HBO and NBC Win Big at Creative Arts Emmys

At the 61st Annual Creative Arts Emmys, hosted by Kathy Griffin, which aired last Saturday (Sept. 12), award-winners ranged from the well-deserved to unsurprising to boring.

Among the well-deserved big winners was NBC and the revived Saturday Night Live. Tina Fey won best actress in the comedy category for her flawless guest appearance as Sarah Palin on the show last fall. And Justin Timberlake won best actor in a comedy series for his various appearances this year. (Check out his "Immigrant Tale" sketch.)

Also well-deserved: the popular but teasingly scant three-part Joss Whedon series Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog won for Outstanding Special Class, Short-Format Program. Deservedly but predictably, Michael J. Fox won for his guest turn on the FX drama Rescue Me.

HBO's Grey Gardens won three awards, and the cable network was also honored in editing for Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger and sound mixing for Entourage, among others. ABC's recently-cancelled Pushing Daisies won three awards, for make-up, art direction, and costumes. Meanwhile, one disappointment was Disney's win for Outstanding Children's Program for the uninspired, child-star vehicle, Wizards of Waverly Place.

Overall, this year's big winners in the Creative Arts were HBO with 16 wins in various categories, followed by NBC, which received a total of 11 awards.

The Creative Arts Emmys generally run about a week before the Primetime Emmys and are awarded for achievements in behind-the-scenes and technical aspects of TV. They also include awards for animated programs and guest acting.

The Primetime Emmy Awards will air this Sunday, Sept. 20 and will be hosted by Dr. Horrible himself, Neil Patrick Harris.

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