From comedies, to dramas and even a few reality shows, TV celebrated its' biggest night at the 65th annual Television of Arts and Science Emmy Awards on Sunday.
Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris and held for the sixth year at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, honored actors, writers and directors for their work in various categories. Some of the top wins for the night included series "Breaking Bad" and "Modern Family".
AMC "Breaking Bad," the critically-acclaimed show following anti-hero meth manufacturer Waslter White, took home the top honor, winning for the best drama just an hour after its penultimate episode aired.
"Man, I did not see this coming," said creator Vince Gilligan, who star Anna Gunn called a "mad genius" when accepting her outstanding supporting actress Emmy.
The series final episode is set to air in a week.
"I thought this was gonna be 'House of Cards'," Gilligan said. "Or it could've been 'Homeland', or it could've been 'Mad Men', or it could've been 'Game of Thrones' or 'Downton Abbey', could've been any of 'em, and even some others who were not nominated in this golden age of television that we feel so proud to be a part of."
ABC's "Modern Family" won its fourth consecutive trophy for comedy series.
"I cannot begin to express to you how surreal this ride has been, because none of us grew up feeling like winners," said "Modern Family" creator Steven Levitan. "So thank you to the bullies, to the popular kids, to the gym teachers who taunted us, who rejected us and who made fun of the way we ran. Without you we never would have gone into comedy."
Actor Jeff Daniels won his first Emmy for his role in HBO's "The Newsroom," beating out "House of Cards's" Kevin Spacey and last year's winner Damian Lewis ("Homeland").
"I usually don't win anything," a surprised Daniels said.
His last prize was a "best actor over 50" award from the AARP for 2005 film "The Squid and the Whale". Another first time winner wa Anna Gunn, who won supporting actress in a drama category for her portrayal as Walter White's wife, Skyler.
HBO continued its hot streak with Bobby Cannavale of "Boardwalk Empire" scooping up the win for best supporting actor in a drama. He beat out two-time winner Aaron Paul of "Breaking Bad," and "Homeland" star Mandy Patinkin.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus of HBO's "Veep" took home her second Emmy, while and Jim Parsons of CBS's "The Big Bang Theory" scored his third actor in a comedy awards.
Claire Danes scored her second consecutive win for lead actress in a drama as bipolar CIA agent Carrie Mathison on Showtime's "Homeland". Danes topped Kerry Washington, star of the buzzy "Scandal." Washington was the first African-American actress to be nominated in the category since Cicely Tyson in 1995.
Netflix's "House of Cards" David Fincher was named best director in a drama.
HBO's "Behind the Candelabra" swept up awards for best movie, Steven Soderbergh for director, and actor Michael Douglas in the lead actor category for his role of Liberace. The actor's acceptance speech was filled with sex jokes aimed to his co-star, Matt Damon, who played his younger lover in the movie, Scott Thorson.
"This is a two-hander, and you're only as good as your other hand," he joked, referencing the intimate love scenes between the two of them in the flick.
Damon, 42, blushed and giggled as the sexual jokes kept coming.
Other winners of the night included Tony Hale of HBO's "Veep" and Merritt Wever of Showtime's "Nurse Jackie" picking up trophies for supporting acting.
"I gotta go. Bye," a stunned Wever said.
In between the awards, the show honored the actors who changed television and "impacted a generation." Five recently-deceased showbiz types were singled out for special, personal tributes.
Robin Williams drew some laughs while talking about Jonathan Winters
"Jonathan Winters was my mentor. I once told him that and he said, 'Please. I prefer idol.'"
Rob Reiner got emotional talking about Jean Stapleton. Elton John performed a ballad, "Home Again" as a tribute to the departed Liberace.
Jane Lynch showed up to talk about Cory Monteith and discuss the perils of addiction; the 31-year-old actor died of an accidental drug overdose this summer.
Earlier this week, Monteith's personal tributes made headlines, as some didn't think his body of work did not deserve special attention as did the list of veteran actors.
WINNERS
Drama Series: Breaking Bad (AMC)
Comedy Series: Modern Family (ABC)
Miniseries or Movie: Behind the Candelabra (HBO)
Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie: Michael Douglas, Behind The Candelabra (HBO)
Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie: Ellen Burstyn, Political Animals (USA)
Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie: James Cromwell, American Horror Story: Asylum (FX)
Variety Series: The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
Writing for a Variety Series: The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
Directing for a Drama Series: House of Cards (Netflix)
Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Claire Danes, Homeland (Showtime)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom (HBO)
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Bobby Cannavale, Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
Reality Competition Program: The Voice (NBC)
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Writing for a Drama Series: Homeland (Showtime)
Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie: Laura Linney, The Big C: Hereafter (Showtime)
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Jim Parsons, Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Directing for a Comedy Series: Modern Family (ABC)
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep, HBO)
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Tony Hale, Veep (HBO)
Writing for a Comedy Series: 30 Rock ("Last Lunch") (NBC)
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Merritt Wever, Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program: Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn, Project Runway (Bravo)
