Mad Men and 30 Rock were underdogs that won the big prizes at the 2008 Emmy Awards.
60’s drama Mad Men made Emmy history when it won the top series award, a first for a basic cable program.
NBC’s 30 Rock, led by Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey, won the best comedy trophy.
“I thank my parents for somehow raising me to have confidence that is disproportionate with my looks and abilities. Well done. That is what all parents should do,” said Fey, who also won best actress and best writing in a comedy series.
The awards celebrated their 60th birthday with several tributes to television history. Josh Groban sang a medley of theme songs from The Simpsons, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, South Park and Gilligan’s Island. Ed McMahon called out his famous “Here’s Johnny” in remembrance of Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show. The show was opened by Oscar winner Helen Mirren, Charlie Sheen, Kristin Chenoweth and Jeremy Piven delivering popular television catch phrases.
Other winners included Bryan Cranston from Breaking Bad as best actor in a TV drama for his portrayal as a terminaly ill high school teacher who moonlights cooking methamphetamine in his home, Alec Baldwin as best actor in a TV comedy series for his role as an ethically challenged TV exec in 30 Rock, and Glenn Close for best actress in a television drama for Damages, in which she plays a ruthless trial lawyer.
Drama Series: Mad Men, AMC.
Comedy Series: 30 Rock, NBC.
Actor, Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock, NBC.
Actress, Comedy Series: Tina Fey, 30 Rock, NBC.
Actor, Drama Series: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad, AMC.
Actress, Drama Series: Glenn Close, Damages,FX.
Reality-Competition Program: The Amazing Race.
Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program: Jeff Probst – Survivor.
Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Zeljko Ivanek, Damages, FX.
Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Dianne Wiest, In Treatment, HBO.
Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Jeremy Piven, Entourage, HBO.
Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Jean Smart, Samantha Who?, ABC.
Miniseries: John Adams, HBO.
Made-for-TV Movie: Recount, HBO.
Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Paul Giamatti, John Adams, HBO.
Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Laura Linney, John Adams, HBO.
Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Tom Wilkinson, John Adams, HBO.
Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Eileen Atkins, Cranford(Masterpiece Theatre), PBS.
Directing for a Drama Series: House – House’s Head Greg Yaitanes.
Writing for a Drama Series: Mad Men – Smoke Gets In Your Eyes(Pilot) Matthew Weiner.
Directing for a Comedy Series: Pushing Daisies– Pie-Lette Barry Sonnenfeld.
Writing for a Comedy Series: 30 Rock– Cooter Tina Fey.
Variety, Music or Comedy Series: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.
Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: Don Rickles – Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project.
Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: 80th Annual Academy AwardsLouis J. Horvitz.
Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: The Colbert Report.
Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special: Recount,Jay Roach.
Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special: John Adams,Kirk Ellis.
List of winners in the creative arts categories of the 60th annual Primetime Emmy Awards from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences:
Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour): The Simpsons: Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind, Fox.
Animated Program (Programming One Hour or More): Imaginationland (South Park), Comedy Central.
Art Direction for a Multi-Camera Series: How I Met Your Mother: The Yips, No Tomorrow, Miracles, CBS.
Art Direction for a Single-Camera Series: Mad Men: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (Pilot), AMC.
Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie: John Adams, HBO.
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