Mathew Imaging/Getty ImagesThe big winner at Saturday's Creative Arts Emmys?
Sarah Palin. Tina Fey. The bespectacled funnylady's spot-on Saturday Night Live spoofin' of a certain veep wannabe earned her an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress, Comedy.
You betcha.
"This would not be possible without Mrs. Palin...[who is] an inspiration to working mothers everywhere," Fey said as she picked up the prize. She also gave a shout-out to "my parents, who are lifelong Republicans, for their patience."
"They thought the first four sketches were very funny and the last two, enough already," said Fey, who stands to collect more hardware at next weekend's Primetime Emmys.
Meanwhile, all that booty-shaking with Beyoncé and mother-loving with Susan Sarandon paid off for Justin Timberlake...
The former 'N Syncer claimed the Guest Actor, Comedy statuette for his own SNL stint. Timberlake became the first host in the history of the late-night stalwart to win that honor.
This is Timberlake's second SNL-spawned Emmy. He previously scored in the music category for his infamous "Dick in a Box" showcase with Andy Samberg.
But they weren't all the big-name winners at L.A.'s Nokia Theatre.
Michael J. Fox (Guest Actor, Drama), Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn (Guest Actress, Drama) and SNL alums Jimmy Fallon (Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media) and Chris Rock (Writing, Variety, Music or Comedy Special) were among those honored. Long-snubbed Buffy mastermind Joss Whedon finally collected some Emmy hardware for his hugely popular online project Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.
The wingding was presided over by Kathy Griffin, who saw the two-year Emmy-winning reign of Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List come crashing to a halt, with A&E's Intervention named Outstanding Reality Program.
The awards ceremony honored 81 technical and other achievements for the 2008-09 season. HBO led the way with 16 Emmys, followed by NBC (11) and ABC and Fox (eight apiece). PBS' Little Dorrit topped all programs with four awards.
Here's a list of the night's biggest winners:
- Guest Actor in a Drama Series: Michael J. Fox, Rescue Me
- Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Ellen Burstyn, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
- Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Tina Fey, Saturday Night Live
- Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Justin Timberlake, Saturday Night Live
- Voice-Over Performance: Dan Castellaneta, The Simpsons
- Animated Program (One Hour or More): Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Cartoon Network
- Animated Program (Less Than One Hour): South Park, Comedy Central
- Reality Program: Invervention, A&E
- Children's Program: Wizards of Waverly Place, Disney Channel
- Variety, Music or Comedy Special: The Kennedy Center Honors, CBS
- Commercial: "Heist" (Coca-Cola)
- Writing in a Variety, Music or Comedy Special: Chris Rock, Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger
- Creative Achievement in Interactive Media Fiction: The Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Digital Experience, NBC.com
- Oustanding Special Class—Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Program: Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, drhorrible.com
The 2009 Creative Arts Emmy Awards will air Sept. 18 on E! at 1 p.m. (ET/PT).
(Originally published Sept. 12, 2009, at 10 p.m. PT)
________
Next week is the main event. Check out our Notable Nominees gallery and the rest of our blowout Primetime Emmys coverage.