Last night, comedian Seth Meyers hosted the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards, his quick and witty opening kicked off the first Monday night Emmy awards since 1976. Getting right into the awards with Amy Poehler the first presenter followed by a steady stream of presenters from who’s who of television performers. Starting the show with many comedy categories kept the first hour quick and light before moving into more dramatic categories. Some of the lighthearted segments aimed at keeping the show entertaining (some more successfully than others) included a Emmy version of “Billy On The Street” with Billy Eichner, an “Emmy Q&A”, Weird Al Yankovic performing adding his version of lyrics to some of today’s TV theme tunes. The perennial “In Memoriam” segment featured Sara Bareilles performing and Billy Crystal paying tribute to his friend, the recently departed Robin Williams.
Going into the awards HBO lead the networks with 36 nominations followed by FX with 19, for programs The Normal Heart’s 9 nominations were just ahead of American Horror Story: Coven and Fargo’s 8 noms. In the end, Breaking Bad’s 5 Emmy’s were the most by a single program followed by 3 apiece for Sherlock and Modern Family.
The major categories of the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards went to:
Outstanding Comedy Series – Modern Family
Outstanding Drama Series – Breaking Bad
Outstanding Variety Series – The Colbert Report
Outstanding Miniseries – Fargo
Outstanding Television Movie – The Normal Heart
Outstanding Reality – Competition Program – The Amazing Race
Outstanding Lead Actor – Comedy Series – Jim Parsons for The Big Bang Theory
Outstanding Lead Actress – Comedy Series – Julia Louis-Dreyfus for VEEP
Outstanding Lead Actor – Drama Series – Brian Cranston for Breaking Bad
Outstanding Lead Actress – Drama Series – Julianna Margulies for The Good Wife
Outstanding Lead Actor – Miniseries or Movie – Benedict Cumberbatch for Sherlock
Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or Movie – Jessica Lange for American Horror Story: Coven
Outstanding Supporting Actor – Comedy Series – Ty Burrell for Modern Family
Outstanding Supporting Actress – Comedy Series – Allison Janney for Mom
Outstanding Supporting Actor – Drama Series – Aaron Paul for Breaking Bad
Outstanding Supporting Actress – Drama Series – Anna Gunn for Breaking Bad
Outstanding Supporting Actor – Miniseries or Movie – Martin Freeman for Sherlock
Outstanding Supporting Actress – Miniseries or Movie – Kathy Bate for American Horror Story: Coven
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