Despite cable and outlets such as Netflix delivering more original programming, the 66th Annual Emmy Awards ( which aired on NBC Aug. 25 ) featured familiar names as the winners, for the most part.
For example, the AMC drama Breaking Badwhich aired its series finale earlier this yearwon its second consecutive Emmy for drama series for its fifth and final season. ( Three of its actorsBryan Cranston, Aaron Paul and Anna Gunnalso won again in their categories. ) Likewise, Modern Family was a repeat winner for best comedy, snagging its fifth consecutive award and tying a mark Frasier set.
One of the few surprises was that the program was held on a Mondaythe first time since 1976 ( as host Seth Meyers noted ).
Another surprise, to some, was that Sherlock: His Last Vow's Martin Freeman won for outstanding supporting actor in a miniseries or a movie, besting four actors nominated for Larry Kramer's AIDS film The Normal Heart ( which aired on HBO ). However, "Heart" did win for outstanding television movie.
Out actor Jim Parsons, who plays Sheldon Cooper on CBS' The Big Bang Theory, strolled onstage to pick up his fourth Emmy. Jessica Lange also won her third Emmy, this time for Ryan Murphy's American Horror Story: Coven. Kathy Bates also won for "Cover," picking up the Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie award.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus won her fifth overall Emmy, and third for HBO's comedy Veep. She has also won for Seinfeld and The New Adventures of Old Christine. The Amazing Race took the reality-competition award for the 10th time in 12 tries.
Netflix struck out, despite having two highly watched and critically acclaimed shows in Orange Is the New Black and House of Cards.