Canadians look to figure prominently at the 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, with about 50 cited as the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced this year’s nominees on July 15 in Hollywood.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, a production of Alliance Atlantis Communications in association with CBS, is up for awards in four categories, including best drama series.

Artists at Vancouver FX shop Image Engine had a hand in three shows up for visual effects for a series: MGM’s Dead Like Me and the Stargate SG-1 episode ‘Lost City,’ along with ABC’s Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital. The latter is also up for main title design for Canucks Josh Bodnar, Dade Ogeron and Colin Day.

The Montreal-shot miniseries The Reagans, bumped from CBS to Showtime for its controversial portrayal of the late president Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy, garnered seven noms. Locals Tina Gerussi and Andrea Kenyan are up for casting, Linda Bourgon for hairstyling, and Stephan Dupuis for makeup on the mini. Meanwhile, USA Network’s Traffic: The Miniseries, produced in Vancouver, has three noms, including casting, shared by local Stuart Aikens. The ABC Native American mini Dreamkeeper, a service gig for Vancouver’s defunct Sextant Entertainment, received two noms, including hairstyling for Rejean Forget and Don Olson.

Many of the Canadians nominated are ex-pats involved with U.S. programs, such as Kiefer Sutherland, up as both co-executive producer (best drama series) and performer (lead actor in a drama series) for 24.

The Canadian Consulate in Los Angeles is hosting a reception for Canuck nominees on Sept. 18. The Emmys, to be hosted by Garry Shandling, take place the next evening in Los Angeles and will be broadcast on CTV. *

-www.emmys.org