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Espionage drama Homeland and family sitcom Modern Family dominated the Emmy awards late Sunday as the top stars of the US television world braved the red carpet, paparazzi and sweltering autumn temperatures.
Modern Family, about an extended Los Angeles clan, was named best comedy for the third straight year. It also picked up a supporting actor prize for Eric Stonestreet, who plays one half of a gay couple on the show, while the show’s Julie Bowen was named best actress for her portrayal of a harried but well-intentioned mother. Steve Levitan, the series’ creator, was named best comedy director.
Homeland, a nerve-jangling series which focuses on a US military veteran under suspicion of being an Al Qaeda sleeper agent, was named best drama in what was the first-ever category win for US cable channel Showtime.
Homeland beat out the two strong favourites, Breaking Bad and Mad Men, which had been aiming to pick up the prize for the fifth consecutive year. Homeland also picked up awards for Damian Lewis and Claire Danes as best actor and actress in a drama, as well as scooping the prize for best writing.
The prize for best comedy actor went to Jon Cryer of Two and a Half Men, while Julia Louis-Dreyfus won best comedy actress for her role in political sitcom Veep.
Homeland’s victory also saw it triumph over HBO’s Prohibition-era-epic Boardwalk Empire; British aristocracy series Downton Abbey and fantasy tale Game of Thrones.
Modern Family saw off challenges from Girls, HBO’s new show about a troupe of Generation Y women making their way in New York, as well as 30 Rock, The Big Bang Theory, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Veep.
Game Change, about the rise of Sarah Palin as the Republican Party’s vice-presidential candidate, was named best miniseries or movie, while the news satire The Daily Show with Jon Stewart was named best variety or comedy show for an amazing tenth straight year.