The teams behind Showtime’s “Homeland,” ABC’s “Modern Family” and HBO’s “Game Change” celebrated their respective triumphs today after emerging from the 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards with four Emmys each.
AMC’s “Mad Men” had been looking to win a fifth consecutive best-drama award, which would have broken the record held by “Hill Street Blues” and
“The West Wing.” But the honor went to “Homeland,” which also won for best writing in a drama series for Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon and Gideon Raff; and
acting for stars Claire Danes and Damian Lewis.
Lewis and Danes were named outstanding actor and actress in a drama series for the series, the story of a former U.S Marine sergeant played by Lewis suspected by a bipolar CIA agent portrayed by Danes of plotting a terrorist attack.
“I’m one of those pesky Brits,” Lewis said while accepting the award at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. “I don’t really believe in judging art, but I thought I’d show up just in case. Turned out all right.”
For Danes, the win for best actress in a drama was her second Emmy but her first in the category. She won an Emmy for lead actress in a miniseries or movie for “Temple Grandin” in 2010.
She thanked the show’s “all-star team of writers … for taking the drama to the very brink and just a little bit beyond.”
Thanks largely to “Game Change,” HBO won the most awards during Sunday’s ceremony, with six. ABC collected five, Showtime four, FX three and the History Channel had two.
“Mad Men” had 17 nominations but set a record by failing to win any awards in Sunday’s ceremony or at the Creative Arts Emmys on Sept. 15, breaking the previous record of 16 nominations without a victory set by “Northern Exposure” in 1993 and tied in 1997 by “The Larry Sanders Show.”
In addition to its win for best comedy, “Modern Family” collected supporting-acting prizes for Eric Stonestreet and Julie Bowen and a best- directing Emmy for series co-creator Steven Levitan. The win was the second in a row for Bowen. She and Stonestreet both gave kudos to their co-stars.
“Sophia (Vergara), I know you’re younger than me, but I want to be you when I grow up,” Bowen said.
Stonestreet, meanwhile, gave thanks to his television partner, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, as he collected his second Emmy in the category.
“I wouldn’t be standing here without Jesse Tyler Ferguson,” Stonestreet said. “There is no Cam without Mitch.”
Also taking four Emmys was the HBO film “Game Change,” the story of the presidential campaign of Arizona Sen. John McCain after his choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate. It won for outstanding miniseries or made-for- television movie, best writing for Danny Strong, best actress for Julianne Moore and best director for Jay Roach.
“I feel so validated because Sarah Palin gave me a big thumbs down,” said Moore, who portrayed the former Alaska governor.
Jon Cryer, who won a supporting-actor Emmy in 2009 for his work on “Two and a Half Men,” was named best lead actor in a comedy for his role as Alan Harper in the CBS hit.
“Something has clearly gone terribly wrong,” Cryer said as he accepted the award. “I am in an amazing category with amazing people who I worship and admire.
“… It’s been an incredible journey on this show,” he said, an allusion to the turmoil surrounding the departure of star Charlie Sheen, who was replaced by Ashton Kutcher.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus collected her third Emmy Award, winning for outstanding lead actress in a comedy for “Veep.” She won in the same category in 2006 for “The New Adventures of Old Christine” and won a supporting-
actress prize in 1996 for her work in “Seinfeld.”
“It’s a bit mystifying to me because people say this show is a comedy and yet I don’t see anything funny about me being vice president of the United States,” she said.
Aaron Paul won his second Emmy for supporting actor in a comedy series for his work opposite Bryan Cranston in “Breaking Bad.” He also took home the prize in 2010.
Maggie Smith won the Emmy for supporting actress in a drama for “Downton Abbey.”
“The Amazing Race” won the Emmy for outstanding reality-competition program for the ninth time in 10 years, while Tom Bergeron of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” won his first Emmy for reality show host.
“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” was named outstanding variety series for the 10th year in a row, prompting Stewart to joke that he and his crew were promised a free sandwich after 10 wins.
“We make topical comedy,” he noted, “which has the shelf life of egg salad.”
Comedian Louis C.K. won a pair of Emmys — one for outstanding writing in a variety special for his performance show “Louis C.K. Live at the Beacon Theatre” and writing for a comedy series for “Louie.”
The miniseries “Hatfields & McCoys” earned two awards, with Tom Berenger being named best supporting actor and Kevin Costner winning his first Emmy Award as lead actor in a miniseries or television movie.