The fact that the 66th annual Primetime Emmy Awards were telecast on a Monday night in August led host Seth Meyers to conclude they will soon be canceled.
Don’t bet on it. A staggering amount of good television was acknowledged in the telecast on NBC, even if the show itself dragged, with the most love heaped on “Breaking Bad” as a going-away prize.
As expected, “Breaking Bad” swept the major categories, including outstanding drama series, picking up five awards. “Modern Family” scored its fifth outstanding comedy series win.
The awards themselves gave fresh hope to the broadcast networks, rewarding talent from “Mom,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “The Good Wife” and “Modern Family.”
First-time Emmy host Meyers kept things moving, although, as usual, too many major awards were held until the closing minutes. Meyers relied on industry humor, noting that Netflix and cable have overshadowed network TV recently — although that wasn’t the case this year. Netflix left with no prizes.
Meyers also observed the category craziness that is the Emmys.
“This year, there were comedies that made you laugh and comedies that made you cry because they were dramas submitted as comedies.”
The 2014 In Memoriam segment overflowed with big names this year, and it was handled gracefully. Billy Crystal’s tribute to friend Robin Williams was quite moving.
RELATED: Emmy Awards 2014: the count by network
A few extra Emmy categories:
• Best career move: Billy Eichner scored points (and maybe future hosting chores) for a “Billy on the Street” sketch (from his show on Fuse). He nailed candid interviews that illustrated how little most folks care about Emmy snubs, Emmy noms, or basically, the Emmys.
• Best tinkering with the awards show format: Clips from actors about their best comedy and drama direction were smart and funny.
• Best supporting theme songs: Weird Al Yankovic remaking themes as explainers. (e.g. “Game of Thrones”: “type, George, as fast as you can!”)
• Most overworked dig at Matthew McConaughey (and there were many): Jimmy Kimmel referencing the actor’s Oscar acceptance speech: “all right, all right, all right already.”
• Best supporting shtick: Bryan Cranston and Julia Louis-Dreyfus continuing their “Seinfeld” kiss riff.
• Best commercial: The Netflix spot starring Ricky Gervais as part of several different casts.
• Most obvious need of editing: a Q&A with the audience (Jon Hamm asking if the event would be televised, Andre Braugher asking for the bathroom key, Fred Armisen suggesting the show occur every year). Cut it.
• Best knock on cable: Marguiles noting “The Good Wife” writers crank out 22 episodes a year.
• Best reruns: Jim Parsons picked up statuette No. 4, Julia Louis-Dreyfus picked up a consecutive No. 3, “Amazing Race” landed No. 10. At times the evening felt like a flashback sequence.
• Most daring but unfulfilling intro: Stephen Colbert and his imaginary friend. Equally daring but more fulfilling: Key and Peele.
• Most disproportionately successful nominee: “Sherlock.”
• Best grammar lesson: Chris Hardwick lecturing Internet trolls on the difference between “your” and “you’re.”
• Worst filler: Sofia Vergara floor model gag. Spare us.
Joanne Ostrow: 303-954-1830, jostrow@denverpost.com or twitter.com/ostrowdp
Monday’s winners
• Supporting Actor, Comedy: Ty Burrell, “Modern Family,” ABC
• Writing, Comedy Series: Louis C.K., “Louie,” FX
• Supporting Actress, Comedy: Allison Janney, “Mom,” CBS
• Directing, Comedy: Gail Mancuso, “Modern Family,” ABC
• Actor, Comedy: Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS
• Actress, Comedy: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep,” HBO
• Writing, Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Stephen Moffat, “Sherlock: His Last Vow,” PBS
• Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Kathy Bates, “American Horror Story: Coven,” FX
• Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Martin Freeman, “Sherlock: His Last Vow,” PBS
• Miniseries: “Fargo,” FX
• Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Benedict Cumberbatch, “Sherlock: His Last Vow,” PBS
• Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Jessica Lange, “American Horror Story: Coven,” FX
•Variety Series: “The Colbert Report,” Comedy Central
• Reality-Competition Program: “The Amazing Race,” CBS.
• Supporting Actor, Drama: Aaron Paul, “Breaking Bad,” AMC
• Supporting Actress, Drama: Anna Gunn, “Breaking Bad,” AMC
• Writing, Drama Series: Moira Walley-Beckett, “Breaking Bad,” AMC
• Actress, Drama: Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife,” CBS
• Actor, Drama: Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad,” AMC
• Comedy : “Modern Family,” ABC
• Drama: “Breaking Bad,” AMC
