In warmup remarks for the opening night (Saturday, 1/6) of this weekend’s Creative Arts Emmy Awards, show executive producer Bill Bain affirmed to the audience, “Better late than never”–a reference to the fact that the proceedings were originally scheduled for last September. But that all got pushed back to the new year due to the writers’ and actors’ strikes.
The postponement in part spurred on the feeling that in a sense the two-part celebration–which wraps Sunday–being held in the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live is not just for the nominees and winners but also for an industry grateful to finally be getting back to work. In that vein, Judith Light commented backstage after winning her first career Emmy that the recent labor unrest proved, “We are a resilient industry. We are people of purpose and also people of service, supporting other people.” That esprit de corps should be regarded as “a gift,” said Light, just as is her first time in the Emmy winners’ circle after four previous nominations, including two for Transparent.
Light’s Emmy came for her portrayal of a 1960s’ radical hiding out in a retirement home on an episode of comedy-mystery series Poker Face. And now with the strikes settled, Light continues to work, noting that she is heading back to New York to embark on an Apple TV+ project that will pair her with Billy Crystal.
Indeed the theme of getting back to work brings us to an awards show ritual–the tally of wins. The Last of Us became the first of us, topping the first night of the Creative Arts Emmys with eight statues spanning such categories as visual effects, picture editing, sound editing and best guest actor and guest actress–the latter two earned, respectively, by Nick Offerman and Storm Reid.
Three shows tied for second with four Emmy wins apiece–The Bear, Wednesday and The White Lotus. Next with three was Beef. And garnering two Emmys each were Daisy Jones & The Six, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Ted Lasso and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (named outstanding TV movie).
The evening had it share of touching moments, including two in picture editing categories. Chris Poulos accepted the Emmy for himself and Kirk Benson on the strength of the Night Court pilot they cut together. Poulos noted that Benson passed away prior to their being nominated. Poulos dedicated the win to his late partner.
Another editing team–Timothy A. Good, ACE and Emily Mendez–came up on stage to receive an Emmy for The Last of Us. Good related that Mendez started as his assistant and now they are editing colleagues. Good made a concerted effort to mentor Mendez, wanting to pass on the good fortune he enjoyed when Norman Buckley, ACE mentored him. Buckley played an integral role in Good’s career.
Three cinematography Emmys were handed out during the first night–the recipients being David Mullen, ASC for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Christian Sprenger, ASC for Atlanta, and Natalie Kingston for Black Bird. Kingston noted that the win was especially gratifying in that Black Bird was her first foray into television. She started out in the indie film ranks.
Getting back to the theme of the industry looking to return to normal so to speak after the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, one surefire sign of that is when a political reference is made during an awards show. That happened when Offerman and Murray Bartlett–Emmy-nominated guest stars on the memorable “Long, Long Time” episode of The Last of Us (for which Offerman won the aforementioned Emmy)–served as the first award presenters of the evening. Bartlett quipped that the 75th Emmy Awards is “the only anniversary anyone should be celebrating tonight,” a not-so-veiled reference to the January 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
Here’s a category-by-category rundown of the first night of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
SAM RICHARDSON as Edwin Akufo
APPLE TV+
Ted Lasso
International Break
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY FOR SCRIPTED PROGRAMMING
JON BOOGZ, Choreographer
STARZ
Blindspotting
Routines: The History / San Quentin Blues
OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
MEREDITH TUCKER, Casting By
FRANCESCO VEDOVATI, CSA, Location Casting
BARBARA GIORDANI, CSA, Location Casting
HBO MAX
The White Lotus
OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE
CHARLENE LEE, CSA, Casting By
CLAIRE KOONCE, Casting By
NETFLIX
BEEF
OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
JEANIE BACHARACH, CSA, Casting By
JENNIFER RUDNICKE, CSA, Location Casting
MICKIE PASKAL, CSA, Location Casting
AJ LINKS, CSA, Location Casting
FX
The Bear
OUTSTANDING PERIOD COSTUMES FOR A SERIES
SHARON LONG, Costume Designer
CLAIRE TREMLETT, Assistant Costume Designer
BASIA KUZNAR, Assistant Costume Designer
ANNA LAU, Costume Supervisor
HULU
The Great
Choose Your Weapon
OUTSTANDING PERIOD COSTUMES FOR A LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE
DENISE WINGATE, Costume Designer
DEREK SULLIVAN, Costume Supervisor
PRIME VIDEO
Daisy Jones & The Six
Track 8: Looks Like We Made It
OUTSTANDING FANTASY/SCI-FI COSTUMES
JANY TEMIME, Costume Designer
KATHERINE BURCHILL, Assistant Costume Designer
PAUL YEOWELL, Assistant Costume Designer
RACHEL GEORGE, Assistant Costume Designer
JOANNA LYNCH, Costume Supervisor
HBO MAX
House Of The Dragon
The Heirs Of The Dragon
OUTSTANDING CONTEMPORARY COSTUMES FOR A SERIES
COLLEEN ATWOOD, Costume Designer
MARK SUTHERLAND, Co-Costume Designer
ROBIN SOUTAR, Assistant Costume Designer
CLAUDIA LITTLEFIELD, Costume Supervisor
ADINA BUCUR, Costume Supervisor
NETFLIX
Wednesday
Wednesday’s Child Is Full Of Woe
OUTSTANDING CONTEMPORARY COSTUMES FOR A LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE
HELEN HUANG, Costume Designer
AUSTIN WITTICK, Assistant Costume Designer
YJ HWANG, Assistant Costume Designer
MARK ANTHONY SUMMERS, Costume Supervisor
NETFLIX
BEEF
The Birds Don’t Sing, They Screech In Pain
OUTSTANDING PROSTHETIC MAKEUP
BARRIE GOWER, Prosthetics Designer
SARAH GOWER, Prosthetics Makeup Co-Department Head
PAUL SPATERI, Key Prosthetics Makeup Artist
NELLY GUIMARAS SANJUAN, Key Prosthetics Makeup Artist
JOHNNY MURPHY, Key Prosthetics Makeup Artist
JOEL HALL, Key Prosthetics Makeup Artist
LUCY PITTARD, Key Prosthetics Makeup Artist
HBO MAX
The Last Of Us
Infected
OUTSTANDING CONTEMPORARY MAKEUP (NON-PROSTHETIC)
TARA MCDONALD, Makeup Designer
FREDA ELLIS, Key Makeup Artist
NIRVANA JALALVAND, Makeup Artist
TAMARA MEADE, Makeup Artist
BIANCA BOEROIU, Makeup Artist
NETFLIX
Wednesday
Woe What A Night
OUTSTANDING PERIOD AND/OR CHARACTER MAKEUP (NON-PROSTHETIC)
PATRICIA REGAN, Department Head Makeup Artist
CLAUS LULLA, Key Makeup Artist
JOSEPH A. CAMPAYNO, Key Makeup Artist
MICHAEL LAUDATI, Makeup Artist
TOMASINA SMITH, Makeup Artist
ROBERTO BAEZ, Makeup Artist
PRIME VIDEO
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Susan
OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
JUDITH LIGHT as Irene Smothers
PEACOCK
Poker Face
Time Of The Monkey
OUTSTANDING PERIOD AND/OR CHARACTER HAIRSTYLING
NIC COLLINS, Hair Designer
GIORGIO GALLIERO, Assistant Hair Designer
NETFLIX
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Crown Jewels
OUTSTANDING CONTEMPORARY HAIRSTYLING
MIIA KOVERO, Department Head Hairstylist
ELENA GREGORINI, Key Hairstylist
ITALO DI PINTO, Hairstylist
HBO MAX
The White Lotus
Abductions
OUTSTANDING STUNT COORDINATION FOR A DRAMA SERIES, LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE
JOHN KOYAMA, Supervising Stunt Coordinator
PRIME VIDEO
The Boys
OUTSTANDING STUNT COORDINATION FOR A COMEDY SERIES OR VARIETY PROGRAM
WADE ALLEN, Stunt Coordinator
HBO MAX
Barry
OUTSTANDING STUNT PERFORMANCE
LATEEF CROWDER, Stunt Performer
PAUL DARNELL, Stunt Performer
JJ DASHNAW, Stunt Performer
RYAN RYUSAKI, Stunt Performer
DISNEY+
The Mandalorian
Chapter 24: The Return
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION DESIGN FOR A NARRATIVE PROGRAM (HALF-HOUR)
PATRICK HOWE, PRODUCTION DESIGNER
JORDAN JACOBS, ART DIRECTOR
RICH MURRAY, SET DECORATOR
HULU
Only Murders In The Building
Sparring Partners
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION DESIGN FOR A NARRATIVE CONTEMPORARY PROGRAM (ONE HOUR OR MORE)
MARK SCRUTON, Production Designer
ADRIAN CURELEA, Art Director
ROBERT HEPBURN, Set Decorator
NETFLIX
Wednesday
Wednesday’s Child Is Full Of Woe
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION DESIGN FOR A NARRATIVE PERIOD OR FANTASY PROGRAM (ONE HOUR OR MORE)
TAMARA DEVERELL, Production Designer
BRANDT GORDON, Art Director
SHANE VIEAU, Set Decorator
NETFLIX
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet Of Curiosities
OUTSTANDING SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS IN A SEASON OR A MOVIE
ALEX WANG, Overall Visual Effects Supervisor
SEAN NOWLAN, Overall Visual Effects Producer
JOEL WHIST, Production SFX Supervisor
STEPHEN JAMES, Visual Effects Supervisor, DNEG
NICK MARSHALL, Digital Effects Supervisor, DNEG
SIMON JUNG, Visual Effects Supervisor, Weta FX
DENNIS YOO, Animation Supervisor, Weta FX
ESPEN NORDAHL, Visual Effects Supervisor, Storm Studios
JONATHAN MITCHELL, Visual Effects Supervisor, Distillery FX
HBO MAX
The Last Of Us
OUTSTANDING SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS IN A SINGLE EPISODE
ERIC DURST, VFX Supervisor
MATTHEW WHELAN, VFX Supervisor
DANNY MCNAIR, VFX Producer
GORAN PAVLES, VFX Supervisor, Stormborn Studios
RAFAEL SOLÓRZANO, VFX Supervisor, El Ranchito
JOHN MACGILLIVRAY, SFX Coordinator
VIKTOR MULLER, VFX Supervisor, UPP
MANUEL TAUSCH, VFX Supervisor, Stormborn Studios
GONZALO ESCUDERO, VFX Producer, El Ranchito
APPLE TV+
Five Days At Memorial
Day Two
OUTSTANDING MAIN TITLE DESIGN
ANDY HALL, Creative Director
NADIA TZUO, Creative Director
GRYUN KIM, 3D Artist
MIN SHI, Designer
JUN KIM, 3D Artist
XIAOLIN (MIKE) ZENG, Designer
HBO MAX
The Last Of Us
OUTSTANDING MOTION DESIGN
(Juried Award: All entrants are screened by a jury of appropriate peer group members and one, more than one, or no award entry is awarded an Emmy.)
IAN SPENDLOFF, Director
DAVID LOCHHEAD, Designer
DANIELLA MARSH, Designer
DAVID STUMPF, Designer
PHILIP ROBINSON, 3D Artist
MATTHEW THOMAS, 3D Artist
DISNEY+
Ms. Marvel
OUTSTANDING SOUND EDITING FOR A LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES, MOVIE OR SPECIAL
CHRIS TERHUNE, Co-Supervising Sound Editor
WILLIAM FILES, MPSE, Co-Supervising Sound Editor
JESSIE ANNE SPENCE, MPSE, Dialogue/Adr Editor
JAMES MILLER, Sound Designer
DIEGO PEREZ, MPSE, Sound Effects Editor
LEE GILMORE, MPSE, Sound Effects Editor
CHRISTOPHER BONIS, Sound Effects Editor
DANIEL DIPRIMA, Music Editor
STEPHEN PERONE, Music Editor
LESLIE BLOOME, Foley Artist
SHAUN BRENNAN, Foley Artist
HULU
Prey
OUTSTANDING SOUND EDITING FOR A COMEDY OR DRAMA SERIES (HALF-HOUR) AND ANIMATION
STEVE “MAJOR” GIAMMARIA, Supervising Sound Editor
EVAN BENJAMIN, Dialogue Editor
JONATHAN FUHRER, Sound Effects Editor
ANNIE TAYLOR, Foley Editor
CHRIS WHITE, Foley Editor
LESLIE BLOOME, Foley Artist
SHAUN BRENNAN, Foley Artist
FX
The Bear
Review
OUTSTANDING SOUND EDITING FOR A COMEDY OR DRAMA SERIES (ONE HOUR)
MICHAEL J. BENAVENTE, Supervising Sound Editor
JOE SCHIFF, Dialogue Editor
CHRISTOPHER BATTAGLIA, MPSE, Sound Designer
CHRIS TERHUNE, Sound Designer
MITCHELL LESTNER, MPSE, Sound Effects Editor
JACOB FLACK, MPSE, Sound Effects Editor
MATT YOCUM, MPSE, Sound Effects Editor
MAARTEN HOFMEIJER, Music Editor
RANDY WILSON, Supervising Foley Editor
JUSTIN HELLE, Foley Editor
DAVI AQUINO, Foley Editor
STEFAN FRATICELLI, Foley Artist
JASON CHARBONNEAU, Foley Artist
WILLIAM KELLERMAN, Foley Artist
HBO MAX
The Last Of Us
When You’re Lost In The Darkness
OUTSTANDING SOUND MIXING FOR A COMEDY OR DRAMA SERIES (ONE HOUR)
MARC FISHMAN, CAS, Re-Recording Mixer
KEVIN ROACHE, CAS, Re-Recording Mixer
MICHAEL PLAYFAIR, CAS, Production Mixer
HBO MAX
The Last Of Us
When You’re Lost In The Darkness
OUTSTANDING SOUND MIXING FOR A COMEDY OR DRAMA SERIES (HALF-HOUR) AND ANIMATION
STEVE “MAJOR” GIAMMARIA, Re-Recording Mixer
SCOTT D. SMITH, CAS, Production Mixer
FX
The Bear
Review
OUTSTANDING SOUND MIXING FOR A LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE
LINDSEY ALVAREZ, CAS, Re-Recording Mixer
MATHEW WATERS, CAS, Re-Recording Mixer
CHRIS WELCKER, Production Mixer
MIKE POOLE, Music Mixer
PRIME VIDEO
Daisy Jones & The Six
Track 10: Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide
OUTSTANDING MUSIC COMPOSITION FOR A LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES, MOVIE OR SPECIAL (ORIGINAL DRAMATIC SCORE)
LEO BIRENBERG, Composer
ZACH ROBINSON, Composer
THE ROKU CHANNEL
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
OUTSTANDING MUSIC SUPERVISION
GABE HILFER, Music Supervisor
HBO MAX
The White Lotus
Bull Elephants
OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL MUSIC AND LYRICS
ED SHEERAN, Music & Lyrics
FOY VANCE, Music & Lyrics
MAX MARTIN, Music & Lyrics
APPLE TV+
Ted Lasso
So Long, Farewell / Song Title: A Beautiful Game
OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A SHORT FORM COMEDY OR DRAMA SERIES
TIM ROBINSON as Various Characters
NETFLIX
I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson
OUTSTANDING MUSIC COMPOSITION FOR A SERIES (ORIGINAL DRAMATIC SCORE)
CRISTOBAL TAPIA DE VEER, Composer
HBO MAX
The White Lotus
In The Sandbox
OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL MAIN TITLE THEME MUSIC
DANNY ELFMAN, Composer
NETFLIX
Wednesday
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A SHORT FORM COMEDY OR DRAMA SERIES
JASMINE GUY as Barbara Baldwin
PRIME VIDEO
Chronicles Of Jessica Wu
OUTSTANDING PICTURE EDITING FOR A MULTI-CAMERA COMEDY SERIES
KIRK BENSON, Editor
CHRIS POULOS, Editor
NBC
Night Court
Pilot
OUTSTANDING PICTURE EDITING FOR A SINGLE-CAMERA COMEDY SERIES
JOANNA NAUGLE, ACE, Editor
FX
The Bear
System
OUTSTANDING PICTURE EDITING FOR A LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE
NAT FULLER, Editor
LAURA ZEMPEL, Editor
NETFLIX
BEEF
Figures Of Light
OUTSTANDING PICTURE EDITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
TIMOTHY A. GOOD, ACE, Editor
EMILY MENDEZ, Editor
HBO MAX
The Last Of Us
Endure And Survive
OUTSTANDING CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR A SERIES (ONE HOUR)
M. DAVID MULLEN, ASC, Director Of Photography
PRIME VIDEO
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Four Minutes
OUTSTANDING CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR A SERIES (HALF-HOUR)
CHRISTIAN SPRENGER, ASC, Director Of Photography
FX
Atlanta
Andrew Wyeth. Alfred’s World
OUTSTANDING CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR A LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE
NATALIE KINGSTON, Director of Photography APPLE TV+
Black Bird
Hand To Mouth
OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
STORM REID as Riley Abel
HBO MAX
The Last Of Us
Left Behind
OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
NICK OFFERMAN as Bill HBO MAX
The Last Of Us
Long, Long Time
OUTSTANDING TELEVISION MOVIE
WEIRD: THE AL YANKOVIC STORY
THE ROKU
CHANNEL
Henry R. Munoz, III, Executive Producer
Neil Shah, Executive Producer
Zachary Halley, Executive Producer
Mike Farah, Produced by
Joe Farrell, Produced by
Whitney Hodack, Produced by
Tim Headington, Produced by
Lia Buman, Produced by
Max Silva, Produced by
Al Yankovic, Produced by
Eric Appel, Produced by
