The widely praised HBO drama “Chernobyl,” created by La Cañada Flintridge resident Craig Mazin, this week earned an impressive 19 Emmy nominations, including a nod to Mazin for outstanding writing.
In a statement, executive producer Mazin said he was “thrilled” about the honors for his five-part miniseries about the 1986 Chernobyl event in Soviet Ukraine, the worst nuclear plant disaster in history.
“Our show was a labor of love by so many, so it was particularly gratifying to see how our cast and crew was acknowledged across the board,” Mazin said on Tuesday. “We all worked so hard to bring ‘Chernobyl’ to the screen, and we’re overwhelmed by this recognition by our colleagues.”
The drama stars Stellan Skarsgaard, Jared Harris and Emily Watson (each of whom also received Emmy nods). Mazin, whose screenwriting credits include “Identity Thief” and “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” among other films, penned “Chernobyl” in his LCF home and at his office in Old Town Pasadena. He was this year’s La Cañada Flintridge Educational Foundation’s Spirit of Outstanding Service Award honoree along with his wife, Melissa.
In a recent interview with The Outlook, Mazin had said he felt the series would resonate with American and British audiences.
“I think no one in the U.S. has presented the Soviet Union of the ’80s in this kind of truly realistic light,” Mazin said. “I don’t think fiction like this has happened as true to fact as we have tried to be, down to the shoelaces and the watches on their wrist. Every detail is as authentic as we could be. We tried hard to honor the stories we are telling.”
“Game of Thrones,” which also airs on HBO, picked up the most nominations, 32.
Nominations for “Chernobyl” include:
• Outstanding limited series
• Writing for a limited series, movie or dramatic special (Mazin)
• Lead actor in a limited series or movie (Harris)
• Supporting actress in a limited series or movie (Watson)
• Supporting actor in a limited series or movie (Skarsgaard)
• Directing for a limited series, movie or dramatic special (Johan Renck)
• Hairstyling for a limited series or movie
• Makeup for a limited series or movie (non-prosthetic)
• Music composition for a limited series, movie or special (original dramatic score for the episode “Please Remain Calm”)
• Prosthetic makeup for a series, limited series, movie or special
• Single-camera picture editing for a limited series or movie (for the episode “Open Wide, O Earth”)
• Single-camera picture editing for a limited series or movie (for the episode “Please Remain Calm”)
• Sound editing for a limited series, movie or special (for the episode “1:23:45”)
• Sound mixing for a limited series or movie (for the episode “1:23:45”)
• Special visual effects in a supporting role (for the episode “1:23:45”)
• Production design for a narrative period or fantasy program (one hour or more)
• Casting for a limited series, movie or special
• Cinematography for a limited series or movie (for the episode “Please Remain Calm”
• Period costumes (for the episode “Please Remain Calm”)
Additionally, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory scored a nomination for outstanding original interactive program for NASA’s InSight Mars landing on NASA TV.
“Our mission is to share NASA science and stories with the world — with 360 video, podcasts, interactive experiences and social media, we reach people in so many compelling ways,” said Michael Greene, director of communications and education at JPL, in a statement released on Tuesday. “When we’re connected to our missions, we become part of them.”
NASA JPL won the award last year for “Cassini’s Grand Finale.” Cassini project manager Earl Maize, navigation team chief Duane Roth and producer, host and writer Gay Yee Hill, all LCF residents, were among the team members who shared in the award.
The Primetime Emmy Awards are scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, on Fox. The separate Creative Arts Awards are set for Saturday, Sept. 14-Sunday, Sept 15.
For more information, visit emmys.com.
