Drama series ‘Mad Men’ wins at Emmy awards

The television drama series “Mad Men” kept its crown as the best drama series at the 62nd annual Emmy Awards on Sunday.

By (Agencies)

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Published: Mon 30 Aug 2010, 2:05 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 3:12 AM

The comedy show “Modern Family” dethroned “30 Rock” to establish itself as the best in the genre.

“Mad Men,” which tells the story of an advertising agency in the 1960s, won the outstanding drama series award for the third year in a row.

Meanwhile, “Modern Family,” which makes fun of the everyday life of three American families, emerged as the top winner for outstanding comedy series.

Television movie “Temple Grandin,” which tells the story of a woman who triumphed over autism, also did well, boosting the standing of its producer, the Home Box Office cable television network.

The movie swept a total of three prizes: Claire Danes won for lead actress in a movie or miniseries.

Julia Ormond won supporting actress, and David Strathairn also won for “Temple Grandin” for supporting actor.

Hollywood’s glitterati were out in force Sunday to fete television’s finest performances, with actress Edie Falco nabbing one of the first coveted statuettes of the evening.

The evening at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theater got underway with Falco, an alumna of the hit show “The Sopranos” winning away top acting honors for her starring turn in the show “Nurse Jackie,” a dark comedy in which she depicts a drug-abusing hospital worker.

“This is just the most ridiculous thing that has ever happened in the history of this ceremony,” a flabbergasted Falco told the audience. I’m not funny!”

As the comedy “Modern Family” won the top prize in the genre, Ryan Murphy scooped an Emmy for directing “Glee,” another popular situation comedy show.

“Glee,” which entered the award season with 19 nominations, picked up a total of only two statuettes. In addition to Murphy, Jane Lynch won for supporting actress for playing in the show a supercompetitive cheerleading coach.

Producer Tom Hanks’ and Steven Spielberg’s epic, World War II miniseries “The Pacific” got the prize for outstanding mini-series. The production made the HBO cable television network the most prominent in the event, with 101 nominations this year.

The show covers the exploits of young American soldiers proudly defending their nation after Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Kyra Sedgwick won her first Emmy, for actress in a drama series, playing a tough Los Angeles policewoman in TNT’s drama series “The Closer.”

Other winners included Adam Mazer for writing the screenplay for the TV movie “You Don’t Know Jack.”

Jim Parsons took a Grammy for best actor in a comedy series for his performance in CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory” while Eric Stonestreet won the best supporting actor award in a comedy for playing half of the gay couple on the ABC hit comedy series “Modern Family.”

Al Pacino, who plays the much maligned right-to-die activist in “You Don’t Know Jack”, won the outstanding best lead actor award in a miniseries or a movie.

George Clooney wins humanitarian award

George Clooney on Sunday added another trophy to his Oscar, two Golden Globes and slew of movie critics awards — but this one had nothing to do with acting.

Clooney was presented with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the Primetime Emmy Awards for his work to raise awareness of the crisis in Darfur, and fund-raising efforts for causes ranging from Hurricane Katrina to the Haiti earthquake and the victims of the Sept. 11 2001 attacks on New York and Washington DC.

“It’s important to remember how much good can get done because we live in such strange times where bad behavior sucks up all of the attention and the press,” Clooney said as he accepted the award.

The actor said he hoped there were others who could step in and “help find a way to keep the spotlight burning on these heart-breaking situations that continue to be heartbreaking long after the cameras go away.”

Television Academy chairman John Shaffner said Clooney, 49, was “an obvious choice” for the humanitarian award because he had “understood and harnessed the power of television...to reach into the hearts of people around the world.”

Clooney, one of the most popular figures in Hollywood, was one of the main organizers of charity telethons for victims of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and Hurricane Katrina which devastated New Orleans in August 2005.

He was appointed a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2008 and in 2006 addressed the United Nations Security Council over the refugee crisis in Sudan’s conflict-torn western Darfur region, which has taken the lives of more than 300,000 people.

Backstage, Clooney talked about how the award differed from his previous accolades for acting and writing.

“It’s embarrassing because you don’t want to be awarded for doing what you’re supposed to do,” he said. “It’s a very kind thing, so you accept it. But it’s very hard to take.”

Clooney, who first found fame on television as the handsome Dr. Doug Ross in hospital drama “ER”, has never won a traditional Emmy Award, although he was nominated twice for his work in “ER” in 1995 and 1996.

He won a best supporting actor Oscar for his role in the 2005 movie “Syriana”.

The Bob Hope Humanitarian Award was created in 2002 in memory of the late entertainer. Previous recipients include Oprah Winfrey and Bill Cosby.

Producer Matthew Weiner, right, is joined by cast members as he accepts the award for outstanding drama series for 'Mad Men' during the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010, in Los Angeles. – AP

Cast members from 'Modern Family' pose in the press room after the show won outstanding comedy series at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010, in Los Angeles. - AP


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