The 60th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards honored the best in artistic and technical achievement in American prime time television programming from June 1, 2007, until May 31, 2008, as chosen by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The awards were presented on September 13, 2008, at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony was hosted by Neil Patrick Harris and Sarah Chalke and was broadcast by E! on September 20, preceding the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 21. In total, 79 Creative Arts Emmys were presented across 75 categories.
John Adams won eight Emmys to lead all programs at the ceremony. It was followed by Mad Men with four wins and 30 Rock, the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, and The War with three wins each. John Adams also received the most nominations, with 15 in total. In the overall program fields, winners included The 61st Annual Tony Awards, American Masters, Autism: The Musical, Classical Baby, Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival Chicago, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project, New York City Opera: Madama Butterfly, Nick News with Linda Ellerbee, The Simpsons, South Park, This American Life, and White Light/Black Rain, among others. While ABC led all networks with 50 nominations, HBO took home the most awards with 16 Emmys.
Winners and nominees Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger (‡). Sections are based upon the categories listed in the 2007–2008 Emmy rules and procedures. Area awards and juried awards are denoted next to the category names as applicable. For simplicity, producers who received nominations for program awards have been omitted.
Programs + Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (HBO) Bill Maher: The Decider (HBO) George Carlin: It's Bad for Ya! (HBO) James Taylor: One Man Band (Great Performances) (PBS) Kathy Griffin: Straight to Hell (Bravo) The Kennedy Center Honors (CBS) | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | The 61st Annual Tony Awards (CBS) 80th Annual Academy Awards (ABC) |- | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival Chicago (Great Performances) (PBS)| style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | New York City Opera: Madama Butterfly (Live from Lincoln Center) (PBS)|- | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (Bravo) Antiques Roadshow (PBS) Dirty Jobs (Discovery Channel) Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC) Intervention (A&E) | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | Classical Baby (I'm Grown Up Now): The Poetry Show (HBO) Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: The Untouchable Kids of India (Nickelodeon) Hannah Montana (Disney Channel) High School Musical 2 (Disney Channel) The Suite Life of Zack and Cody (Disney Channel) |- | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | The Simpsons: "Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind" (Fox) Creature Comforts America: "Don't Choke to Death, Please" (CBS) King of the Hill: "Death Picks Cotton" (Fox) Robot Chicken: "Robot Chicken: Star Wars" (Cartoon Network) SpongeBob SquarePants: "Inmates of Summer / Two Faces of Squidward" (Nickelodeon) | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | Imaginationland (South Park) (Comedy Central) Blue Harvest (Family Guy) (Fox) Justice League: The New Frontier (Warner Bros. on Demand) |- | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | American Masters (PBS) This American Life (Showtime) Biography (Biography Channel) Deadliest Catch (Discovery Channel) Inside the Actors Studio (Bravo) | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | Autism: The Musical (HBO) AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies – 10th Anniversary Edition (CBS) Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq (HBO) Pioneers of Television – Late Night: Johnny, Jack, Steve, and Merv (PBS) The Pixar Story (Starz) |- | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | White Light/Black Rain (HBO) Oswald's Ghost (American Experience) (PBS) Walt Whitman (American Experience) (PBS) | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | Battlestar Galactica – Razor Featurette #4 (Sci Fi Channel.com) 30 Rock: Kenneth the Web Page (NBC.com) Friday Night Lights: Spotlight on Austin (NBC.com) Lost: Missing Pieces (ABC.com) Sarah Silverman Program Nugget (Comedycentral.com) |- | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | Camp Lazlo: "Lazlo's First Crush" (Cartoon Network) Chowder: "Burple Nurples" (Cartoon Network) | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | Great Moments from the Campaign Trail (History Channel / VOD) Deadliest Catch: The Real Dutch (Discovery.com) Jay Leno's Garage (Jaylenosgarage.com) |- | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | The Heroes Digital Experience ABC Family's Kyle XY: The Collective Experience HBO Voyeur The L Word Initiative Lost Find 815 Disney Channel Games Digital Media Event America's Player Interactive Bravo Media's Project Runway Bravo Media's Top Chef Dancing with the Stars Multi-Platform Experience
Performing + Tim Conway – 30 Rock as Bucky Bright (NBC) Will Arnett – 30 Rock as Devin Banks (NBC) Shelley Berman – Curb Your Enthusiasm as Nat David (HBO) Steve Buscemi – 30 Rock as Len (NBC) Rip Torn – 30 Rock as Don Geiss (NBC) Kathryn Joosten – Desperate Housewives as Karen McCluskey (ABC) Polly Bergen – Desperate Housewives as Stella Wingfield (ABC) Edie Falco – 30 Rock as Celeste "C.C." Cunningham (NBC) Carrie Fisher – 30 Rock as Rosemary Howard (NBC) Sarah Silverman – Monk as Marci Maven (USA) Elaine Stritch – 30 Rock as Colleen Donaghy (NBC) Glynn Turman – In Treatment as Alex Sr. (HBO) Charles Durning – Rescue Me as John Gavin, Sr. (FX) Robert Morse – Mad Men as Bertram Cooper (AMC) Oliver Platt – Nip/Tuck as Freddie Prune (FX) Stanley Tucci – ER as Dr. Kevin Moretti (NBC) Robin Williams – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Merritt Rook (NBC) Cynthia Nixon – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Janis Donovan (NBC) Ellen Burstyn – Big Love as Nancy Dutton (HBO) Diahann Carroll – Grey's Anatomy as Jane Burke (ABC) Sharon Gless – Nip/Tuck as Colleen Rose (FX) Anjelica Huston – Medium as Cynthia Keener (NBC) Keith David – The War: "A Necessary War" as narrator (PBS)
Animation + Creature Comforts America: "Self Image / Winging It / Art" – Teresa Drilling (CBS) ''Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends'': "Mondo Coco" – Ben Balistreri (Cartoon Network)
Art Direction + How I Met Your Mother: "The Yips" / "No Tomorrow" / "Miracles" – Stephan Olson and Susan Eschelbach (CBS) The New Adventures of Old Christine: "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" / "The New Adventures of Old Christine" / "House" – Cabot McMullen and Amy Feldman (CBS) Mad Men: "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" – Bob Shaw, Henry Dunn, and Rena DeAngelo (AMC) Dexter: "That Night, A Forest Grew" – Tony Cowley and Linda Spheeris (Showtime) Heroes: "Out of Time" – Ruth Ammon, Matthew Jacobs, and Ron Franco (NBC) Mad Men: "Shoot" – Dan Bishop, Christopher Brown, and Amy Wells (AMC) Pushing Daisies: "Pie-lette" – Michael Wylie, William Durrell, Jr., and Halina Siwolop (ABC) Ugly Betty: "How Betty Got Her Grieve Back" – Mark Worthington, Jim Wallis, and Archie D'Amico (ABC) John Adams – Gemma Jackson, David Crank, Christina Moore, Kathy Lucas, and Sarah Whittle (HBO) The Andromeda Strain – Jerry Wanek, Dan Hermansen, and Merline Dervisevic (A&E) Cranford (Masterpiece) – Donal Woods and Trisha Edwards (PBS) Recount – Patti Podesta, Christopher Tandon, and Radha Mehta (HBO) Tin Man – Michael Joy, Paulo Venturi, and Mark Lane (Sci Fi Channel) 80th Annual Academy Awards – Roy Christopher and Joe Celli (ABC) 50th Annual Grammy Awards – Steve Bass, Brian Stonestreet, and Alana Billingsley (CBS) Hell's Kitchen: "Episode 401" – John R. Janavs, Robert Frye, and Stephen Paul Fackrell (Fox) MADtv: "Episode 1315" – Nicole Elespuru, James Yarnell, and Daryn Reid Goodall (Fox) 2007 MTV Video Music Awards – Scott Storey, Joe Celli, and James Connelly (MTV)
Casting + 30 Rock – Jennifer McNamara Shroff (NBC) Californication – Felicia Fasano and Pat McCorkle (Showtime) Curb Your Enthusiasm – Allison Jones (HBO) Pushing Daisies – Camille Patton, Meg Liberman, and Jennifer Lare (ABC) Ugly Betty – Jeff Greenberg and Mark Scott (ABC) Damages – Julie Tucker, Ross Meyerson, and Avy Kaufman (FX) Brothers & Sisters – Jeanie Bacharach and Gillian O'Neill (ABC) Friday Night Lights – Linda Lowy, John Brace, and Beth Sepko (NBC) Mad Men – Kim Miscia, Beth Bowling, Laura Schiff, and Carrie Audino (AMC) The Tudors – Nuala Moiselle, Frank Moiselle, Mary Jo Slater, Steve Brooksbank, and Stephanie Gorin (Showtime) John Adams – Kathleen Chopin, Nina Gold, and Tracy Kilpatrick (HBO) The Bronx Is Burning – Billy Hopkins, Paul Schnee, and Hopkins, Smith & Barden Casting (ESPN) The Company – Denise Chamian, Scout Masterson, Diane Kerbel, Priscilla John, and Zsolt Csutak (TNT) Cranford (Masterpiece) – Maggie Lunn (PBS) Recount – David Rubin, Richard Hicks, Lori S. Wyman, and Kathleen Chopin (HBO)
Choreography + So You Think You Can Dance: "Hummingbird and Flower" / "The Chairman's Waltz" – Wade Robson (Fox) Dancing with the Stars: "Mambo" / "Para Los Rumberos" – Julianne Hough (ABC) High School Musical 2: "What Time Is It?" / "Fabulous" / "Work This Out" / "I Don't Dance" / "You Are the Music in Me" / "For One" – Kenny Orgeta, Charles Klapow, and Bonnie Story (Disney Channel) So You Think You Can Dance – "Table" / "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" – Mandy Moore (Fox) So You Think You Can Dance – "Transformers" / "Fuego" – Shane Sparks (Fox)
Cinematography + Californication: "Pilot" – Peter Levy (Showtime) 30 Rock: "Rosemary's Baby" – Vanja Cernjul (NBC) According to Jim: "The Chaperone" – George Mooradian (ABC) In Treatment: "Sophie – Week Six" – Fred Murphy (HBO) My Name Is Earl: "Stole a Motorcycle" – Michael Goi (NBC) Scrubs: "My Princess" – John Inwood (NBC) Mad Men: "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" – Phil Abraham (AMC) Battlestar Galactica: "Razor" – Stephen McNutt (Sci Fi Channel) Breaking Bad: "Pilot" – John Toll (AMC) Dexter: "The British Invasion" – Romeo Tirone (Showtime) Lost: "The Constant" – John Bartley (ABC) Rescue Me: "Babyface" – Tom Houghton (FX) John Adams: "Independence" – Tak Fujimoto (HBO) The Andromeda Strain: "Part 1" – Jon Joffin (A&E) Bernard and Doris – Mauricio Rubinstein (HBO) The Company: "Part 1" – Ben Nott (TNT) John Adams: "Don't Tread on Me" – Tak Fujimoto and Danny Cohen (HBO) Sense & Sensibility (Masterpiece): "Part 1" – Sean Bobbitt (PBS) Deadliest Catch: "No Mercy" – cinematography team (Discovery Channel) Autism: The Musical – Tricia Regan (HBO) Ice Road Truckers: "Ready to Roll" – cinematography team (History Channel) Meerkat Manor: "Journey's End" – Ted Giffords, John Waters, and Ralph Bower (Animal Planet) This American Life: "Escape" – Adam Beckman (Showtime) Carrier: "Rites of Passage" – Axel Baumann, Robert Hanna, Ulli Bonnekamp, Mark Brice, and Wolfgang Held (PBS) The Amazing Race: "Honestly, They Have Witch Powers or Something" – Per Larsson, Sylvester Campe, Tom Cunningham, Lucas Kenna Mertes, and Peter Rieveschl (CBS) Project Runway: "En Garde!" – Derth Adams, Malkuth "Mo" Frahm, John Armstrong, Marcus Bleecker, and David Vlasits (Bravo) Survivor: "Just Don't Eat the Apple" – cinematography team (CBS) Top Chef: "Finale (Part 1)" – Paul Starkman (Bravo)
Commercial + "Swear Jar" – Hungry Man and DDB Chicago (Bud Light) "Brother of the Bride" – PYTKA and Leo Burnett (Hallmark) "Carrier Pigeons" – MJZ and BBDO New York (FedEx) "Delivery" – MJZ and Fallon (Travelers) "It's Mine" – MJZ and Wieden+Kennedy (Coca-Cola)
Costumes + The Tudors: "Episode 202" – Joan Bergin, Susan O'Connor Cave, and Gabriel O'Brien (Showtime) Desperate Housewives: "In Buddy's Eyes" – Catherine Adair, Joyce Unruh Goodwin, and Karo Vartanian (ABC) Mad Men: "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" – John A. Dunn and Lisa Padovani (AMC)