Modern Family won a record-tying fifth best comedy series Emmy Award and a dominant Breaking Bad captured the top drama award and a trio of acting honours in the ceremony.
Bryan Cranston was honoured at the Monday night ceremony as best actor in a drama for Breaking Bad , proving that True Detective nominee Matthew McConaughey’s movie-star appeal couldn’t conquer all.
Cranston’s victory ties him with four-time best drama actor champ Dennis Franz. Cranston’s co-stars Aaron Paul and Anna Gunn were honoured in categories for best drama supporting acting.
“Thank you for this wonderful farewell to our show,” said Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan said of the series about a teacher-turned-drug kingpin that ended with a bang.
McConaughey was the object of too-handsome jokes by presenter Jimmy Kimmel and adoration by winner Gail Mancuso, honoured as best director for an episode of Modern Family .
“If you don’t mind, Matthew McConaughey, I’m gonna make eye contact with you right now,” she said from the stage, making good by holding the actor’s gaze for much of her speech.
Benedict Cumberbatch of Sherlock- His Last Vow was the winner of the best miniseries actor award. “So you won Oscar, [People magazine’s] Sexiest Man Alive and now you want an Emmy, too. Isn’t that a little bit greedy?” host Woody Harrelson teased his fellow nominee.
The ceremony took a somber turn as Robin Williams was remembered with restraint and grace by his longtime friend, Billy Crystal. “He made us laugh. Hard. Every time you saw him,” Crystal said of Williams. “Robin Williams, what a concept.”
The Good Wife star Julianna Margulies won the Emmy for best lead actress in a drama series. The Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons was crowned as best comedy series actor, giving him his fourth Emmy and putting him in league with all-time sitcom winners Kelsey Grammer and Michael J. Fox.
Modern Family tied Frasier as the all-time sitcom champ with five statuettes, also captured a best comedy supporting actor trophy for Ty Burrell.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who received her third consecutive best comedy actress Emmy for the political comedy Veep, drew big laughs as she stopped to exchange faux heated kisses with Cranston, who earlier was her co-presenter and who appeared with her on Seinfeld .
Here is a list of winners:
Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Ty Burrell, “Modern Family,” ABC.
Writing, Comedy Series: Louis C.K., “Louie,” FX.
Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Allison Janney, “Mom,” CBS.
Directing, Comedy Series Gail Mancuso, “Modern Family,” ABC.
Actor, Comedy Series: Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS.
Actress, Comedy Series: Julia Louis—Dreyfus, “Veep,” HBO.
Reality-Competition Program: “The Amazing Race,” CBS.
Writing, Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Stephen Moffat, “Sherlock- His Last Vow,” PBS.
Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Kathy Bates, “American Horror Story- Coven,” FX.
Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Martin Freeman, “Sherlock- His Last Vow,” PBS.
Directing, Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Adam Bernstein, “Fargo,” FX.
Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Benedict Cumberbatch, “Sherlock- His Last Vow,” PBS.
Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Jessica Lange, “American Horror Story- Coven,” FX.
Miniseries: “Fargo,” FX.
Movie: “The Normal Heart,” HBO.
