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Emmy winners and nominees included productions based on books

Some winners like 'Behind the Candelabra' and nominees such as 'Game of Thrones' originally came from the written word.

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Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Bobby Cannavale took home the Supporting Actor in a Drama Series prize for 'Boardwalk Empire,' which is based on a book of the same name.
  • By Molly Driscoll Staff Writer

Last night’s Emmy Awards were notable for various upsets in major categories. But also of interest is the fact that, sprinkled liberally among both the winners and the nominees at the ceremony, were TV programs based on books. 

One of the most high-profile projects based on a book was the HBO TV movie “Behind the Candelabra,” which starred Michael Douglas as Liberace and Matt Damon as his boyfriend Scott Thorson. The movie, which was based on the book of the same name by Thorson and Alex Thorleifson, won the Best Miniseries or Movie category as well as Best Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for Michael Douglas as well as Best Directing for a Miniseries or Movie for Steven Soderbergh. 

Another literarily-based winner was the series “Boardwalk Empire,” for which actor Bobby Cannavale won Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and which is based on the book of the same name by Nelson Johnson. “House of Cards,” which took home the Directing for a Drama Series prize when it went to David Fincher and was nominated for Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Robin Wright, is based on the book of the same title.

Another nominee from the world of books included the TV show “Game of Thrones,” based on the Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin, which received a Best Drama Series nomination and Best Supporting Actor in a Drama and Best Supporting Actress in a Drama nominations for Peter Dinklage and Emilia Clarke, respectively, as well as Best Writing for a Drama Series.

Meanwhile, the TV program “The Bible” was nominated for Best Miniseries or Movie and “Bates Motel,” which is based on the Robert Bloch novel “Psycho” that was also the foundation of the Alfred Hitchcock film, was nominated for Lead Actress in a Drama Series when Vera Farmiga scored a nod. Actor Don Cheadle was nominated for the Lead Actor in a Comedy Series prize for the TV show “House of Lies,” which is based on the book of the same title by Martin Kihn, and Imelda Staunton was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for “The Girl,” which was based on Donald Spoto’s book “Spellbound by Beauty.” “Parade’s End,” an HBO miniseries which was based on the books by Ford Madox Ford, was nominated for Best Writing for a Miniseries or Movie.

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