When Jane Lynch took the stage for The 63rd Emmy Awards after a chaotic opening number, one should have known that the night will be filled with some surprising winners being announced.
After Modern Family practically swept the awards in comedy, with wins in all but two categories, it was on to reality/variety. Once again, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart took home the coveted awards in this category, but not without The Amazing Race and Saturday Night Live each picking up a single award.
A turn to television’s drama series brought about three of the most deserved wins at this year’s awards, with Kyle Chandler winning Friday Night Lights, Margo Martindale winning for Justified and Peter Dinklage winning for Game of Thrones. Martin Scorsese also took home his first Emmy award for directing the Boardwalk Empire pilot. But since Scorsese working with a budget 10x the amount of his other nominees, there wasn’t really any competition.
Proving that PBS should never be counted out, the network bested HBO in the miniseries/movie category and took home four awards, including Outstanding Miniseries & Movie, for the miniseries Downton Abbey.
And, as usual, Mad Men took home award for Outstanding Drama Series. Though, without any other wins in the category, many were hoping that Friday Night Lights might take home the award for its final season.
You can view all of winners below:
Comedy
![The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards: Winners List](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/modern-family-emmy.jpg)
Outstanding Comedy Series:
Modern Family
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:
Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly)
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:
Julie Bowen (Modern Family)
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:
Ty Burrell (Modern Family)
Writing for a Comedy Series:
Steven Levitan (Modern Family)
Directing for a Comedy Series:
Michael Allen Spiller (Modern Family)
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Reality/Variety
![The Daily Show with Jon Stewart](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/the-daily-show-jon-stewart-2011-emmy-awards.jpg)
Best Reality Program, Competition:
The Amazing Race
Best Variety, Music or Comedy Series:
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program:
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series:
Don Roy King (Saturday Night Live)
–
Drama
Outstanding Drama Series:
Mad Men
Lead Actor in a Drama Series:
Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights)
Lead Actress in a Drama Series:
Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:
Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones)
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:
Margo Martindale (Justified)
Writing for a Drama Series:
Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights)
Directing for a Drama Series:
Martin Scorsese (Boardwalk Empire)
–
Miniseries/Movies
![Downton Abbey - Emmy 2011](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/downton-abbey-emmy-2011.jpg)
Outstanding Miniseries or Movie:
Downton Abbey
Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie:
Barry Pepper (The Kennedys)
Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie:
Kate Winslet (Mildred Pierce)
Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie:
Guy Pearce (Mildred Pierce)
Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie:
Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey)
Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special:
Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey)
Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special:
Brian Percival (Downton Abbey)
So there you are – the complete list. Did your favorite shows and actors win the prize – or do you feel there were some undeserved winners? Let us know!