The 64th Primetime Emmy Awards, held on Sunday, September 23, 2012, at the Nokia Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles, California, celebrated the best in prime time television programming from June 1, 2011, to May 31, 2012. This ceremony was a significant event in the television industry, with ABC televising the proceedings in the United States. Comedian and ABC's late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel took on the role of host for the Primetime Emmys for the first
time, guiding viewers through an evening of accolades and recognition for outstanding television achievements.
Hosting Duties and Nomination Announcements
Jimmy Kimmel's debut as host was a notable aspect of the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards. He, alongside Kerry Washington, had the responsibility of announcing the nominations on July 19, 2012. Originally, Nick Offerman was slated to co-announce the nominations, but unforeseen travel delays prevented his participation. The main ceremony, where 26 awards were presented, was preceded by the Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony, which took place on September 15 and was later televised on September 22, 2012, on ReelzChannel. These preliminary awards honor technical and artistic achievements in television, setting the stage for the main event.
Major Victories and Shifting Tides in Drama and Comedy
One of the most significant outcomes of the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards was the victory of Showtime's crime drama, *Homeland*, for Outstanding Drama Series. This marked a historic first for the network and, notably, broke *Mad Men's* impressive four-year winning streak in that category. In the comedy sphere, ABC's *Modern Family* continued its dominance, securing the Outstanding Comedy Series award for the third consecutive year. These wins highlighted shifts in critical acclaim within the television landscape, with new contenders rising to prominence while established favorites maintained their strong positions.
Groundbreaking Nominations and International Success
The 64th Primetime Emmy Awards also marked a unique moment in Emmy history, as it was the first ceremony where none of the four major American broadcasting TV networks received nominations in the categories of Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. This indicated a growing recognition for cable and streaming platforms in the most prestigious drama categories. Furthermore, the ceremony garnered attention in Britain due to the successes of actors Damian Lewis from *Homeland* and Maggie Smith from *Downton Abbey*. Dame Maggie Smith's win was particularly noteworthy, as it was PBS's first victory in her category, and she had won the previous year for the same role in a different category. Her achievement also represented the first win in a major acting category for a Drama Series for PBS since 1975, underscoring a significant moment for public broadcasting.
The Record-Breaking "Shutout" of Mad Men
Despite its previous successes, *Mad Men* set an unfortunate new record at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards. The acclaimed series received an impressive 17 nominations but ultimately won none, marking the largest "shutout" in Emmy history at that time. This surpassed the previous record of 16 nominations without a win, which had been set by *Northern Exposure* in 1993 and *The Larry Sanders Show* in 1997. While this record was later broken by *The Handmaid's Tale* in 2021, *Mad Men's* performance at the 64th Emmys remains a memorable instance of a highly nominated show going home empty-handed, highlighting the competitive nature of the awards.
