Posts Tagged ‘Neil Patrick Harris’

On Sunday, September 20, the 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards aired on CBS, hosted with much aplomb by Neil Patrick Harris. Some of the more notable winners that evening include Glen Close for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, and Michael J. Fox for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. In addition to the winners, gowns, after-parties, and critiques of Harris’s hosting job, yet another interesting aspect of the show was the numerous New England connections to those that attended.

Though they say its an honor just to be nominated, many of the humorously entertaining north-easterners did not get to take home their own awards. Seth MacFarlane’s “Family Guy” was nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series.

Though the Connecticut funnyman’s series lost to “30 Rock”, its ability as an animated series to stand alone in a category against live-action sitcoms speaks for itself. New Hampshire’s funny honey, Sarah Silverman, also lost in her category for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, but took it in stride while sporting a fake mustache on camera.

Concord, MA born Steve Carell lost out to Alec Baldwin for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy, so be nice if you see him at the general store he bought in Marshfield. One comedy winner for the evening did include Beverly, MA native, and writer for “30 Rock”, Matthew Hubbard, who won an Emmy that evening in both the Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series category and Best Comedy, for his additional role on the show as a producer.

Though he was neither nominated nor presenting, Brookline, MA’s John Hodgman, better known as “The PC Guy” on the now iconic Mac vs. PC commercials, played sidekick yet again, this time helping announce the show between Harris’s appearances as host on stage and in pre-taped skits.

Hollywood East is often associated with descriptions like “on the brink” or “up-and-coming.” And while a great deal of the entertainment industry here in New England is indeed still developing, much of the talent that emerges from these northeastern states is hardly juvenile. Just take a look at New England’s representation in the pool of Primetime Emmy Award nominees:

Steve Carell (Concord, MA) has been nominated in the category Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Michael Scott in NBC’s “The Office.” Sarah Silverman (Bedford, NH) has been nominated in the category Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her self-portrayal in Comedy Central’s “The Sarah Silverman Program.” And Glenn Close (Greenwich, CT) has been nominated in the category Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Patty Hewes on FX Network’s “Damages.”

The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards will air on Sunday, September 20 at 8pm on CBS. Actor Neil Patrick Harris will host the show at L.A.’s NOKIA Theatre. Despite original plans to time shift the presentation of some awards, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences confirmed in an official statement on August 12 that the presentation of all 28 awards will be live during the telecast.

See the video below for the complete Primetime Emmy nomination announcements, which aired on July 16.