The night’s most random performance though has to go to Elton John’s ad hoc tribute to Liberace, which seemed to just be an excuse for John to promote his new album (The Diving Board which is in stores Tuesday), despite any claim that he wrote the song, “Home Again” for his old friend “Lee.”
Naturally, the best moments of the night were unscripted. Best Supporting Comedy Actress winner Merritt Wever (Nurse Jackie) was short and sweet saying, “Oh, my God. Thank you. Thanks so much. Thank you so much. I’ve got to go. Bye.” Back stage later, she actually thanked some people, adding, “It’s hard to do those […] It was unexpected. I don’t know how to feel yet. I mean, I have therapy next week.”
Runner-up for acceptance speech of the night was Michael Douglas, winner for Best Actor in a Miniseries/Movie playing Liberace in Behind the Candelabra, thanking co-star Matt Damon in a Freudian slip saying that the award was a “two-hander.” He then added, “You really deserve half of this [Emmy]. You want the bottom or the top?” Later, Modern Family creator Steven Levitan, while accepting the Best Comedy Series Emmy, said what we were all thinking by declaring, “This may be the saddest Emmys of all time.”
But aside from the death, dancing and occasional instances of intended levity, the story of Emmy 2013 was the upsets. Biggest of all was Jeff Daniels’ win for Best Actor in a Drama for The Newsroom, and even Daniels himself seemed surprised by his victory in a very competitive field that included Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and Damien Lewis (Homeland). In other awards for fake news, Stephen Colbert and The Colbert Report picked up prizes for Best Writing for a Variety Series and Best Variety Series overall. Anna Gunn overcame widespread disdain for Skylar White to win Best Supporting Actress in a Drama, and The Voice ended The Amazing Race’s streak in the Best Reality Series – Competition category.
Less surprising was Claire Danes’ win for Best Actress in a Drama for Homeland, as well as Jim Parsons’ third Best Actor in a Comedy Emmy for playing Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory. Meanwhile, David Fincher made Emmy history by winning Best Director for the pilot episode of House of Cards, the first major Emmy win for a web-based series. But ultimately, Breaking Bad, which will next week end its run on AMC, picked up the prize for Best Dramatic Series.
As for the Emmys box score, Behind The Candelabra is the year’s big winner with 11 total awards, Boardwalk Empire is second with five, Saturday Night Live secured four wins while The Big Bang Theory, Breaking Bad and House Of Cards tied for three each.
Here are the rest of the winners:
Outstanding Drama Series: Breaking Bad
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Claire Danes, Homeland
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Bobby Cannavale, Boardwalk Empire
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: Henry Bromwell, Homeland
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series: David Fincher, House of Cards
Outstanding Comedy Series: Modern Family
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 Comedy Series: Tony Hale, Veep
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Merritt Wever, Nurse Jackie
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: Tina Fey and Tracey Wigfield, 30 Rock
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: Gail Mancuso, Modern Family
Outstanding Miniseries or Made for Television Movie: Behind the Candelabra
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries/Movie: Michael Douglas, Behind the Candelabra
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie: Laura Linney, The Big C
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries/Movie: James Cromwell, American Horror Story
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries/Movie: Ellen Burstyn, Political Animals
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special: Abi Morgan, The Hour
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special: Steven Soderbergh, Behind the Candelabra
Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series: The Colbert Report
Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series: The Colbert Report
Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series: Don Roy King, Saturday Night Live
Outstanding Reality Competition Program: The Voice
Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program: Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, Project Runway
