61st Emmy Award Winners

There were some surprises and expectations fulfilled at last night's 61^st Emmy Awards Presentation which aired on CBS. Last night's Emmy Awards featured 28 categories while there were 75 categories and areas for programs and achievements of individuals presented at the Creative Arts Awards last week on September 12.

Hosted by a dapper and very funny Neil Patrick Harris, the Emmys show was actually quite light and entertaining. Another pleasant feature of the Emmys was the fact that mature actors won awards such as Glenn Close (Damages), Jessica Lange (Grey Gardens) and Ken Howard (Grey Gardens).

Harris quipped early on in the show that he hoped Kanye West liked 30 Rock. When Harris lost to Jon Cryer for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, he feigned happiness infused with humorous insults.

30 Rock had been nominated for 22 nominations and walked away with 5 awards while Grey Gardens earned 6, and Little Dorrit claimed the most Emmy Awards with 7.

Other highlights and surprises of the 61^st Emmy Awards Show which took place at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles included:

• Alec Baldwin who won his second consecutive Best Comedy Actor Award, 30 Rock

• Kristin Chenoweth who won Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Pushing Daises)

• Jon Cryer for his supporting role in Two And A Half Men

• Glenn Close, Best Leading Actress in a Drama (Damages)

• Jeff Probst won a second consecutive Emmy as Best Host of a Reality-TV Program, Survivor

• Toni Collette won Best Leading Actress, Comedy for her role in United States of Tara

Below is a list of the most popular categories of the Emmys and the corresponding winners. (For a complete listing of last night's winners of the 61^st Emmy Awards go to www.emmys.com.)

DRAMA

Outstanding Drama Series - Mad Men

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - Glenn Close, Damages

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series -Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama -Cherry Jones, 24

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama - Michael Emerson, Lost

COMEDY

Outstanding Comedy Series - 30 Rock

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Toni Collette as Tara Gregson in United States of Tara

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series - Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Kristin Chenoweth as Olive Snook in Pushing Daisies

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series - Jon Cryer as Alan Harper in Two And A Half Men

VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Outstanding Directing for Variety, Music or Comedy Series - Bruce Gowers, American Idol

MINISERIES AND MADE FOR TV MOVIE

Outstanding Miniseries - Little Dorrit

Outstanding Made for TV Movie - Grey Gardens

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie - Jessica Lange, Grey Gardens

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries of Movie - Brendan Gleeson, Into the Storm

REALITY TV

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program - The Amazing Race

Outstanding Host For A Reality or a Reality-Competition Program - Jeff Probst, Survivor

Sources: www.emmys.com