Thriller ‘Homeland’ ousts retro ‘Mad Men’ at Emmys

Terrorism-themed spy thriller “Homeland” ended cult retro show “Mad Men”‘s four-year run as best drama at the annual Emmy awards Sunday, while “Modern Family” retained the best comedy crown.
Also bringing current concerns and politics to the fore, “Game Change,” about Republican running mate Sarah Palin’s implosion in the 2008 White House race, won best mini-series or movie at US television’s annual awards show.
“Homeland,” about a CIA agent probing a US Marine who went missing in Iraq and is suspected of planning a terrorist attack, is only in its first season but has earned rave reviews and nine Emmy nominations for pay channel Showtime.
As well as the 64th Annual Primetime Emmys’ top prize for best drama, the show also won best drama writing and best drama actor and actress for Briton Damian Lewis and Claire Danes.
“I’m one of those pesky Brits,” Lewis said as he accepted his prize in Los Angeles, referring to the success of British shows such as period drama Downton Abbey — which won best supporting actress for veteran Maggie Smith this year.
“I don’t really believe in judging art, but I thought I’d show up just in case. Turned out all right,” he said — adding that his children thought he had been nominated for an “Emma.”
“Well, daddy just won an Emma,” he joked.
“Mad Men,” about life and love in a 1960s New York advertising agency, has won best drama every year since its 2007 premier, and was hoping to break the Emmys record with a fifth win this year.
But the show, which was nominated in 17 categories, went home empty-handed at the end of the three-hour ceremony at the Nokia Theatre in downtown LA.
The other big drama winner of the evening was HBO’s “Game Change,” which along with best TV movie also won best director and best writer of a miniseries or movie.
The movie strikes a particular chord at the moment, as the United States is in the home straight before the November 6 election between President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney.
Actress Julianne Moore, who won best TV movie actress for her role as John McCain’s disintegrating running mate four years ago, jokingly thanked the former Alaska governor.
“I feel so validated, because Sarah Palin gave me a big thumbs down,” she said.
On the lighter side, mockumentary-style “Modern Family” won its third straight Best Comedy series Emmy with a cast of gay, step-sibling and generally non-orthodox nuclear family characters.
It also collected prizes for best supporting actor for Eric Stonestreet and best supporting actress for Julie Bowen and a best-directing Emmy for series co-creator Steven Levitan.
Best comedy actor was Jon Cryer in long-running hit series “Two And A Half Men,” while Julia Louis-Dreyfus won best comedy actress as US vice-president in “Veep,” by British writer Armando Ianucci, only in its first season.
Edgy British comic Ricky Gervais, known for his near-the-knuckle jokes as Golden Globes host, was relatively restrained in his turn presenting a relatively minor award.
“So much better than the Golden Globes,” he said, joking that organizers had chosen to give him the “big one” category of directing on a variety special, won by Glenn Weiss for Broadway’s 65th annual Tony Awards.
Daily Show comedy news frontman Jon Stewart, accepting the best variety show award, was among the few to test the live broadcast 5-second delay for bad language, after pretend-fighting with rivals Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon.
The award for best comedy supporting actress went to Julie Bowen also of “Modern Family,” while Louis C.K. won best comedy writer for his series “Louis,” as well as best writer for his live show.
Veteran actress Kathy Bates — who only this month revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy — won best guest actress in a comedy series for her appearance on “Two and a Half Men.”