Ten Emmy Awards for 'Game of Thrones' plus other speculative fiction winners

In July, I wrote "Twenty-three Emmy nominations for 'Game of Thrones' may suck the oxygen away from other speculative fiction nominees."  That almost happened, as I can repeat what I wrote after the Creative Arts Emmy Awards last year--"'Game of Thrones' already a big winner at the Emmy Awards."  According to the list at E! (but not the reporting, which confused all of HBO's awards for its premiere series'), "Game of Thrones" won ten Creative Arts awards last weekend: Outstanding Casting – Drama, Outstanding Non-Prosthetic Makeup – Single-Camera, Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup, Outstanding Costumes – Period/Fantasy, Outstanding Production Design – Hour-Long, Outstanding Production Design – Contemporary/Fantasy, Outstanding Stunt Coordination – Drama/Limited, Outstanding Special Visual Effects, Outstanding Picture Editing – Drama, and Outstanding Sound Mixing – One-Hour.  Ten down, up to five to go.

As I feared, "Game of Thrones" managed to shut out the other series I was rooting for, "The Walking Dead," "Penny Dreadful," and "Gotham."  None of them won a single award.  However, it still didn't beat all of the speculative fiction entries nominated against it.  The one I found most surprising was "Man in the High Castle" beating "Game of Thrones" for Outstanding Cinematography – Single Camera.  The Amazon series about the Hugo Award winner also won Outstanding Title Design, defeating "Marvel's Jessica Jones," "Narcos," "The Night Manager," and "Vinyl."  "Jessica Jones" still got recognized, but that's a story for over the jump.  Finally, "Black Sails," which barely qualifies as speculative fiction, won Outstanding Sound Editing For A Series.  That's small consolation for being cancelled.

"Game of Thrones" also lost some categories to more conventional fare.  "Downton Abbey" beat it for Outstanding Hairstyling (Single-Camera).  Hank Azaria beat Max Von Sydow to win Outstanding Drama Guest Actor for his role in "Ray Donovan."  "The Late Late Show With James Corden" won Outstanding Interactive Program to beat out the interactive versions of both "Game of Thrones" and "The Walking Dead," although Chris Hardwick, host of "The Talking Dead," won Outstanding Social TV Experience for "@Midnight."

As for speculative fiction shows nominated in categories mostly not contested with "Game of Thrones," the big winner was "American Horror Story: Hotel."  It won two awards for Outstanding Non-Prosthetic Makeup – Limited Series and Outstanding Costumes – Contemporary.  Two other awards that E! attributed to the series, Outstanding Picture Editing – Limited Series, and Outstanding Sound Mixing – Limited Series, actually went to "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story," according to Variety.  Congratulations, despite losing to "Game of Thrones" in the two categories where the two shows went head-to-head, Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup and Outstanding Production Design – Hour-Long.

Another show I had high hopes for was "Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462," which was nominated for Outstanding Short Form Comedy Or Drama Series and Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series.  The show was the first in "The Walking Dead" franchise to be nominated for overall show or an acting award.  Unfortunately, it lost.  "Childrens Hospital" on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim won best Short Form Comedy or Drama Series and Patrika Darbo won for her role in "Acting Dead" on ActingDead.com.  Well, at least a zombie show won something.

I did say that "Marvel's Jessica Jones" got an award.  Wochit has the story in 'Jessica Jones' Wins Creative Arts Emmy.
 

Marvel's hit Netflix series 'Jessica Jones' is now the proud recipient of an Emmy Award. Last night, the show was awarded a Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, after already receiving a Peabody Award and a Hugo Award. Sean Callery was given the award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music, beating out fellow nominees Narcos, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Whispers, Sense8, and The Night Manager. 'Jessica Jones' has been renewed for a second season on Netflix.

There were three speculative fiction shows in that field, "Jessica Jones," "Sense8," and "The Whispers."  Out of all of them, I'd have expected "The Whispers" to win.  Instead, I'm pleasantly surprised that it was "Jessica Jones."

Speaking of music, here are the other winners in the music categories.

Outstanding Music Direction

Danny Elfman's Music From the Films of Tim Burton (Live From Lincoln Center) (PBS)

Outstanding Music Composition – Limited Series

The Night Manager (AMC)

Outstanding Music Composition – Series

Mr. Robot (USA)

Outstanding Music and Lyrics

"'Til it Happens to You," The Hunting Ground (CNN)

I'm glad the Lady Gaga song won an Emmy after rooting for it to win an Oscar then losing to "Writing's on the Wall" from "Spectre."  I was not impressed with that song and I'm a Bond fan.  On the other hand, I was still hoping "Penny Dreadful" would win its music category.  Still, losing to "Mr. Robot" is nothing to be ashamed of.

I'll be back with the winners of the Prime Time Emmy Awards later this week.  In the meantime, expect Talk Like a Pirate Day for tomorrow, two or three entries about the News and Documentary Emmy Awards, and the Autumnal Equinox.  Yes, I have my week planned out already.