On Saturday, September 10, The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) awarded the 2010-2011 Creative Arts Primetime Emmy Awards for programs and individual achievements at the 63rd Emmy Awards presentation at the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles. Included among the presentations were Emmy Awards for creative awards categories including honors for animation, costumes, choreography and more.


The Creative Emmy Awards for performing arts categories were an interesting bunch. While "Boardwalk Empire" was a superb piece of televsion, I really think "Game of Thrones" and its air of gritty, "realistic fantasy" should have beaten it in art direction and effects (and for me, "The Borgias" was a surprise win over the Sean Bean fantasy in the Costume Design category as well, however its sumptuous costumes for the episode "Lucrezia's Wedding" were absolutely gorgeous). "Game of Thrones" was recognized for its stunning title sequence (one of the most beautiful and complex in TV history -- view it here), while the talented Carter Burwell, a longtime favorite film composer of mine, got a little awards love for his music score for "Mildred Pierce." HBO's "Mildred Pierce" also came on strong in several other categories, and was recognized for its superb casting and art direction, among several others. "Mad Men" and "The Kennedys" also garnered wins in hair and makeup categories.

No surprises in Choreography either, as "So You Think You Can Dance" powerhouse Mia Michaels took home awards for her body of work last season (and boy, did I miss her creative spark this season!), along with "NappyTabs" -- Tabitha and Napoleon D'omo, who were also awarded for their routines that included the fantastic "Outta Your Mind" hip-hop for Alex Wong and tWitch Boss.

(Wong's injury shortly afterward that season, and his Achilles injury again just before this past All-Stars season of the show, were heartbreakers.)

This year's Creative Emmy Awards included the following honorees:

OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
ELLEN LEWIS, Casting Director HBO
MEREDITH TUCKER, Casting Director
"Boardwalk Empire"

OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A SPECIAL:
LAURA ROSENTHAL, Casting Director HBO
"Mildred Pierce"

OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES:
ROBERT J. ULRICH, CSA, Casting Director FOX
ERIC DAWSON, CSA, Casting Director
"Glee"

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES:
LORETTA DEVINE as Adele Webber ABC ("Grey's Anatomy")

OUTSTANDING PROSTHETIC MAKEUP FOR A SERIES, MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A SPECIAL:
GREG NICOTERO, Special Makeup Effects Department Head AMC
ANDY SCHONEBERG, Special Makeup Effects Artist
GARRETT IMMEL, Special Makeup Effects Artist
JAKE GARBER, Special Makeup Effects Artist
KEVIN WASNER, Special Makeup Effects Artist
HOWARD BERGER, Prosthetic Designer
JAREMY AIELLO, Prosthetic Designer
"The Walking Dead" (for episode "Days Gone Bye")

OUTSTANDING MAKEUP FOR A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE (NON-PROSTHETIC):
JORDAN SAMUEL, Department Head Makeup Artist REELZCHANNEL
COLIN PENMAN, Key Makeup Artist
AMANDA TERRY, Additional Makeup Artist
LINDA DOWDS, Personal Makeup Artist
"The Kennedys"

OUTSTANDING MAKEUP FOR A SINGLE-CAMERA SERIES (NON-PROSTHETIC)
NICKI LEDERMANN, Department Head Makeup Artist HBO
EVELYN NORAZ, Key Makeup Artist
"Boardwalk Empire" (Pilot)

OUTSTANDING MAKEUP FOR A MULTI-CAMERA SERIES OR SPECIAL (NON-PROSTHETIC)
LOUIE ZAKARIAN, Department Head Makeup Artist NBC
JOSH TURI, Additional Makeup Artist
AMY TAGLIAMONTI, Additional Makeup Artist
DANIELA ZIVKOVIC, Additional Makeup Artist
KATHERINE O'DONNELL, Additional Makeup Artist
"Saturday Night Live"
Host: Jon Hamm

OUTSTANDING COSTUMES FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A SPECIAL
SUSANNAH BUXTON, Costume Designer PBS
CAROLINE MCCALL, Assistant Costume Designer
Downton Abbey (Masterpiece), Part 1

OUTSTANDING COSTUMES FOR A SERIES
GABRIELLA PESCUCCI, Costume Designer SHOWTIME
ULIVA PIZZETTI, Costume Supervisor
"The Borgias" ("Lucrezia's Wedding")

OUTSTANDING COSTUMES FOR A VARIETY/MUSIC PROGRAM OR A SPECIAL
(Juried award: Possibility of one, more than one or no award). This is a juried award determined by a panel of judges from the Costumes peer group. Recommendation(s) from the jury are brought to the Board of Governors for ratification.
KATE CARIN, Costume Designer HISTORY
ABIGAIL METCALF, Costume Supervisor
Gettysburg

AMANDA NEEDHAM, Costume Designer FARM
NIKI DIMITRAS, Costume Supervisor
Portlandia

OUTSTANDING HAIRSTYLING FOR A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
JENNY FIFIELD-ARBOUR, Department Head Hairstylist REELZCHANNEL
JUDI COOPER SEALY, Key Hairstylist
"The Kennedys"

OUTSTANDING HAIRSTYLING FOR A MULTI-CAMERA SERIES OR SPECIAL
MARY GUERRERO, Department Head Hairstylist ABC
KIMI MESSINA, Key Hairstylist
JENNIFER MAZURSKY, Additional Hairstylist
CYNTHIA ROMO, Additional Hairstylist
CYNDRA DUNN, Additional Hairstylist
RACHEL DOWLING, Additional Hairstylist
"Dancing With The Stars" (Episode 1106)

OUTSTANDING HAIRSTYLING FOR A SINGLE-CAMERA SERIES
SEAN FLANIGAN, Department Head Hairstylist AMC
GLORIA CASNY, Key Hairstylist
LUCIA MACE, Key Hairstylist
THERAESA RIVERS, Additional Hairstylist
JULES HOLDREN, Additional Hairstylist
"Mad Men" ("Christmas Comes But Once A Year")