14 DAY TRIAL // Competition was very tight at the 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, which took place last night at the Nokia Theatre LA Live in Los Angeles and aired on NBC. The biggest winner of the night was “Breaking Bad,” which scooped several major awards, while the most flagrant snub of the entire ceremony was “Game of Thrones,” which, though counting on the most nominations, went home completely empty-handed.
The mark of a very good show is in the fact that it’s still getting recognition almost one year after it wrapped its run on TV. This certainly applies to AMC’s “Breaking Bad,” which aired its last episode in the fall of 2013, still in time to qualify for this year’s Emmys.
The series, about a chemistry teacher diagnosed with terminal cancer who “breaks bad” and turns into a meth cook and dealer with some help from a former junkie student of his, won Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Leading Actor in a Drama Series (Bryan Cranston), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Aaron Paul), and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Anna Gunn).
In other words, “Breaking Bad” took home all the awards it could take. This most recent loot adds to an already impressive collection of awards for the series, totaling 58 Emmys.
Another big surprise of the night was a bit more unpleasant than this one, as HBO favorite “Game of Thrones” went home completely empty-handed, despite scoring no less than 19 nominations. That’s a loss that must sting.
Emmy regulars “Modern Family” and “Veep,” but also “Orange Is the New Black,” won several awards in the Comedy section. Jim Parsons of “The Big Bang Theory” won his fourth Emmy last night, while Julia Louis-Dreyfus won her third, for “Veep.”
Another surprise that sent tumblr and Twitter into a frenzy was news that “Sherlock,” imported to the US by PBS Masterpiece from BBC One, actually won something. Make that 3 somethings, because the modernized take on the classic detective novel series, with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as leads, won awards both for acting and writing.
Unfortunately, neither actor could be present to collect the Emmys.
All in all, it was a good night for television with the 2014 Emmys. Below is the complete list of winners, make sure to check it out to see if your favorite made the cut.
Outstanding Drama Series: “Breaking Bad” (AMC) Outstanding Comedy Series: “Modern Family” (ABC) Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad” Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife” Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory” Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep” Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Aaron Paul, “Breaking Bad” Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Anna Gunn, “Breaking Bad” Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Allison Janney, “Mom” Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Ty Burrell, “Modern Family” Outstanding Miniseries: “Fargo” (FX) Outstanding Television Movie: “The Normal Heart” (HBO) Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: Benedict Cumberbatch, “Sherlock: His Last Vow” Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: Jessica Lange, “American Horror Story: Coven” Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: Martin Freeman, “Sherlock: His Last Vow” Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: Kathy Bates, “American Horror Story: Coven” Outstanding Variety Series: The Colbert Report (Comedy Central) Outstanding Reality-Competition Program: “The Amazing Race” (CBS) Outstanding Structured Reality Program: “Shark Tank” (ABC) Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program: “Deadliest Catch” (Discovery) Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program: Jane Lynch, “Hollywood Game Night” Outstanding Variety Special: “AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Mel Brooks” (TNT) Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: Joe Morton, “Scandal” Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Allison Janney, “Masters of Sex” Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Jimmy Fallon, “Saturday Night Live” Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Uzo Aduba, “Orange is the New Black” Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: “Breaking Bad” — “Ozymandias” (Moira Walley-Beckett) Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: “Louie” — “So Did the Fat Lady” (Louis C.K.) Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series: “True Detective” — “Who Goes There” (Cary Joji Fukunaga) Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: “Modern Family” — “Vegas” (Gail Mancuso) Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series: “The Colbert Report” Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special: “Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles” Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special: “Sherlock: His Last Vow” (Steven Moffat) Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series: “Saturday Night Live” — Jimmy Fallon (Don Roy King) Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special: “The 67th Tony Awards” (Glenn Weiss) Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special: “Fargo” — “Buridan’s Ass” (Colin Bucksey) Outstanding Special Class Program: 67th Annual Tony Awards (CBS) Outstanding Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Program: Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis: President Barack Obama (Funny or Die)