# 60th Primetime Emmy Awards

The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards were held on Sunday, September 21, 2008, at the newly opened Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California to honor the best in U.S. prime time television. The ceremony was hosted by Tom Bergeron (who was also hosting America's Funniest Home Videos and Dancing with the Stars, both also on ABC, at the time), Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, Jeff Probst, and Ryan Seacrest (all were nominated in the debut category—Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program) and televised in the United States on ABC.
The nominations were announced on July 17 by Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards were held eight days earlier (September 13) at the same venue. The ceremony was hosted by Neil Patrick Harris and Sarah Chalke.
The telecast was viewed by 12.20 million with a household rating of 8.86/12.79 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. Others pointed to the field of nominees which were dominated by low-rated and sparsely viewed programs, 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 ..."
In 2011, when TV Guide Network re-did their list of "25 Biggest TV Blunders", this ceremony was included.
For the first time in a decade, the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series was won by the defending champion. 30 Rock
Outstanding Drama Series went to AMC freshmen series Mad Men. This marked the first series award for a program on a basic cable station. Mad Men led all dramas with six 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

Programs :
| Outstanding Comedy Series 30 Rock (NBC) Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO) Entourage (HBO) The Office (NBC) Two and a Half Men (CBS) | Outstanding Drama Series Mad Men (AMC) Boston Legal (ABC) Damages (FX) Dexter (Showtime) House (Fox) Lost (ABC) |
| Outstanding Made for Television Movie 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) | Outstanding Miniseries John Adams (HBO) The Andromeda Strain (A&E) Cranford (PBS) Tin Man (Sci Fi) |
| Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series 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) | 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

Lead performances :
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock as Jack Donaghy (NBC) Steve Carell – The Office as Michael Scott (NBC) Lee Pace – Pushing Daisies as Ned (ABC) Tony Shalhoub – Monk as Adrian Monk (USA) Charlie Sheen – Two and a Half Men as Charlie Harper (CBS) | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Tina Fey – 30 Rock as Liz Lemon (NBC) Christina Applegate – Samantha Who? as Samantha Newly (ABC) America Ferrera – Ugly Betty as Betty Suarez (ABC) Julia Louis-Dreyfus – The New Adventures of Old Christine as Christine Campbell (CBS) Mary-Louise Parker – Weeds as Nancy Botwin (Showtime) |
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Bryan Cranston – Breaking Bad as Walter White (AMC) Gabriel Byrne – In Treatment as Dr. Paul Weston (HBO) Michael C. Hall – Dexter as Dexter Morgan (Showtime) Jon Hamm – Mad Men as Don Draper (AMC) Hugh Laurie – House as Dr. Gregory House (Fox) James Spader – Boston Legal as Alan Shore (ABC) | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Glenn Close – Damages as Patty Hewes (FX) Sally Field – Brothers & Sisters as Nora Walker (ABC) Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Olivia Benson (NBC) Holly Hunter – Saving Grace as Grace Hanadarko (TNT) Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer as Brenda Leigh Johnson (TNT) |
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie Paul Giamatti – John Adams as John Adams (HBO) Ralph Fiennes – Bernard and Doris as Bernard Lafferty (HBO) Ricky Gervais – Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale as Andy Millman (HBO) Kevin Spacey – Recount as Ron Klain (HBO) Tom Wilkinson – Recount as James Baker (HBO) | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie Laura Linney – John Adams as Abigail Adams (HBO) Judi Dench – Cranford as Matilda "Matty" Jenkyns (PBS) Catherine Keener – An American Crime as Gertrude Baniszewski (Showtime) Phylicia Rashad – A Raisin in the Sun as Lena Younger (ABC) Susan Sarandon – Bernard and Doris as Doris Duke (HBO) |

#### Supporting performances

Supporting performances :
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Jeremy Piven – Entourage as Ari Gold (HBO) Jon Cryer – Two and a Half Men as Dr. Alan Harper (CBS) Kevin Dillon – Entourage as Johnny "Drama" Chase (HBO) Neil Patrick Harris – How I Met Your Mother as Barney Stinson (CBS) Rainn Wilson – The Office as Dwight Schrute (NBC) | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Jean Smart – Samantha Who? as Regina Newly (ABC) Kristin Chenoweth – Pushing Daisies as Olive Snook (ABC) Amy Poehler – Saturday Night Live as various characters (NBC) Holland Taylor – Two and a Half Men as Evelyn Harper (CBS) Vanessa Williams – Ugly Betty as Wilhelmina Slater (ABC) |
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Željko Ivanek – Damages as Ray Fiske (FX) Ted Danson – Damages as Arthur Frobisher (FX) Michael Emerson – Lost as Ben Linus (ABC) William Shatner – Boston Legal as Denny Crane (ABC) John Slattery – Mad Men as Roger Sterling Jr. (AMC) | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Dianne Wiest – In Treatment as Dr. Gina Toll (HBO) Candice Bergen – Boston Legal as Shirley Schmidt (ABC) Rachel Griffiths – Brothers & Sisters as Sarah Whedon (ABC) Sandra Oh – Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Christina Yang (ABC) Chandra Wilson – Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Miranda Bailey (ABC) |
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie Tom Wilkinson – John Adams as Benjamin Franklin (HBO) Bob Balaban – Recount as Benjamin Ginsberg (HBO) Stephen Dillane – John Adams as Thomas Jefferson (HBO) Denis Leary – Recount as Michael Whouley (HBO) David Morse – John Adams as George Washington (HBO) | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie Eileen Atkins – Cranford as Deborah Jenkyns (PBS) Laura Dern – Recount as Katherine Harris (HBO) Ashley Jensen – Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale as Maggie Jacobs (HBO) Audra McDonald – A Raisin in the Sun as Ruth Younger (ABC) Alfre Woodard – Pictures of Hollis Woods as Edna Reilly (CBS) |

#### Individual performances

Individual performances :
* Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
* Don Rickles – Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (HBO)
* Stephen Colbert – The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
* Tina Fey – Saturday Night Live (NBC)
* David Letterman – Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)
* Jon Stewart – The 80th Annual Academy Awards (ABC)

### Hosting

Hosting :
* Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program
* Jeff Probst – Survivor (CBS)
* Tom Bergeron – Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
* Heidi Klum – Project Runway (Bravo)
* Howie Mandel – Deal or No Deal (NBC)
* Ryan Seacrest – American Idol (Fox)

### Directing

Directing :
| Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series Pushing Daisies: "Pie-lette" – Barry Sonnenfeld (ABC) 30 Rock: "Rosemary's Baby" – Michael Engler (NBC) Entourage: "No Cannes Do" – Dan Attias (HBO) Flight of the Conchords: "Sally Returns" – James Bobin (HBO) The Office: "Goodbye, Toby" – Paul Feig (NBC) The Office: "Money" – Paul Lieberstein (NBC) | Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series House: "House's Head" – Greg Yaitanes (Fox) Boston Legal: "The Mighty Rogues" – Arlene Sanford (ABC) Breaking Bad: "Pilot" – Vince Gilligan (AMC) Damages: "Get Me a Lawyer" – Allen Coulter (FX) Mad Men: "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" – Alan Taylor (AMC) |
| Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program The 80th Annual Academy Awards – Louis J. Horvitz (ABC) The Colbert Report – Jim Hoskinson (Comedy Central) Company (Great Performances) – Lonny Price (PBS) The Daily Show with Jon Stewart – Chuck O'Neil (Comedy Central) Saturday Night Live – Don Roy King (NBC) | Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special Recount – Jay Roach (HBO) Bernard and Doris – Bob Balaban (HBO) The Company – Mikael Salomon (TNT) Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale – Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant (HBO) John Adams – Tom Hooper (HBO) |

### Writing

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

## Most major nominations

Networks with multiple major nominations :
| Network | No. of Nominations |
| HBO | 44 |
| NBC | 30 |
| ABC | 29 |
| CBS | 11 |
Programs with multiple major nominations :
| Program | Category | Network | No. of Nominations |
| John Adams | Miniseries | HBO | 8 |
| Recount | Movie | HBO | 8 |
| 30 Rock | Comedy | NBC | 6 |
| Damages | Drama | FX | 6 |
| Mad Men | Drama | AMC | 6 |
| The Office | Comedy | NBC | 6 |
| Bernard and Doris | Movie | HBO | 5 |
| Boston Legal | Drama | ABC | 5 |
| Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale | Movie | HBO | 5 |
| Saturday Night Live | Variety | NBC | 5 |
| The Colbert Report | Variety | Comedy Central | 4 |
| Cranford | Miniseries | PBS | 4 |
| Entourage | Comedy | HBO | 4 |
| Pushing Daisies | Comedy | ABC | 4 |
| Two and a Half Men | Comedy | CBS | 4 |
| The Daily Show with Jon Stewart | Variety | Comedy Central | 3 |
| House | Drama | Fox | 3 |
| Late Show with David Letterman | Variety | CBS | 3 |
| A Raisin in the Sun | Movie | ABC | 3 |
| The 80th Annual Academy Awards | Variety | ABC | 2 |
| American Idol | Competition | Fox | 2 |
| Breaking Bad | Drama | AMC | 2 |
| Brothers & Sisters | Drama | ABC | 2 |
| Dancing with the Stars | Competition | ABC | 2 |
| Dexter | Drama | Showtime | 2 |
| Flight of the Conchords | Comedy | HBO | 2 |
| Great Performances | Variety | PBS | 2 |
| Grey's Anatomy | Drama | ABC | 2 |
| In Treatment | Drama | HBO | 2 |
| Lost | Drama | ABC | 2 |
| Project Runway | Competition | Bravo | 2 |
| Samantha Who? | Comedy | ABC | 2 |
| Ugly Betty | Comedy | ABC | 2 |

## Most major awards

Networks with multiple major awards :
| Network | No. of Awards |
| HBO | 10 |
| NBC | 4 |
| ABC | 3 |
| AMC | 3 |
| CBS | 2 |
| Comedy Central | 2 |
| FX | 2 |
Programs with multiple major awards :
| Program | Category | Network | No. of Awards |
| John Adams | Miniseries | HBO | 5 |
| 30 Rock | Comedy | NBC | 4 |
| Damages | Drama | FX | 2 |
| Mad Men | Drama | AMC | 2 |
| Recount | Movie | HBO | 2 |

### Notes

* 1 2 "Major" constitutes the categories listed above: Program, Acting, Directing, and Writing. Does not include the technical categories.

## Presenters

The awards were presented by the following:
| Name(s) | Role |
| Tina Fey Amy Poehler | Presenters of the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series |
| Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Presenter of the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series |
| Marcia Cross Dana Delany Teri Hatcher Felicity Huffman Eva Longoria Nicolette Sheridan | Presenters of the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series |
| Ricky Gervais | Presenter of the award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program |
| Conan O'Brien | Presenter of the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series |
| Steve Martin | Presenter of the award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program |
| Alec Baldwin | Presenter of the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie |
| Ruth Buzzi Gary Owens Alan Sues Lily Tomlin Jo Anne Worley | Presenters of the award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series |
| David Boreanaz Lauren Conrad | Introducers of Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series winner Kathryn Joosten |
| Kathryn Joosten | Presenter of the award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series |
| David Boreanaz Lauren Conrad | Presenters of the award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series |
| Christina Applegate Christian Slater | Presenters of the award for Outstanding Made for Television Movie |
| Laurence Fishburne William Petersen | Presenters of the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie |
| Stephen Colbert Jon Stewart | Presenters of the awards for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special and Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special |
| Patrick Dempsey Sandra Oh | Presenters of the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie |
| Kathy Griffin Don Rickles | Presenters of the award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program |
| Sally Field | Presenter of the award for Outstanding Miniseries |
| Kristin Chenoweth Neil Patrick Harris | Presenters of the award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program |
| Wayne Brady Kate Walsh | Introducers of Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series winner Glynn Turman and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series winner Cynthia Nixon |
| Cynthia Nixon Glynn Turman | Presenters of the award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series |
| Glenn Close | Presenter of the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie |
| Candice Bergen | Presenter of the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series |
| America Ferrera Vanessa Williams | Presenters of the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series |
| Kiefer Sutherland | Presenter of the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series |
| Craig Ferguson Brooke Shields | Presenters of the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series |
| Jimmy Kimmel | Presenter of the award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program |
| Mary Tyler Moore Betty White | Presenters of the award for Outstanding Comedy Series |
| Tom Selleck | Presenter of the award for Outstanding Drama Series |

## In Memoriam

* George Carlin (twice)
* Bernie Brillstein
* Joey Bishop
* William F. Buckley Jr.
* Charlton Heston
* Les Crane
* Alice Ghostley
* Ivan Dixon
* Cyd Charisse
* Mel Ferrer
* Claudio Guzmán
* Barry Morse
* Deborah Kerr
* Larry Harmon
* Estelle Getty
* Roger King
* Sydney Pollack
* Ron Leavitt
* Bernie Mac
* Eric Lieber
* Suzanne Pleshette
* Abby Mann
* Dick Martin
* Delbert Mann
* Harvey Korman
* Jim McKay
* Lois Nettleton
* Mel Tolkin
* Richard Widmark
* Stan Winston
* Tim Russert
* Isaac Hayes