Could this be HBO's year at the Primetime Emmy Awards. If the Creative Arts Emmys are any indication, we may be due for a shakeup. Both Veep and Game of Thrones won the Creative Arts Emmy for Outstanding Casting in a Comedy and Drama Series, respectfully. While both of these shows are extraordinarily popular and critically acclaimed, this could mean big things for their chances at next Sunday's Primetime Emmy Awards. I'm not saying that there's necessarily a mathematical correlation between the winners for casting and Outstanding Series in Emmy history, but it is definitely a step in the right direction for both shows.
This is Game of Thrones' first Emmy in this category, but it has been nominated every year that the show was on the air. The award has previously gone to Boardwalk Empire, House of Cards, Homeland, and True Detective.The fantasy series also took home a trophy Saturday for Outstanding Makeup For A Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic). Other than Peter Dinklage, who won Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2011, this is one of the biggest awards that the show has gotten at the Emmys. The tides could finally be turning in favor of Game of Thrones.
Game of Thrones' biggest competition for Outstanding Drama Series is Mad Men, who could snag a win for its final season. However, I'd personally prefer to see Jon Hamm finally get a win than the show. Orange is the New Black could also be a frontrunner. That's what makes this casting win so interesting. It indicates that the Television Academy is taking notice of not only how Game of Thrones looks in terms of costumes, makeup, and visual effects, but the quality of the talent and storytelling as well. Meanwhile, Veep finally has the opportunity to topple the Modern Family dynasty at the Primetime Emmy Awards. Again, this is an indication that Veep is being looked at as an ensemble show and an excellent comedy — not just a vehicle for (Queen) Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Plus, they're not wrong. The Game of Thrones cast is one of the strongest and most seamless of all time, and the Veep cast is maybe my favorite group of comedians on television right now. Hopefully their victories will continue in 2015.
Image: Helen Sloan/HBO
