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 are at the Creative Arts ceremony spread across 13 categories. How many will it win when those prizes are handed out on Sept. 12? And will it break the Emmy record for most victories by a series in a single year.
Hottest Creative Arts Emmy races: ‘Game of Thrones,’ ‘Jane the Virgin’ …
“The West Wing” won a record nine Emmys including Best Drama Series for its debut season in 2000. “Game Thrones” could shatter that record at Creative Arts alone. It has never pulled off a clean sweep of below-the-line categories; the most it won was six in 2012, but that was out of just 10 Creative Arts nominations, far fewer than it has this year. The series has increased its nominations haul at the Creative Arts every season (as detailed below), so can we also expect it to increase its tally of 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)
The 17 Creative Arts Emmy nominations for “Game of Thrones” this year are:
Best Casting
Best Cinematography (Single-Camera Series) – four nominations
Best Costumes (Period/Fantasy)
Best Drama Guest Actress – Diana Rigg
Best Hairstyling (Single-Camera)
Best Makeup (Prosthetic)
Best Makeup (Series Non-Prosthetic)
Best Picture Editing (Single-Camera Drama) – two nominations
Best Production Design (Contemporary/Fantasy)
Best Sound Editing (Series)
Best Sound Mixing (One-Hour Series)
Best Stunt Coordination
Best Visual Effects
To catch “The West Wing,” nine is the magic number. As of this writing, our racetrack odds favor it to win Best Drama Series, Best Drama Supporting Actress (Lena Headey) and Best Drama Directing during the primetime telecast on September 20. Assuming those pan out, it needs six Creative Arts victories to tie “The West Wing” and seven to beat it. Do you think the epic fantasy series will do it?
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
