HBO’s “Game of Thrones” leads at this year’s Emmys with a remarkable 24 nominations, more than twice as many as the next most honored dramas (“Mad Men” and “House of Cards,” tied at 11). Of those two dozen bids for this fantasy series, 17 were at Saturday night’s Creative Arts ceremony spread across 13 categories. It won a record eight of those. Will it break the Emmy record for most victories by a series in a single year when the rest of its categories are announced at the primetime telecast on September 20?
Creative Arts Emmys: ‘Game of Thrones’ wins record 8, ‘AHS: Freak Show’ takes 5
“The West Wing” won a record nine Emmys including Best Drama Series for its debut season in 2000. “Game Thrones” could shatter that record. The HBO fantasy series had never pulled off as big a sweep of below-the-line categories as it did at this year’s Creative Arts event; the most it won was six in 2012, but out of just 10 Creative Arts nominations. It has increased its nominations haul every year, and true to form it has won more than ever.
Take a look at its history of Creative Arts wins:
2011: one of nine (Title Design)
2012: six of 10 (Art Direction, Costumes, Make-up, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects)
2013: two of 13 (Make-up, Visual Effects)
2014: four of 14 (Art Direction, Costumes, Make-up, Visual Effects)
2015: eight out of 17 (Non-Prosthetic Makeup, Production Design, Drama Editing, Sound Editing, Drama Casting, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects, Stunt Coordination)
To catch “The West Wing,” nine is the magic number. As of this writing, our racetrack odds favor “Game of Thrones” to win Best Drama Series, Best Drama Supporting Actress (Lena Headey) and Best Drama Directing during the primetime telecast on September 20. If those pan out, it will set a new record with 11 victories.
Emmy episode analysis: Lena Headey (‘Game of Thrones’) rises above walk of shame
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Photo: Dean-Charles Chapman and Lena Headey in “Game of Thrones.” Credit: Macall B. Polay/HBO
