‘Mad Men’ and ‘30 Rock’ win at Emmys

Published 10:56 pm Sunday, September 21, 2008

LOS ANGELES — The sleek ’60s drama “Mad Men” made Emmy history Sunday as the first basic-cable show to win a top series award, while the sitcom “30 Rock” and its stars Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin also emerged as big winners.

“We’re all so very grateful to have jobs in this turkey-burger economy,” Fey said after accepting the best comedy series trophy for her satire about a late-night TV show.

“This is the greatest job I’ve ever had in my life,” Baldwin said of his role an a network executive.

He paid tribute to Fey, the NBC show’s star and creator, as “the Elaine May of her generation.”

“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 for best actress and writing in a comedy series.

Emmy voters rewarded quality, not ratings: Many of the winners draw relatively small audiences. AMC’s “Mad Men,” which looks at America through the prism of Madison Avenue, is lucky to get 2 million viewers.

Glenn Close of FX’s “Damages” and Bryan Cranston of AMC’s “Breaking Bad” captured drama acting trophies.

Close, honored for her portrayal of a ruthless attorney, complimented her fellow nominees, including Holly Hunter and Sally Field.

“We’re proving that complicated, powerful, mature women are sexy in high entertainment and can carry a show,” she said. “I call us the sisterhood of the TV drama divas.”

Cranston won the trophy for his role of a desperate man who turns to making drugs.

Dianne Wiest of “In Treatment” and Zeljko Ivanek of “Damages” won supporting acting honors for the drama series. Jean Smart of ABC’s “Samantha Who?” was honored as best supporting actress in a comedy series, with Jeremy Piven her actor counterpart for “Entourage.”

Piven took aim at the five reality hosts who helped open the ceremony in what could charitably called a rambling way, saying, “What if I just kept talking for 12 minutes — what would happen? That was the opening.”

The crowd at the 60th annual Primetime Emmy Awards laughed heartily, not a good sign for the hosts, who included Ryan Seacreast of “American Idol.”

Don Rickles was honored for best individual performance in a variety or music program for “Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project.”

“It’s a mistake,” Rickles said. “I’ve been in the business 55 years and the biggest award I got was an ashtray from the Friar’s in New York.”

Later in the evening, politics reared its inevitable head.

“I really look forward to the next administration, whoever it is,” Jon Stewart said as he accepted the best variety, music or comedy series award for “The Daily Show.” “I have nothing to follow that. I just really look forward to the next administration.”

Later, Stewart and Stephen Colbert, whose “The Colbert Report” won a writing trophy, teamed to present an award, and exchange banter in which they used a package of prunes as a metaphor for the upcoming presidential election.

“America needs prunes. It may not be a young, sexy plum. Granted, it’s shriveled and at times hard to swallow. But this dried-up old prune has the experience we need,” Colbert said.

The award for best TV movie went to “Recount,” about the contested 2000 Bush-Gore contest.

HBO’s “John Adams,” about the founding father, was named best miniseries and won other awards including acting trophies for Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney and Tom Wilkinson.

HBO was the most-honored network, with 26 awards earned Sunday and at a creative arts ceremony held earlier this month. ABC was second with 12 awards, followed by CBS, NBC and PBS with 10 each; AMC with eight, Showtime with five and Fox with four.

Throughout the evening, the ceremony kept its landmark 60th birthday in the spotlight with salutes to television’s past.

Pop star Josh Groban offered a marathon medley of TV theme songs from shows including “The Simpsons,” “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” “South Park” and “Gilligan’s Island.” At one point, Ed McMahon kicked in a “Heeeere’s Johnny!” to salute Johnny Carson’s “Tonight” show.

A tribute to memorable TV dialogue of the past was delivered by the stars of today in an opening clip package.

“One of these days, Alice, pow, right in the kisser!” Helen Mirren said, quoting Jackie Gleason’s line from “The Honeymooners.”

Emmy highlights

Drama Series: “Mad Men,” AMC

Comedy Series: “30 Rock,” NBC

Actor, Drama Series: Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad,” AMC

Actress, Drama Series: Glenn Close, “Damages,” FX

Actor, Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock,” NBC

Actress, Comedy Series: Tina Fey, “30 Rock,” NBC

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 Awards” Louis 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