Breaking Bad and Modern Family dominate Emmys

Anna Gunn holds her Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series award for AMC's Breaking Bad while attending the Governors Ball for the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Monday.

AFP

Cult TV drama series Breaking Bad and comedy hit Modern Family were the big winners on Monday at the annual Emmys, which paid moving tribute to late Hollywood icon Robin Williams.

Royal feud saga Game of Thrones, which had garnered the most nominations, went home with none of the big prizes from the 66th Primetime Emmys, television's equivalent of the Oscars.

Other highlights included a kiss between Bryan Cranston and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and a bizarre segment in which curvy Colombian actress Sofia Vergara rotated on a platform.

"This is... a wonderful time to be working in television," said Breaking Bad director Vince Gilligan, accepting the top prize of best drama at the climax of the three-hour show in Los Angeles.

Breaking Bad, about high school chemistry teacher-turned-drugs-kingpin Walter White, also took the best drama actor award for Cranston, and the best supporting prizes for Aaron Paul and Anna Gunn, who played his partner and wife, respectively.

Modern Family meanwhile won best comedy series for the fifth year in a row, equalling a record set by Frasier between 1994 and 1998.

Julianna Margulies won the best drama actress for The Good Wife, while best television movie went to The Normal Heart, about gay activist Larry Kramer's work to raise HIV/AIDS awareness during the early 1980s.

In a moving acceptance speech, Kramer - who is HIV positive - appeared on stage with the film's makers, wrapped in a scarf and hat as he was applauded by the star-studded audience.

The evening's big loser was Game of Thrones, which was shortlisted in 19 categories and has already renewed for a fifth and sixth season.

On the comedy front, Jim Parsons won best comedy actor for The Big Bang Theory, Louis-Dreyfus best comedy actress for Veep, Ty Burrell for Modern Family and Louis C.K. for Louie.

But the ceremony took a serious turn when honouring Hollywood great Williams, who died in an apparent suicide on August 11 at age 63, rocking the entertainment world.

With emotions still raw, his friend and fellow actor-comedian Billy Crystal paid tribute to the Oscar winner during the "in memoriam" part of the primetime program.

"He made us laugh. I spent many happy hours on stage with Robin. His brilliance was stunning, the relentless energy breathtaking," said Crystal, adding Williams' star remained undimmed.

"The glow will be so bright, it will warm your heart and make your eyes glisten, and you'll think to yourselves, Robin Williams. What a concept."