“Breaking Bad,” the brutal saga of meth dealers in New Mexico, captured its first Outstanding Drama Emmy Award Sunday night, while “Modern Family” won its fourth consecutive trophy for top comedy series.
“Holy crap. I did not see this coming,’’ said “Breaking Bad” executive producer Vince Gilligan. “I thought this was gonna be ‘House of Cards,’ or it could have been ‘Homeland,’ or it could have been ‘Mad Men,’ or it could have been ‘Game of Thrones,’ or ‘Downton Abbey.’ It could have been any of them, and even some others that were not nominated in this golden age of television that we feel so proud to be a part of.”
But the show’s star, Bryan Cranston, who won three consecutive Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Emmys for his role as Walter White, the school teacher who embarked on a life of crime, lost this year’s contest to Jeff Daniels of “The Newsroom.”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus collected her second consecutive Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy for her role as the bumbling “Veep.” It was the fourth comedy Emmy for the “Seinfeld” funny girl, tying the record set by Lucille Ball.
“This is so much good fortune it’s almost too much to bear,” Dreyfus said.
“I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to make people laugh. It’s a joyful way to make a living.”
While Tina Fey lost the acting contest, she hardly walked away empty handed. She and Tracey Wigfield won for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for their work on “30 Rock.’’
Jim Parsons took the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series award for his role as a nerd on “The Big Bang Theory.”
“My heart, oh my heart. I want you to know I’m very aware of how exceedingly fortunate I am,” he said.
Merritt Wever of “Nurse Jackie” started off the action by winning the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, kicking off the ceremony with a remarkably brief acceptance speech.
“Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Um, I got to go, bye,” Wever told the audience after besting a field that included two-time winner Julie Bowen of “Modern Family.” Backstage, she explained: “I’m sorry I didn’t thank anyone. I was going to cry.”
“Merritt Wever, best speech ever,” host Neil Patrick Harris said.
Claire Danes of “Homeland” was chosen as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama for her portrayal of an unhinged terror fighter. Danes, who captured her second trophy for the drama, paid tribute to one of the series’ writers, Henry Bromell, who died last March and who received a writing Emmy posthumously.
Danes’ win ended the hope that Kerry Washington of “Scandal” would become the first African-American to win in the category since Cicely Tyson in 1995.
Tony Hale of “Veep” claimed the trophy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. “Oh, man . . . This is mind blowing, mind blowing,” he said.
Laura Linney was named Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for Showtime’s “The Big C: Hereafter.”
“The Voice” won Outstanding Reality – Competition Program.
Michael Douglas was honored as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for his portrayal of Liberace in “Behind the Candelabra,” besting his co-star Matt Damon. The film also captured a top trophy as best movie or miniseries.
“This is a two-hander and Matt, you’re only as good as your other hand,” Douglas said, then he got really racy:
“You want the bottom or the top?”
Other awards included:
* Gail Mancuso of “Modern Family” for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
* David Fincher of “House of Cards’’ for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
* Anna Gunn of “Breaking Bad’’ won for best supporting actress in a drama
* Derek Hough of “Dancing With the Stars’’ won for Outstanding Choreography