With a new notable exceptions - hello, Homeland! – the 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards for US network and cable shows had some very predictable repeats. At the ceremony last night in LA, it was former winners who dominated, particularly in the comedy categories, where Modern Family won again.
But in drama, Homeland was the big winner, with the show scoring gongs for stars Claire Danes and Damian Lewis, for writers Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon and Gideon Raff and for the show as a whole as Outstanding Drama Series.
As mentioned, Modern Family got Outstanding Comedy Series, creator Steve Levitan won the directing award and actors Eric Stonestreet and Julie Bowen scooped awards again. While we’re talking repeat performances – richly deserved, but still mocked by Jon Stewart, who was on stage to receive it – The Daily Show now has 10 consecutive trophies in its topical claws for Outstanding Variety Series. And Stephen Colbert has more material to seethe about on his next show.
There were one or two surprises. Louis CK picked up a writing award for the excellent Louie and one for his special, Louis CK Live At The Beacon Theatre.
Though Downton Abbey remains popular with viewers (and Maggie Smith won a gong in absentia), the miniseries / movie category mostly belonged to HBO’s Game Change and Hatfield & McCoys, with both seemingly proving the age-old Emmy snark that if movie stars make TV, they get the awards by default.
But one last comment: Aaron Paul won another Emmy for his performance as Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad. Yeah! Magnets, bitch!
Need a list of all the winners? Take a gander below.
Outstanding comedy series: Modern Family
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Outstanding drama series: **Homeland
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Outstanding miniseries or movie: **Game Change
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Outstanding lead actor in a miniseries or movie: **Kevin Costner, Hatfields & McCoys
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Outstanding directing for a miniseries or movi****e:** Jay Roach, Game Change
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Outstanding lead actress in a miniseries or movie: **Julianne Moore, Game Change
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Outstanding writing for a miniseries or movie: **Danny Strong, Game Change
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Outstanding supporting actor in a miniseries or movie:** Tom Berenger, **Hatfields & McCoys
Outstanding supporting actress in a miniseries or movie: **Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
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Outstanding variety series: **The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
**Outstanding directing for a variety special: **Glenn Weiss, 65th Annual Tony Awards
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Outstanding writing for a variety special:** Louis C.K., Louie C.K. Live at the Beacon Theatre
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Outstanding lead actress in a drama series:** Claire Danes, Homeland
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Outstanding lead actor in a drama series:** Damian Lewis, Homeland
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Outstanding directing for a drama series:** Tim Van Patten, Boardwalk Empire
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Outstanding supporting actress in a drama:** Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
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Outstanding writing for a drama series: **Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon, Gideon Raff, Homeland
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Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series: **Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
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Outstanding host for a reality show:** Tom Bergeron, Dancing with the Stars
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Outstanding reality-competition program:** The Amazing Race
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Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series: **Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
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Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series:** Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
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Outstanding directing in a comedy series: **Steve Levitan, Modern Family
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Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series:** Julie Bowen, Modern Family
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Outstanding writing for a comedy series:** Louis C.K., Louie
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Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series: **Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family