The fantasy series Game of Thrones was the big winner at the creative arts Emmy Awards.

The HBO saga received a leading six trophies at the ceremony Saturday that recognises technical and other achievements. Best special visual effects and best costumes for a series were among the trophies claimed by "Game of Thrones."

Others honoured at the ceremony were four TV series guest stars, including Kathy Bates for CBS' Two and a Half Men and Jimmy Fallon as host of NBC's Saturday Night Live.

Bates has a shot at another trophy, for best actress Harry's Law her canceled NBC series, at the prime-time Emmy ceremony to air 23 September.

Earlier this week, she said she was recovering from a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer two months ago.

On the drama side, Emmys went to Jeremy Davies for his guest appearance on FX's Justified and Martha Plimpton for her turn on CBS' The Good Wife.

Programs with multiple-award bragging rights included Discovery Channel's Frozen Planet, 'Great Expectations on PBS' Masterpiece showcase and Saturday Night Live, each of which earned four Emmys.

History's Hatfields & McCoys, HBO's Boardwalk Empire and the 65th annual Tony Awards on CBS each nabbed three awards.

Among networks, HBO earned a leading 17 creative arts Emmys, followed by CBS with 13 and PBS with 11. Discovery received six awards, NBC got five and ABC and the Cartoon Network won four each. Fox won two trophies.

Emmys in 26 categories including acting, writing and directing will be presented at the ceremony airing live on ABC.

Other winners at the creative arts Emmys included:
— Voice-over performance: Maurice LaMarche, Futurama: The Silence of the Clamps, Comedy Central.
— Reality program: Undercover Boss, CBS.
— Commercial: Best Job Procter & Gamble corporate brand.
— Animated Program: The Penguins of Madasgacar: The Returns of the Revenge of Dr. Blowhole, Nickelodeon.
— Nonfiction series: Frozen Planet, Discovery Channel.
— Writing for a variety series: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Comedy Central.
— Music composition for a series (original dramatic score): Downton Abbey: Episode 6, PBS.
— Music composition for a miniseries, movie or special: Hemingway & Gellhorn, HBO.
— Choreography: Smash, NBC.
— Casting for a drama series: Homeland, Showtime.
— Casting for a miniseries, movie or a special: Game Change, HBO.
— Casting for a comedy series: Girls, HBO.
— Costumes for a miniseries, movie or a special: Great Expectations (Masterpiece), Part 2, PBS.
— Costumes for a variety-music program or a special (more than one award possible): Opening Ceremony of the XVI Pan American Games Guadalajara 2011, ESPN; The X Factor: Top 9 Elimination, Fox.
— Costumes for a series: Game of Thrones: The Prince of Winterfell, HBO.