‘Breaking Bad’ among big winners in Emmys 2013

Agence France-Presse

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'Breaking Bad,' 'Behind the Candelabra,' 'Modern Family' take home the big awards

TV'S BIGGEST NIGHT. A celebration of primetime excellence. Photo from the Emmy Awards Facebook

LOS ANGELES, USA – Cult crime show “Breaking Bad” won the best drama Emmy on Sunday, Sept 22 (Sept 23 MNL), but there was disappointment for “House of Cards,” which had hoped to win the first major award for an online-only series.

The critically-acclaimed “Breaking Bad,” about a chemistry teacher turned druglord, won only a weekend before its series finale next week after 5 seasons.

LIVE BLOG: 65th Primetime Emmy Awards

Show producer and writer Vince Gilligan looked shocked as he took the stage at the climax of the 65th Primetime Emmy awards show in Los Angeles. His show had been nominated for the top prize 3 times before.

“I thought this was going to be ‘House of Cards,'” he said, adding that it could have been one of the other 4 shows nominated: “Downton Abbey,” “Game of Thrones,” “Homeland,” or “Mad Men.”

The show’s Anna Gunn also took home the trophy for best supporting actress in a drama.

Here’s Anna Gunn’s acceptance speech:

Meanwhile, “House of Cards” had hoped to symbolize the direction the TV industry is going – online.

The Netflix political drama aimed to become the first online-only series to win in major categories, but only took home a prize for best directing for David Fincher.

WINNERS: 65th Primetime Emmy Awards

The series’ success highlights the changes underway in the industry, with more and more viewers “cutting the cable” and watching favorite shows via the Internet on cellphones, tablets, and so-called “smart TVs.”

Winners and let-downs

The best comedy award went to “Modern Family,” the 4th year in a row it has topped the category, and “Big Bang Theory” star Jim Parsons took the best comedy actor prize for a 3rd time at the Emmys, US television’s version of the Oscars.

Political comedy “Veep” scored two wins with best actress for Julia Louis-Dreyfus and best supporting actor for Tony Hale.

Liberace biopic “Behind the Candelabra” was the other big winner of the night, taking home prizes for best miniseries/TV movie, best actor for Michael Douglas as the flamboyant gay pianist-star and best director for Steven Soderbergh.

Douglas, accepting the Emmy for his turn as Liberace, got laughs when paying tribute to co-star Matt Damon, who plays Liberace’s gay lover Scott Thorson.

“This is a two-hander,” he said, to widespread titters. “And Matt, you’re only as good as your other hand … The only reason I’m standing here is because of you.”

Gripping the Emmy statuette, he said he would have to share it with Damon, who was also nominated in the same category. “You want the bottom or the top?” Douglas asked Damon, bringing the house down.

“Behind the Candelabra” had won 8 awards in the Creative Arts Emmy Awards held a week before.

WINNERS: Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2013

The frontrunners had been “Breaking Bad” star Bryan Cranston, who had already won 3 Emmys, and “House of Cards” star Kevin Spacey for his turn as scheming congressman Francis Underwood.

Damon, Douglas, Soderbergh, and Spacey are past Oscar winners.

Claire Danes won best drama actress for the second year in a row for her turn as bipolar CIA agent Carrie Mathison in “Homeland,” besting rivals including Robin Wright of “House of Cards,” Spacey’s co-star.

Disappointed fans of Kerry Washington had hoped she would become the first African American to win best actress in a drama for her role in ABC’s political thriller “Scandal.” She was the first nominated in the category since 1995.

But perhaps the biggest upset of the night was for Jeff Daniels, who won the best drama actor Emmy for his role as TV news anchor Will McAvoy in HBO’s “The Newsroom.”

Performance highlights

Elton John made a moving tribute to Liberace, playing a new song and acknowledging the piano icon’s influence on his own music “and my dress sense,” saying: “This guy played a mean piano.”

Emmys host Neil Patrick Harris joked about the television industry’s radically changing formats in his opening monologue, saying: “For our younger audiences, that’s the thing you watch on your phones.”

Kevin Spacey contributed to a hilarious opening skit, as the camera cut away from the stage to him in the audience, deadpanning: “It’s all going to my plan,” in character as scheming “House of Cards” congressman Francis Underwood.

Nominees for Outstanding Choreography and Harris united in an extravagant dance number, complete with elaborate set designs and flashy costumes.

Watch the performance here:

“Sopranos” star James Gandolfini, who died in June at 51, was remembered among others who passed away in 2013, including “Glee” actor Cory Monteith.

READ: Monteith deglamorized in last two films

Watch the Cory Monteith tribute by Jane Lynch:


The 3-hour show climaxed shortly before 8pm (0300 GMT Monday) with the announcement of the comedy and drama series winners by a casually dressed Will Ferrell. – Rappler.com

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