The News Of …

Watching Sunday night’s Emmy Awards was a little bit like going to the very bad wedding of people you really love – the happiness you feel for the people involved almost makes up for how otherwise unremarkable the experience is.
Many of the major categories were conservatively chosen – Mad Men and Modern Family repeated as Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Comedy Series. Jim Parsons repeated as lead comedy actor for The Big Bang Theory, and Julianna Margulies won a widely anticipated statue for The Good Wife as lead dramatic actress. PBS’ Downton Abbey cleaned up in the miniseries/movie categories, and the reality/variety awards went largely to The Daily Show and The Amazing Race, just as they usually do.
The awards for supporting work in comedy contributed to Modern Family’s big night – Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell, nominated aside all their adult co-stars, were the winners for their portrayals of married couple Claire and Phil Dunphy. Bowen is probably the least showy actor in the cast, and seeing her win over Sofia Vergara was intriguing – Vergara is absolutely wonderful and would have been a richly deserving winner, but it’s not without its charm to see a smaller performance win out over one that is more widely discussed and more broadly written.
Departing series Friday Night Lights, which struggled without recognition for its first several seasons, won two major awards – writing for a drama for showrunner Jason Katims, and lead actor in a drama for Kyle Chandler, whose beautifully human performance as Coach Eric Taylor was a marvel throughout the series run. Of course, that meant that Mad Men’s Jon Hamm was denied again, after losing three times to Breaking Bad lead Bryan Cranston, but Hamm will be back. Chandler will not. This was a lovely way to say goodbye.

Kate Winslet.

Kate Winslet and Downton Abbey were among the big winners at the Emmy Awards, making it a successful night for British TV talent.
Winslet was honoured for her lead actress role in Mildred Pierce, while ITV1′s hit period drama picked up four gongs, including best miniseries and a best supporting actress award for Dame Maggie Smith.
Dressed in a glamorous red gown, an emotional Winslet dedicated the award to her mother.
“It doesn’t matter how old you are or what you do in your life, you never stop needing your mum and I will never stop needing mine, so thanks mum, thank you so much” – she said.
She added – “I didn’t think we were going to win anything.”
The 63rd Primetime Emmys ceremony saw Mad Men win its fourth consecutive best drama series award, while Modern Family claimed its second best comedy trophy.
Downton Abbey, which launched its second series in the UK last night, was also honoured for its writing and directing, with gongs for Julian Fellowes and Brian Percival.
Writer Julian Fellowes called the success of the show a “David and Goliath story”, and said – “I would like to thank you, the American industry. Ten years ago you kick-started my second career with an Oscar, tonight you have nurtured it.”
Winslet (who already has an Oscar and a Grammy) beat stars including Downton Abbey’s Elizabeth McGovern and Upstairs Downstairs veteran Jean Marsh to her trophy.
There was disappointment however, for Hugh Laurie, who lost out to Kyle Chandler of Friday Night Lights in the lead actor in a drama series category.
Scottish stars Kelly MacDonald, of Boardwalk Empire, and Alan Cumming, of The Good Wife, also went away empty-handed.
British actor Idris Elba, who stars in Luther, lost out to Barry Pepper of The Kennedys for lead actor in a miniseries or movie, and Cat Deeley missed out in the reality show host category.

The 1950′s drama Mad Men and a firmly 21st century comedy, Modern Family, won the top drama and comedy prizes at the Emmy Awards, with the British period piece Downton Abbey enjoying unexpected success.
After failing to score in the categories for which it was nominated, Mad Men took the Emmy for best drama in a final-act cliffhanger.
Modern Family made the biggest haul in the comedy category, as well as the top comedy award.
Downton Abbey took four awards in total, including best miniseries, best director, and best actress for Maggie Smith. The show, whose second series started on ITV in Britain on Sunday night, has been a critical success on the US network PBS.
Oscar-winning actor Kate Winslet won her first Emmy, for her lead role in the HBO miniseries Mildred Pierce. “I didn’t think we were going to win anything” – Winslet said.
On a night of surprises that brought a slew of newcomers to the Emmy podium, Mad Men won best drama series for a fourth straight year but the waiting got tense as the 1960′s advertising drama lost out in all the acting, writing and directing races.
“I did not think that was going to happen” – creator Matthew Weiner said, accepting the best drama series trophy. Mad Men has gone home with just two Emmys – including one from last week’s creative arts ceremony – even though it came into the awards show with 19 nominations.
“We were shut out, but then we also won this (best drama) award so it balances out. To me this is the prize that says people love what we are doing” – Weiner said backstage.
The story was different for Modern Family. Along with its best comedy win, the ABC mockumentary about three assorted couples and their children brought first-time wins for Julie Bowen and her screen husband Ty Burrell in the supporting acting slots, and Emmys for directing and writing.
Creator Steve Levitan called the wins “an embarrassment of riches” while actor Ed O’Neill said – “It was better than the first time. To repeat is difficult. I am relieved.”
“Welcome back to the Modern Family awards” – Emmy ceremony host Jane Lynch joked early in the evening.