“Drag Race” and “Queer Eye” romp to several victories at Creative Arts Emmys
Late openly gay producer Craig Zadan posthumously wins 5 awards for NBC's "Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert"
Queer-themed or LGBTQ-produced television shows won big over the weekend, bringing home at least 12 awards at the Creative Arts Emmys.
The RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise won big, earning awards in four categories. Zaldy Goco, the costume designer for Drag Race, was the force behind the show’s win in the category of Outstanding Costumes for Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Programming. Goco has won twice of the three times he’s been nominated in this category, according to Deadline.
Hairstylists Hector Pocasangre and Gabriel Villarreal of Drag Race took home the award for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or Special. Director Nick Murray won the Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Reality Program, and RuPaul took home the award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program.
“Everybody say ‘Love’!” RuPaul said in his acceptance speech, prompting the audience to scream back “Love!”
“Now drive that down to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue!” RuPaul said. “That’s what our show is about. Our show is about love and courage and the tenacity of the human spirit. And all the people who work on the show at [World of Wonder] and at VH1, we are so happy to present all of these queens to the world. … Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”
Another big winner was Queer Eye, which took home three awards, almost exactly 14 years after its original iteration won the Emmy for Best Reality Show. The show won Outstanding Structure Reality Program, Outstanding Picture Editing for a Structured or Competition Reality Program, and Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program.
“This show is so important,” executive producer David Collins said in his speech, “thank you for what this fab five are doing to help the LGBT movement.”
The late Craig Zadan, the co-prodcuer of Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert, was posthumously awarded with five Creative Arts Emmys after the NBC television special won awards for Outstanding Variety Special, Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Special, Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special, Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special, and Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Limited Series, Movie or Special.
Zadan, who was openly gay, died at his Los Angeles home on Aug. 20 after experiencing complications from shoulder replacement surgery. He was 69.
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