Jim Parsons, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jessica Lange were among those named winners Monday at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards.
The ceremony kicked off with a monologue from host Seth Meyers tweaking his home network, NBC, and other broadcasters for being eclipsed in the awards by cable series and online newcomers like "Orange is the New Black."
Noting that the Emmys were airing the night after the MTV Video Music Awards, he said that MTV doesn't really specialize in videos anymore. "That's like network TV holding an awards show and giving all the trophies to cable and Netflix. That would be crazy," Meyers joked.
Network comedies including "The Big Bang Theory" and "Modern Family" started out strong, and so did "True Detective" nominee Matthew McConaughey -- even before his category came up.
McConaughey, bringing movie-star sizzle to the ceremony, was the object of too-handsome jokes by presenter Jimmy Kimmel and adoration by winner Gail Mancuso, honored as best director for an episode of "Modern Family."
"If you don't mind, Matthew McConaughey, I'm gonna make eye contact with you right now," she said from the stage.
McConaughey and his "True Detective" co-star Woody Harrelson were also given time to banter before announcing that Benedict Cumberbatch of "Sherlock" was the winner of the best miniseries actor award.
"So you won Oscar, (People magazine's) Sexiest Man Alive and now you want an Emmy, too. Isn't that a little bit greedy?" Harrelson teased his fellow nominee.
"Fargo" was named best miniseries, and the award for best miniseries actress went to Lange for "American Horror Story: Coven." The Emmy for best TV movie went to HBO's AIDS drama "The Normal Heart."
Parsons was crowned as best comedy series actor for his role on CBS' "The Big Bang Theory," giving him his fourth Emmy and putting him in league long with all-time sitcom winners Kelsey Grammer and Michael J. Fox. And Louis-Dreyfus, who received her third consecutive best comedy actress Emmy for "Veep," drew big laughs as she stopped to exchange faux heated kisses with "Breaking Bad" star Bryan Cranston, who earlier was her co-presenter and who appeared with her on "Seinfeld."
Besides Mancuso's award, "Modern Family" also captured a best comedy supporting actor trophy for Ty Burrell. Allison Janney was honored as best supporting comedy actress for CBS' "Mom," adding to the trophy she'd already picked up as guest actress on "Masters of Sex." Louis C.K. also won for outstanding writing in a comedy series for "Louie."
All eyes were on the telecast for some potentially record-breaking wins. Netflix's freshman comedy series nominee "Orange Is the New Black" and sophomore drama series contender "House of Cards" could score breakthroughs as the first online shows to capture top Emmy Awards.
"Modern Family" is up for a fifth best comedy series trophy that would tie it with all-time sitcom champ "Frasier." And another victory for Cranston would give him a tie with four-time best drama actor champ Dennis Franz.
Among other potential history-making wins:
- McConaughey, nominated for the drama series "True Detective," will join an exclusive club if he wins, according to awards historian Tom O'Neil, joining Helen Mirren, Helen Hunt, Liza Minnelli and George C. Scott as the fifth actor to win both an Emmy and Oscar in a single year. In March, McConaughey nabbed the best actor Academy Award for "Dallas Buyers Club."
- "Scandal" star Kerry Washington would be in a class by herself if she receives the best drama series actress award, becoming the first African-American to conquer the category.
The nominees in the night's outstanding drama series category are "Breaking Bad" (AMC), "Downton Abbey" (PBS), "Game of Thrones" (HBO), "House of Cards" (Netflix), "Mad Men" (AMC) and "True Detective" (HBO). Contenders for outstanding comedy series include "The Big Bang Theory" (CBS), "Louie" (FX), "Modern Family" (ABC), "Orange is the New Black" (Netflix), Silicon Valley (HBO) and "Veep" (HBO).
Although the Emmys are about celebrating the best of TV, they also include "in memoriam" tributes to industry members who died in the past year. Among those who will be remembered: Robin Williams, with Billy Crystal honoring his longtime friend and fellow comedian and actor.
The ceremony moved from its usual Sunday home in September to avoid conflicts with "NBC Sunday Night Football" and MTV's Video Music Awards.
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