60th Primetime Emmy Awards

The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards were held on Sunday, September 21, 2008, at the newly opened Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California to honor the best in U.S. prime time television. The ceremony was hosted by Tom Bergeron, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, Jeff Probst, and Ryan Seacrest and televised in the United States on ABC. 28 awards were presented.
The nominations were announced on July 17 by Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards were held eight days earlier at the same venue. The ceremony was hosted by Neil Patrick Harris and Sarah Chalke.
The telecast was viewed by 12.20 million with a household rating of 8.86/12.79 making it the lowest rated and least viewed ceremony in its televised history. Many critics cited lackluster performances from the five hosts as a reason for the huge decline. Others pointed to the field of nominees which were dominated by low-rated and sparsely viewed programs, thus making the Emmys widely considered as a bust, which was panned by critics as "... the worst ever, laid a big, fat ratings egg as well..."
In 2011, when TV Guide Network re-did their list of "25 Biggest TV Blunders", this ceremony was included.
For the first time in a decade, the Primetime [Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series] was won by the defending champion. 30 Rock
Outstanding Drama Series went to AMC freshmen series Mad Men. This marked the first series award for a program on a basic cable station. Mad Men led all dramas with six major nominations.
This would be the final ceremony to have five nominees per category, most major categories were expanded to include at least six slots the following year.

Winners and nominees

Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold:

Programs

30 Rock * Curb Your Enthusiasm * Entourage * The Office * Two and a Half Men	Mad Men * Boston Legal * Damages * Dexter * House * Lost
Recount * Bernard and Doris * Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale * The Memory Keeper's Daughter * A [Raisin in the Sun (2008 film)\|A Raisin in the Sun]	John Adams * The Andromeda Strain * Cranford * Tin Man
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart * The Colbert Report * Late Show with David Letterman * Real Time with Bill Maher * Saturday Night Live	The Amazing Race * American Idol * Dancing with the Stars * Project Runway * Top Chef

Most major nominations

Program	Category	Network	No. of Nominations
John Adams	Miniseries	HBO	8
Recount	Movie	HBO	8
30 Rock	Comedy	NBC	6
Damages	Drama	FX	6
Mad Men	Drama	AMC	6
The Office	Comedy	NBC	6
Bernard and Doris	Movie	HBO	5
Boston Legal	Drama	ABC	5
Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale	Movie	HBO	5
Saturday Night Live	Variety	NBC	5
The Colbert Report	Variety	Comedy Central	4
Cranford	Miniseries	PBS	4
Entourage	Comedy	HBO	4
Pushing Daisies	Comedy	ABC	4
Two and a Half Men	Comedy	CBS	4
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart	Variety	Comedy Central	3
House	Drama	Fox	3
Late Show with David Letterman	Variety	CBS	3
A Raisin in the Sun	Movie	ABC	3
The 80th Annual Academy Awards	Variety	ABC	2
American Idol	Competition	Fox	2
Breaking Bad	Drama	AMC	2
Brothers & Sisters	Drama	ABC	2
Dancing with the Stars	Competition	ABC	2
Dexter	Drama	Showtime	2
Flight of the Conchords	Comedy	HBO	2
Great Performances	Variety	PBS	2
Grey's Anatomy	Drama	ABC	2
In Treatment	Drama	HBO	2
Lost	Drama	ABC	2
Project Runway	Competition	Bravo	2
Samantha Who?	Comedy	ABC	2
Ugly Betty	Comedy	ABC	2
-	-	-	2

Most major awards

Program	Category	Network	No. of Awards
John Adams	Miniseries	HBO	5
30 Rock	Comedy	NBC	4
Damages	Drama	FX	2
Mad Men	Drama	AMC	2
Recount	Movie	HBO	2

;Notes

Presenters

The awards were presented by the following:

Name	Role
	Presenters of the award for Primetime Emmy Award for [Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series\|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series]
	Presenter of the award for Primetime Emmy Award for [Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series\|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series]
	Presenters of the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
	Presenter of the award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
	Presenter of the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
	Presenter of the award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
	Presenter of the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
	Presenters of the award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
	Introducers of Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding [Guest Actress in a Comedy Series\|Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series] winner Kathryn Joosten
	Presenter of the award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
	Presenters of the award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
	Presenters of the award for Outstanding Made for Television Movie
	Presenters of the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie
	Presenters of the awards for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special and Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special
	Presenters of the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
	Presenters of the award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
	Presenter of the award for Outstanding Miniseries
	Presenters of the award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
	Introducers of Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series winner Glynn Turman and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series winner Cynthia Nixon
	Presenters of the award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
	Presenter of the award for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding [Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie\|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie]
	Presenter of the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
	Presenters of the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
	Presenter of the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
	Presenters of the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
	Presenter of the award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program
	Presenters of the award for Outstanding Comedy Series
	Presenter of the award for Outstanding Drama Series