HBO Dominates DGA Awards

HBO won a clean sweep of the top television categories during last night’s Directors Guild of America Outstanding Directorial Achievement Awards ceremony. 

Game Of Thrones’ David Nutter won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement In A Dramatic Series for the fantasy series' “Mother’s Mercy” episode while Veep’s Chris Addison took home the award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Comedy Series for the series’ Election Night episode.

Also for HBO, Bessie’s Dee Rees was victorious in the Outstanding Directorial Achievement In Movies for Television and Miniseries category, according to the Director’s Guild.

In addition on the cable front, Adam Vetri won for best reality series for CMT’s Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge, “Gods Of War” episode and Kenny Ortega was triumphant in the children’s programs category for his direction of Disney Channel’s original movie Descendants.

The list of DGA Awards winners in the television category are as follows:

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in A Movie for Television and Miniseries

DEE REES
Bessie (HBO)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in A Dramatic Series

DAVID NUTTER
Game of Thrones, “Mother’s Mercy” (HBO)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in A Comedy Series

CHRIS ADDISON
Veep, “Election Night” (HBO)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming

DAVE DIOMEDI
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, “Episode #325” (NBC)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials

DON ROY KING
Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special (NBC)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs

ADAM VETRI
Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge, “Gods of War” (CMT)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs

KENNY ORTEGA
Descendants (Disney Channel)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials

ANDREAS NILSSON
Biscuit Filmworks

Emily’s Oz, Comcast – Goodby, Silverstein & Partners NY
Time Upon A Once, General Electric – BBDO
Dad Song, Old Spice – Wieden + Kennedy

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary

MATTHEW HEINEMAN
Cartel Land

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.