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Hillary Atkin

Creative Arts Emmy Awards: Will Track Shoes Be Required From Now On?

Sep 20, 2013

Here’s some advice that might seem odd to give to both male and female awards show nominees: Wear running shoes on the night of the ceremony.

That’s right. Fast footwear would have been optimal for all of those nominated in 75 categories handed out during the 65th Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, for which an abbreviated version of the ceremonies held Sept. 15 will air on cable network FXX Sept. 21 at 9 p.m. Eastern/Pacific.

Because so many statuettes were awarded during what turns out to be a program that runs about three and a half hours, the producers were quite serious about a 45-second time clock that started ticking as soon as the name of the winners were announced.

If they didn’t have the good fortune to be sitting right up by the stage in the cavernous hall, the recipients of television’s highest honors had to make a sprint for the podium, a race against time won by the fittest and fastest.

For women, that often meant removing sky-high heels and running barefoot in their gowns or cocktail dresses. For men, the type of shoes worn with tuxes gave them an advantage. For all, it usually meant arriving a little out of breath — on top of the excitement and heart flutters generated by hearing one’s name called and the pressure to say something cogent, charming and tight in accepting the Emmy.

The Creative Arts Emmys recognize top talent from guest stars to sound mixers, casting agents to start coordinators, hairstylists to costume designers, animators to art directors, along with multiple categories for reality programs, variety specials, documentaries, Web shows, interactive content and even commercials. They are voted on by members of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Several trends could be noted that may carry over into the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards that will be handed out Sunday. Netflix, in its first serious outing as an awards contender for its original content, picked up two trophies for the acclaimed political drama "House of Cards."

In some of the guest acting categories, voters recognized performers in roles that could be considered less showy and lower profile than those of the competition. Carrie Preston took the statuette for her guest arc in "The Good Wife” over Jane Fonda, for her turn in "The Newsroom," and Diana Rigg, for “Game of Thrones.”

On the comedy side, Melissa Leo emerged triumphant in her category for “Louie,” defying predictions that Melissa McCarthy or Kristin Wiig would win for their respective hosting gigs on "Saturday Night Live."

Dan Bucatinsky won the guest actor Emmy for his role in "Scandal," topping a field that included Michael J. Fox, Robert Morse, Rupert Friend and Harry Hamlin.

“How many guys get to thank their onscreen husband and their real-life husband? Thank you, Supreme Court of the United States,” Bucatinsky said in an emotional acceptance speech.

And in a moment that elicited a heartfelt standing ovation, Bob Newhart won his first Emmy — for his guest starring role on "The Big Bang Theory."

Another comedy legend, Lily Tomlin, took an Emmy for voicing HBO’s “An Apology to Elephants,” her first Primetime Emmy since 1981.

Technically hostless, the awards are handed out by a series of presenters, either solo or in pairs. This year “Community” showrunner Dan Harmon and series star Joel McHale started things off trying to get some laughs by dissing the nominees.

"So which hairstylists have DUIs," McHale asked. “’Oh, look at me, I’m a lighting director. I make spotlights possible.’ Yeah? But who stands in them? Who do you fancy assholes think you are?”

The comedy bar dropped even lower when Triumph the Comic Insult Dog, cigar in mouth, let loose with a series of profane comments that would’ve been more appropriate on a Comedy Central roast, lacerating nominees including Anthony Bourdain, on how he got his CNN job. Here’s a hint: The puppet dog, voiced by Robert Smigel, claimed it involved oral sex with Jeff Zucker.

Yet Bourdain got the last laugh as he and his eponymous show, “Parts Unknown,” walked away with two Emmy Awards — one of which, for best informational program, was shared with Bravo mainstay “Inside the Actors Studio.”

“The 66th Annual Tony Awards,” whose hard-working host Neil Patrick Harris is rehearsing for his next emceeing gig Sunday, picked up four Emmys.

HBO’s “Behind the Candelabra” and “Boardwalk Empire” walked out of the Nokia laden with golden statuettes (8 and 4, respectively) and the pay-cable network’s “Game of Thrones” scored two.

Other notable winners, each scoring three Emmys: “Saturday Night Live,” “Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God” and “Disney Mickey Mouse Croissant de Triomphe.”

Capping off the night, Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn took outstanding reality/reality-competition hosts — “We made it work,” said Gunn — and “Undercover Boss” got the Emmy for top reality program.

Cigars seemed to be in order all around.

Please click here for a full list of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards winners.

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