63rd Primetime Emmy Awards

The 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, presented by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, honored the best in primetime television programming from June 1, 2010 until May 31, 2011, and took place September 18, 2011, at the Nokia Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. It was televised in the United States on Fox. Actress Jane Lynch hosted the show for the first time.

Nominees and winners

The nominees for the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards were announced live on Thursday July 14, 2011, at 5:40 a.m. PDT (12:40 UTC) at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre in North Hollywood, California. The nominees were announced by Melissa McCarthy of Mike & Molly and Joshua Jackson of Fringe.

Awards

Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface.

Programs

Programs
Outstanding Drama Series	Outstanding Comedy Series
Boardwalk Empire (HBO) Dexter (Showtime) Friday Night Lights (The 101 Network/NBC) Game of Thrones (HBO) The Good Wife (CBS) Mad Men (AMC)	30 Rock (NBC) The Big Bang Theory (CBS) Glee (Fox) Modern Family (ABC) The Office (NBC) Parks and Recreation (NBC)
Outstanding Miniseries or TV Movie	Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
Cinema Verite (HBO) Downton Abbey (PBS) The Kennedys (ReelzChannel) Mildred Pierce (HBO) The Pillars of the Earth (Starz) Too Big to Fail (HBO)	The Colbert Report (Comedy Central) Conan (TBS) The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central) Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (NBC) Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO) Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program	Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special
Jeff Probst for Survivor (CBS) Phil Keoghan for The Amazing Race (CBS) Tom Bergeron for Dancing with the Stars (ABC) Ryan Seacrest for American Idol (Fox) Cat Deeley for So You Think You Can Dance (Fox)	Carrie Fisher in Wishful Drinking (HBO) Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On (HBO) Lady GaGa Presents The Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square Garden (HBO) The Kennedy Center Honors (CBS) The Pee-Wee Herman Show On Broadway (HBO)
Outstanding Reality-Competition Program	Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour)
So You Think You Can Dance (Fox) The Amazing Race (CBS) Project Runway (Lifetime) American Idol (Fox) Dancing with the Stars (ABC) Top Chef (Bravo)	The Cleveland Show – "Murray Christmas" (Fox) Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III (Cartoon Network) Futurama – "The Late Philip J. Fry" (Comedy Central) The Simpsons – "Angry Dad: The Movie" (Fox) South Park – "Crack Baby Athletic Association" (Comedy Central)
Outstanding Reality Program	Outstanding Children's Program
Hoarders (A&E) Antiques Roadshow (PBS) Deadliest Catch (Discovery Channel) MythBusters (Discovery Channel) Undercover Boss (CBS) Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (Bravo)	A Child's Garden of Poetry (HBO) Degrassi – "My Body Is a Cage" (TeenNick) Victorious – "Freak the Freak Out" (Nickelodeon) iCarly – iGot A Hot Room (Nickelodeon) Wizards of Waverly Place – Wizards vs. Angels (Disney Channel)

Acting

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama Series
Actor	Actress
Steve Buscemi for playing Enoch "Nucky" Thompson on Boardwalk Empire (HBO) Kyle Chandler for playing Eric Taylor on Friday Night Lights (The 101 Network/NBC) Michael C. Hall for playing Dexter Morgan on Dexter (Showtime) Jon Hamm for playing Don Draper on Mad Men (AMC) Hugh Laurie for playing Gregory House on House Timothy Olyphant for playing Raylan Givens on Justified (FX)	Kathy Bates for playing Harriet "Harry" Korn on Harry's Law (NBC) Connie Britton for playing Tami Taylor on Friday Night Lights (The 101 Network/NBC) Mireille Enos for playing Sarah Linden on The Killing (AMC) Mariska Hargitay for playing Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) Julianna Margulies for playing Alicia Florrick on The Good Wife (CBS) Elisabeth Moss for playing Peggy Olson on Mad Men for the episode "The Suitcase" (AMC)
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Comedy Series
Actor	Actress
Alec Baldwin for playing Jack Donaghy on 30 Rock (NBC) Steve Carell for playing Michael Scott on The Office (NBC) Louis C.K. for playing Louie on Louie (FX) Johnny Galecki for playing Leonard Hofstadter on The Big Bang Theory (CBS) Matt LeBlanc for playing himself on Episodes (Showtime) Jim Parsons for playing Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory (CBS)	Edie Falco for playing Jackie Peyton on Nurse Jackie (Showtime) Tina Fey for playing Liz Lemon on 30 Rock (NBC) Laura Linney for playing Catherine "Cathy" Jamison on The Big C (Showtime) Melissa McCarthy for playing Molly Flynn on Mike & Molly (CBS) Martha Plimpton for playing Virginia Chance on Raising Hope (Fox) Amy Poehler for playing Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation (NBC)
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Miniseries or Movie
Actor	Actress
Idris Elba for playing John Luther in Luther (BBC One) Laurence Fishburn for playing Thurgood Marshall in Thurgood (HBO) William Hurt for playing Henry Paulson in Too Big to Fail (HBO) Greg Kinnear for playing John F. Kennedy in The Kennedys (ReelzChannel) Barry Pepper for playing Robert F. Kennedy in The Kennedys (ReelzChannel) Edgar Ramirez for playing Carlos the Jackal in Carlos (Sundance Channel)	Taraji P. Henson for playing Tiffany Rubin in Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story (Lifetime) Diane Lane for playing Pat Loud in Cinema Verite (HBO) Elizabeth McGovern for playing Cora Crawley in Downton Abbey (PBS) Jean Marsh for playing Rose Buck in Upstairs, Downstairs (BBC) Kate Winslet for playing Mildred Pierce in Mildred Pierce (HBO)
Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Drama Series
Actor	Actress
Andre Braugher for playing Owen Thoreau Jr. on Men of a Certain Age Josh Charles for playing Will Gardner on The Good Wife Alan Cumming for playing Eli Golding on The Good Wife Peter Dinklage for playing Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones Walton Goggins for playing Boyd Crowder on Justified John Slattery for playing Roger Sterling on Mad Men	Christine Baranski for playing Diane Lockhart on The Good Wife Michelle Forbes for playing Mitch Larsen on The Killing Christina Hendricks for playing Joan Harris on Mad Men Kelly MacDonald for playing Margaret Schroeder on Boardwalk Empire Margo Martindale for playing Mags Bennett on Justified Archie Panjabi for playing Kalinda Sharma on The Good Wife
Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series
Actor	Actress
Ty Burrell for playing Phil Dunphy on Modern Family Chris Colfer for playing Kurt Hummel on Glee Jon Cryer for playing Alan Harper on Two and a Half Men Jesse Tyler Ferguson for playing Mitchell Pritchett on Modern Family Ed O'Neill for playing Jay Pritchett on Modern Family Eric Stonestreet for playing Cameron Tucker on Modern Family	Julie Bowen for playing Claire Dunphy on Modern Family Jane Krakowski for playing Jenna Maroney on 30 Rock Jane Lynch for playing Sue Sylvester on Glee Sofia Vergara for playing Gloria Delgado-Pritchett on Modern Family Betty White for playing Elka Ostrovsky on Hot in Cleveland Kristen Wiig for playing various characters on Saturday Night Live
Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Miniseries or Movie
Actor	Actress
Paul Giamatti for playing Ben Bernanke in Too Big to Fail Brian F. O'Byrne for playing Bert Pierce in Mildred Pierce Guy Pearce for playing Monty Beragon in Mildred Pierce Tom Wilkinson for playing Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. in The Kennedys James Woods for playing Dick Fuld in Too Big to Fail	Eileen Atkins for playing Lady Maud Holland in Upstairs Downstairs Melissa Leo for playing Lucy Gessler in Mildred Pierce Maggie Smith for playing Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey Evan Rachel Wood for playing Veda Pierce in Mildred Pierce Mare Winningham for playing Ida Corwin in Mildred Pierce
Outstanding Guest Performance in a Drama Series
Actor	Actress
Beau Bridges for playing Nick Brody on Brothers & Sisters for episode "Brody" Jeremy Davies for playing Dickie Bennett on Justified for episode "Reckoning" Bruce Dern for playing Frank Harlow on Big Love for episode "D.I.V.O.R.C.E." Michael J. Fox for playing Louis Canning on The Good Wife for episode "Real Deal" Paul McCrane for playing Josh Peyton on Harry's Law for episode "With Friends Like These" Robert Morse for playing Bertram Cooper on Mad Men for episode "Blowing Smoke"	Cara Buono for playing Faye Miller on Mad Men for episode " Chinese Wall" Joan Cusack for playing Sheila Jackson on Shameless for episode "Frank Gallagher: Loving Husband, Devoted Father" Loretta DeVine for playing Adele Webber on Grey's Anatomy for episode "This is How We Do It" Randee Heller for playing Ida Blanketship on Mad Men for episode " The Beautiful Girls" Mary McDonnell for playing Capt. Sharon Raydor on The Closer for episode "Help Wanted" Julia Stiles for playing Lumen Pierce on Dexter for episode "In the Beginning" Alfre Woodard for playing Ruby Jean Reynolds on True Blood for episode "Night on the Sun"
Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy Series
Actor	Actress
Will Arnett for playing Devon Banks on 30 Rock for episode " Plan B" Matt Damon for playing Carol Burnett o n 30 Rock for episode " Double-Edged Sword" Idris Elba for playing Lenny on The Big C for episode "Blue-Eyed Iris" Zach Galifianakis for playing various characters on Saturday Night Live in episode "Host: Zach Galifianakis" Nathan Lane for playing Pepper Saltzman on Modern Family for episode "Boys' Night" Justin Timberlake for playing various characters on Saturday Night Live for episode "Host: Justin Timberlake"	Elizabeth Banks for playing Avery Jessup-Donaghy in 30 Rock for episode "Double-Edged Sword" Kristin Chenoweth for playing April Rhodes on "Glee" for episode " Rumours" Tina Fey for playing Various Characters in Saturday Night Live in episode "Host: Tina Fey" Dot Jones for playing Coach Shannon Beiste on "Glee" for episode " Never Been Kissed" Cloris Leachman for playing Maw Maw in Raising Hope in episode "Don't Vote for this Episode" Gwyneth Paltrow for playing Holly Holiday in "Glee" in episode " The Substitute"

Writing

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series	Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
Matthew Weiner for Mad Men episode "The Suitcase" Maria Jacquemetton and Andre Jacquemetton for Mad Men episode "Blowing Smoke" Jason Katims for Friday Night Lights episode "Always" David Benioff and D.B. Weiss for Game of Thrones episode "Baelor" Veena Sud for The Killing episode "Pilot"	David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik for Episodes episode "Episode 107" Greg Daniels for The Office episode "Goodbye, Michael" Steven Levitan and Jeffrey Richman for Modern Family episode "Caught in the Act" Louis C.K. for Louie episode "Poker/Divorce" Matt Hubbard for 30 Rock episode "Reaganing"
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special	Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music, or Comedy Special
Todd Haynes and Jon Raymond for Mildred Pierce Julian Fellowes for Downton Abbey Steven Moffat for Sherlock: A Study in Pink Peter Gould for Too Big to Fail Heidi Thomas for Upstairs/Downstairs	Paula Pell, Seth Meyers, Emily Spivey and John Solomon for The Real Women of SNL Colin Quinn for Colin Quinn: Long Story Short Dave Boone, Matt Roberts, Mo Rocca for 64th Annual Tony Awards Louis C.K. for Louis C.K.: Hilarious Eric Slovin, Russ Armstrong, Andrew Blitz, RJ Fried, Brian Huskey, Anthony King, Dan Mintz, Jason Reich, Craig Rowin, Andy Secunda, Robert Smigel, Anthony Jeselnik and Adam Moerder for Night of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Benefit for Autism Education
Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming	Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series
Josh Fox for Gasland Jon Wilkman for Moguls & Movie Stars - The Birth Of Hollywood Anthony Bourdain for Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations - Haiti Stanley Nelson for Freedom Riders Richard Bedser and Ed Fields for Gettysburg	Barry Julien, Stephen Colbert, Tom Purcell, Richard Dahm, Michael Brumm, Rob Dubbin, Opus Moreschi, Peter Gwinn, Jay Katsir, Frank Lesser, Glenn Eichler, Meredith Scardino, Max Werner, Eric Drysdale, Scott Sherman, Dan Guterman and Paul Dinello for The Colbert Report AD Miles, David Angelo, Patrick Borelli, Michael Blieden, Gerard Bradford, Jeremy Bronson, Michael Dicenzo, Jimmy Fallon, Eric Ledgin, Morgan Murphy, Robert Patton, Gavin Purcell, Amy Ozols, Diallo Riddle, Bashir Salahuddin, Justin Shanes, Michael Shoemaker, Jon Rineman and Bobby Tisdale for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Doug Abeles, James Anderson, Alex Baze, Heather Anne Campbell, Jessica Conrad, Matt Craig, James Downey, Tom Flanigan, Shelly Gossman, Steve Higgins, Erik Kenward, Rob Klein, Seth Meyers, Lorne Michaels, John Mulaney, Christine Nangle, Michael Patrick O'Brien, Paula Pell, Simon Rich, Marika Sawyer, Akiva Schaffer, Sarah Schneider, John Solomon, Kent Sublette, Bryan Tucker, Jorma Taccone and Colin Jost for Saturday Night Live Mike Sweeney, Conan O'Brien, Andy Richter, Frank Smiley, Jose Arroyo, Andres du Bouchet, Deon Cole, Josh Comers, Dan Cronin, Michael Gordon, Berkley Johnson, Brian Kiley, Laurie Kilmartin, Rob Kutner, Todd Levin, Brian McCann, Matt O'Brien and Brian Stack for Conan Steve Bodow, Tim Carvell, Rory Albanese, Kevin Bleyer, Rich Blomquist, Wyatt Cenac, Hallie Haglund, JR Havlan, Elliott Kalan, Josh Lieb, Sam Means, Jo Miller, John Oliver, Daniel Radosh, Jason Ross and Jon Stewart for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Directing

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series	Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
Martin Scorsese for Boardwalk Empire episode "Boardwalk Empire (Pilot)" Jeremy Podeswa for Boardwalk Empire episode "Anastasia" Neil Jordan for The Borgias episode "The Poisoned Chalice/The Assassin" Tim Van Patten for Game of Thrones episode "Winter is Coming (Pilot)" Patty Jenkins for The Killing episode "Pilot"	Pamela Fryman for How I Met Your Mother episode "Subway Wars" Michael Alan Spiller for Modern Family episode "Halloween" Gail Mancuso for Modern Family episode "Slow Down Your Neighbors" Steven Levitan for Modern Family episode "See You Next Fall" Beth McCarthy for 30 Rock episode "Live Show"
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie, or a Dramatic special	Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music, or Comedy special
Olivier Assayas for Carlos Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini for Cinema Verite Brian Percival for Downtown Abbey (Masterpiece) Todd Haynes for Mildred Pierce Curtis Hanson for Too Big to Fail	Don Mischer for 83rd Academy Awards Louis J. Horvitz for The 53rd Grammy Awards Laurieann Gibson for Lady Gaga Presents The Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square Garden Lonny Price for Sondheim! The Birthday Concert (Great Performances) Glenn Weiss for '64th Annual Tony Awards
Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming	Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series
Bertram van Munster for The Amazing Race episode You Don’t Get Paid Unless You Win Kent Jones and Martin Scorsese for American Masters episode A Letter to Elia/Reflecting On Kazan Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato for Becoming Chaz Josh Fox for Gasland Paul Starkman for Top Chef episode Give Me Your Huddled Masses	Gregg Gelfand for American Idol episode 1024/1025A James Hoskinson for The Colbert Report episode 6112 Chuck O’Neil for The Daily Show With Jon Stewart episode 16048 Jerry Foley for Late Show With David Letterman episode Show 3333 Don Roy King for Saturday Night Live episode Host: Justin Timberlake

Most nominated shows

• 9: Mad Men (AMC), Modern Family (ABC)
• 8: 30 Rock (NBC), Mildred Pierce (HBO)
• 7: The Good Wife (CBS)
• 6: Glee (Fox), Saturday Night Live (NBC)
• 5: Too Big to Fail (HBO)
• 4: Downton Abbey (PBS), Friday Night Lights (The 101 Network/NBC), Game of Thrones (HBO), Justified (FX), The Kennedys (ReelzChannel)
• 3: Boardwalk Empire (HBO), Dexter (Showtime), The Big Bang Theory (CBS), The Killing (AMC), The Office (NBC), Upstairs, Downstairs (BBC)
• 2: American Idol (Fox), Cinema Verite (HBO), Conan (TBS), Dancing with the Stars (ABC), Episodes (Showtime), Harry's Law (NBC), Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (NBC), Louie (FX), Parks and Recreation (NBC), Raising Hope (Fox), So You Think You Can Dance (Fox), The Amazing Race (CBS), The Big C (Showtime), The Colbert Report (Comedy Central), The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)

See also

• 17th Screen Actors Guild Awards
• 68th Golden Globe Awards
• Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
• Emmy Awards

External links

• Academy of Television Arts and Sciences website