: "Yoko") (HBO) Jack Burditt for 30 Rock (Episode: "Rosemary's Baby") (NBC) Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stupnitsky for The Office (Episode: "Dinner Party") (NBC) Bryan Fuller for Pushing Daisies (Episode: "Pie-lette") (ABC)	Matthew Weiner for Mad Men (Episode: "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes") (AMC) Michael Angeli for Battlestar Galactica (Episode: "Six of One") (Sci-Fi) Ed Burns, David Simon for The Wire (Episode: "–30–") (HBO) Glenn Kessler, Todd A. Kessler, Daniel Zelman for Damages (Episode: "Get Me a Lawyer") (FX) Robin Veith, Matthew Weiner for Mad Men (Episode: "The Wheel") (AMC)
Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program	Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
The Colbert Report (Comedy Central) The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central) Late Night with Conan O'Brien (NBC) Late Show with David Letterman (CBS) Saturday Night Live (HBO)	Kirk Ellis for John Adams (Episode: "Part II: Independence") (HBO) Hugh Costello for Bernard and Doris (HBO) Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant for Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale (HBO) Danny Strong for Recount (HBO) Heidi Thomas for Cranford (PBS)

Most major nominations

By network ^{[note 1]}

• HBO – 44
• NBC – 30
• ABC – 29
• CBS – 11

By program

• 30 Rock (NBC) – 13
• John Adams (HBO) / Recount (HBO) – 8
• Mad Men (AMC) – 7
• Damages (FX) / The Office (NBC) – 6

Most major awards

By network ^{[note 1]}

• HBO – 11
• NBC – 6
• ABC – 4
• AMC – 3
• CBS / FX / Comedy Central – 2

By program

• 30 Rock (NBC) / John Adams (HBO) – 5

Notes

In Memoriam

References

External links

• Academy of Television Arts and Sciences website
• Emmys.com list of 2008 Nominees & Winners
• 2008 Emmy Awards at the Internet Movie Database

Emmy Awards ATAS NATAS International TV Academy Primetime Emmys (categories) (winners) Main ceremonies 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Creative Arts 2007 2011 2012 2013 2014 Daytime Emmys (categories) (winners) Main ceremonies 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Creative Arts 2012 2013 2014 2015 International Emmys (categories) (winners) 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Sports Emmys (categories) 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Technology & Engineering Emmys 2006 2007 2008 2009 News & Documentary Emmys 2010 2011 2012 2013 Regional Emmys Chicago / Midwest Heartlands Lone Star Los Angeles Lower Great Lakes Michigan Mid-America Mid-Atlantic Midsouth National Capital/Chesapeake Bay New England New York Northwest Ohio Valley Pacific Southwest Rocky Mountain/Southwest San Francisco / Northern California Atlanta/Southeast Suncoast Upper Midwest Bob Hope Humanitarian Award EGOT