WATCH: Modern Family and Breaking Bad take top honours at the Emmys
LOS ANGELES — Nearly a year after wrapping up, the drama Breaking Bad has another nice going-away present. It is the winner of the Emmy Award for best drama series.
The awards honouring the best on television were handed out Monday night.
It was the second straight win in the category for the dark tale of chemistry-teacher-turned-meth-kingpin Walter White, who was played by Bryan Cranston. The show also won the Golden Globe for best drama last winter.
The series finale aired nearly a year ago, on Sept. 29, 2013.
Breaking Bad was nominated for best drama in 2012, 2010 and 2009 before ending with the two-year winning streak.
Cranston and co-stars Aaron Paul and Anna Gunn also picked up Emmys for their work on the series.
Canadian-raised writer Moira Walley-Beckett won an Emmy Award for writing the gut-wrenching third-to-last episode of Breaking Bad, entitled “Ozymandias.”
“Vince Gilligan, this is your fault,” an emotional Walley-Beckett said to the Breaking Bad creator as she accepted the award. “Thank you for your mentorship and your mad skills, yo!”
She added: “I share this wholeheartedly with you and my fellow writers.”
Made-in-Alberta series Fargo landed the Emmy Award for this year’s best miniseries.
The drama, inspired by the 1996 Coen brothers film, boasted an all-star cast headed by Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman. It will return next season with a new ensemble.
Fargo also earned a directing Emmy for Adam Bernstein.
Modern Family won the Emmy Award for best comedy series.
It’s the fifth year in a row the hit series has bagged the big prize, tying a record winning streak set by Frasier.
Jim Parsons, the lovable geek on The Big Bang Theory, won his fourth Emmy Award for best actor in a comedy series.
Parsons previously won the Emmy in 2010, 2011 and 2013 for his role as Sheldon Cooper on the hit sitcom. He also was nominated in 2009 and 2012.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the addled second-in-command on the political comedy Veep, won the Emmy Award for best actress in a comedy series.
She has won the Emmy twice before – in 2013 and 2012 – for her role as Vice President Selina Meyer. She won in the same category in 2006 as star of The New Adventures of Old Christine, and in 1996 as best supporting actress in a comedy for her role as Elaine Benes on Seinfeld.
Following the In Memorian segment, Billy Crystal paid tribute to his great friend and comedy brother Robin Williams, movingly remembering him as “the greatest friend you could ever imagine.”
“He made us laugh, big time,” said Crystal.
After Williams’ apparent suicide, Crystal simply wrote on Twitter of his longtime friend and Comic Relief co-host: “No words.”
But Crystal found moving words to remember Williams on Monday, recalling family gatherings, ballgames and nights on stage together.
“I used to think if I could put a saddle on him and stay on him for eight seconds, I was gonna do OK,” said Crystal.
“It’s very hard to talk about him in the past because he was so present in all of our lives,” Crystal continued. “He was the brightest star in the comedy galaxy.”
Crystal concluded by reflecting on the eternal glow Williams would continue to give off, long after he was gone.
“And you’ll think to yourself: Robin Williams, what a concept.”
Here is the list of winners at Monday’s 66th annual Primetime Emmy Awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
– Drama Series: Breaking Bad
– Actor, Drama Series: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad.
– Actress, Drama Series: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife.
– Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad.
– Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad.
– Directing, Drama Series: Cary Joji Fukunaga, True Detective.
– Writing, Drama Series: Moira Walley-Beckett, Breaking Bad.
– Comedy Series: Modern Family.
– Actor, Comedy Series: Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory.
– Actress, Comedy Series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep.
– Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Ty Burrell, Modern Family.
– Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Allison Janney, Mom.
– Directing, Comedy Series: Gail Mancuso, Modern Family.
– Writing, Comedy Series: Louis C.K., Louie.
– Miniseries: Fargo
– Movie: The Normal Heart
– Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: His Last Vow.
– Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Coven.
– Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Coven.
– Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Martin Freeman, Sherlock: His Last Vow.
– Directing, Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Adam Bernstein, Fargo.
– Writing, Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Stephen Moffat, Sherlock: His Last Vow.
– Variety Series: The Colbert Report.
– Writing, Variety Special: Sarah Silverman, Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles.
– Directing, Variety Special: Glenn Weiss, 67th Annual Tony Awards.
– Reality-Competition Program: The Amazing Race
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