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Spotlight on Alumni

The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards

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While you're scanning the red carpet for your favorite stars during The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards, be sure to keep an eye out for Carnegie Mellon alumni among the nominees.

"Carnegie Mellon has a bright and visible presence at the Emmy Awards as represented by so many alumni that have been nominated in various categories," said alumnus John Shaffner (A '76), who is chairman of the board and CEO of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

He added, "It speaks volumes about the talent that has been nurtured and educated at the School of Drama — and as well about the welcoming alumni who make sure that all grads headed west find their place."

Shaffner has designed sets for some of the biggest names in show business, including Carol Burnett, Bill Cosby, Ellen DeGeneres and the cast of "Friends." And while he notes there are many theories as to why so many of our alumni are successful in television, he points to one common thread.

"What we all have in common is the trained good instinct about the story and our parts in making a positive collaborative experience and meaningful product," he explained. "Television production is especially needful of the facile and inventive artists who know how to work — and to paraphrase Mr. Carnegie — put their hearts into it."

Alumni from Carnegie Mellon University who have been nominated for Emmy Awards this year include:

  • Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series — Ted Danson (A '72) as Arthur Frobisher, "Damages," FX Networks, FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television
  • Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series — Holly Hunter (A '80) as Grace Hanadarko, "Saving Grace," TNT, Fox Television Studios
  • Outstanding Nonfiction Special — Gary Smith (A '56), Executive Producer, "AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Movies — 10th Anniversary Edition," CBS, An AFI Production in association with the Gary Smith Company
  • Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or a Movie — David Crank (A '85), Supervising Art Director (USA) for "John Adams," HBO, Playtone in association with HBO Films
  • Outstanding Art Direction for Variety, Music or Nonfiction Programming — Scott Storey (A '85), Production Designer for "The 2007 MTV Video Music Awards," MTV, Den of Thieves in association with MTV
  • Outstanding Costumes for a Series — Eduardo Castro (A '76, 77), Costume Designer for "Ugly Betty: Bananas for Betty," ABC, ABC Studios
  • Outstanding Art Direction for a Single-Camera Series — Mark Worthington (A '91), Production Designer, "Ugly Betty: How Betty Got Her Grieve Back," ABC, ABC Studios
  • Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) for VMC Programming — Robert A. Dickinson (H '05), Lighting Designer, nominated both for "The 80th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and for "The 50th Annual Grammy Awards," CBS, John Cossette Productions/Ken Ehrlich Productions
  • Outstanding Art Direction for Variety, Music or Nonfiction Programming — Brian Stonestreet (A '88), Production Designer for "The 50th Annual Grammy Awards," CBS, John Cossette Productions/Ken Ehrlich Productions
  • Outstanding Art Direction for Variety, Music or Nonfiction Programming — Alana Billingsley (A '04), Art Director, "The 50th Annual Grammy Awards," CBS, John Cossette Productions/Ken Ehrlich Productions

Also, Aaron Staton (A '04) plays the role of Ken Cosgrove in "Mad Men," which is nominated for Outstanding Drama Series. Staton along with Zachary Quinto (A '99) from NBC's hit show "Heroes" will be in Pittsburgh to co-host Carnegie Mellon's campaign kick-off event on Oct. 24.

Watch the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday night at 8 p.m. on the ABC Television Network as they are telecast live from the NOKIA Theatre in Los Angeles.

Related Links: School of Drama  |  College of Fine Arts

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