The Emmys Recap: Old Favorites Triumph Over Newcomers

Veteran shows (Breaking Bad and Modern Family) took top honors this year at the Emmys as newcomers (True Detective and Netflix shows) fizzled.

The 66th Primetime Emmy Awards proved to be a big win for broadcast and cable television and a big lose for the streaming service Netflix, which was nearly shut out. AMC’s Breaking Bad went out with a bang on Monday night, winning five Emmys, including its second consecutive Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. The big three (Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul and Anna Gunn) all took home Emmys for their show. 

While, Netflix shows (House of Cards, Orange is the New Black and Derek) had an impressive 31 nominations, they went home with only seven awards, all of them won in the Creative Arts session, which are given out ahead of time instead of during the NBC broadcast. The Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series went to ABC’s sitcom, Modern Family. The series has now tied Frasier for a record of five consecutive wins. Ty Burrell also took home an Emmy for his show. The biggest surprise of the night was the Sherlock sweep taking home three Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries (Benedict Cumberbatch) or a Movie, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (Martin Freeman) and Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special (Steven Moffat). Julianna Margulies was also a surprise by taking home an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in CBS’s The Good Wife.

The loser of the night was HBO’s True Detective, which was snubbed out of an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Matthew McConaughey). Although, it was in stiff competition against the critically acclaimed Breaking Bad. This was probably because True Detective decided to run as a drama series instead of a miniseries, which was won by Fargo. True Detective did win an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Cary Fukunaga, Who Goes There). I still believe that it was the right choice for Breaking Bad to win because it has accomplished so much for TV over the last seven years. In my opinion, it is the greatest drama show ever made. 

A Robin Williams tribute also took place during the show and was presented by a close friend, Billy Crystal. “He made us laugh. Hard,” Crystal said as he appeared onstage. “As genius as he was on stage, he was the greatest friend you could ever imagine,” Crystal continued. “Supportive. Protective. Loving. It’s very hard to talk about him in the past because he was so present in all of our lives … for almost 40 years, he was the brightest star in the comedy galaxy … his beautiful light will continue to shine on us forever. And the glow will be so bright, it’ll warm your heart. It’ll make your eyes glisten. And you’ll think to yourselves: Robin Williams. What a concept.” Crystal’s speech was wholesome and heartfelt and never missed a beat. As Williams’ tribute shined brightly at the Emmys the rest after that was history.
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Here’s is the list of all the Emmy winners:

Outstanding Drama Series

Winner: Breaking Bad (2008)

Outstanding Comedy Series

Winner: Modern Family (2009)

Outstanding Miniseries

Winner: Fargo (2014)

Outstanding Television Movie

Winner: The Normal Heart (2014) (TV)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Winner: Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Winner: Jim Parsons for The Big Bang Theory (2007)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie

Winner: Benedict Cumberbatch for Sherlock: His Last Vow (#3.3) (2014)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Winner: Julianna Margulies for The Good Wife (2009)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Winner: Julia Louis-Dreyfus for Veep (2012)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie

Winner: Jessica Lange for American Horror Story (2011)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Winner: Ty Burrell for Modern Family

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Winner: Aaron Paul for Breaking Bad

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie

Winner: Martin Freeman for Sherlock: His Last Vow (#3.3)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Winner: Allison Janney for Mom (2013)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Winner: Anna Gunn for Breaking Bad

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie

Winner: Kathy Bates for American Horror Story

Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series

Winner: The Colbert Report (2005)

Outstanding Reality Competition Program

Winner: The Amazing Race (2001)

Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program

Winner: Jane Lynch for Hollywood Game Night (2013)

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

Winner: Modern Family, Gail Mancuso (Vegas)

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

Winner: True Detective (2014), Cary Fukunaga (Who Goes There)

Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special

Winner: Fargo, Colin Bucksey

Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series

Winner: Saturday Night Live (1975), Don Roy King

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

Winner: Louie (2010), Louis C.K. (So Did the Fat Lady)

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

Winner: Breaking Bad, Moira Walley-Beckett (Ozymandias)

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series

Winner: The Colbert Report

Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special

Winner: Sherlock: His Last Vow (#3.3), Steven Moffat

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Winner: Allison Janney for Masters of Sex (2013)

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Winner: Joe Morton for Scandal (2012)

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Winner: Uzo Aduba for Orange Is the New Black (2013)

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Winner: Jimmy Fallon for Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special

Winner: Sarah Silverman for Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles (2013) (TV)

Outstanding Directing For A Variety Special

Winner: Glenn Weiss for The 67th Annual Tony Awards (2013) (TV)