2014 Emmy Aftermath: Sexy or Sexist, Funny or Flat?

By Laurie Schenden | August 26, 2014

The Outstanding Television Movie win brought “The Normal Heart” entourage to the stage, including the brilliant Larry Kramer, bundled in scarf, coat and hat, along with stars Mark Ruffalo and Julia Roberts. In his touching speech, out director Ryan Murphy credited the two actors with getting Kramer’s story, about the rise of the New York AIDS epidemic, onscreen.

Murphy and Kramer actually wound up head-to-head in the Outstanding Writing category, Kramer for “Normal Heart” and Murphy for “American Horror Story: Coven” (the award went to Steven Moffat for “Sherlock: His Last Vow”).

During the obligatory dull speech from TV Academy CEO Rosenblum, the big guy joked about “always giving our viewers something compelling to watch,” as Sofia Veraga of “Modern Family” playfully revolved on a pedestal in all her exotically sexy glory.

Katie Couric, who’s worked hard in a male-dominated field to become as a respected journalist, questioned the stunt in a Tweet: “I love @SofiaVergara but did anyone find that shtick somewhat offensive?”

Vergara’s response:  “I think it’s absolutely the opposite. It means that somebody can be hot and also be funny and make fun of herself and enjoy and work and make money.”

But then adds: “I absolutely think it’s ridiculous and somebody who started — and I know who she was — has no sense of humor and should lighten up a little bit.”

First-time host Seth Meyers didn’t dazzle, but did no damage either. Like background music, if you don’t notice, it was probably fine.  He acknowledged the final season of “Sons of Anarchy,” “Glee,” and “Two and a Half Men,” and jokingly added, “and every show that premieres this fall.”

Meyers had plenty of comedians/comedic actors to play with this year, which sparked the show with fun energy. It also holds the comedy to a higher standard, so it seemed more noticeable when jokes fell flat.

What’s always an award show worry is that our screen hero doesn’t make a cringe-worthy speech.  Thankfully there were none. However, when “Breaking Bad” best actor winner Bryan Cranston interrupted best actress winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus mid-walk to the stage to collect her trophy for “Veep,” he gave her a passionate, long, lingering smooch that caused a squirm or two from the easy chair.

One of the most articulate speeches of the night came from out actor Jim Parsons, who won for his persnickety role on “The Big Bang Theory.”

In a field in which half the shows have major LGBT content, Gail Mancusco (“Modern Family”) beat out Jodie Foster (“Orange Is the New Black”) and Paris Barclay (“Glee”) for the Outstanding Director for a Comedy Series award.

Creative Arts Emmy Awards distributed Aug. 16 includes several awards for Netflix fan fave “Orange Is the New Black,” including: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series to Uzo Aduba, who plays Crazy Eyes, an Outstanding Casting award to Jennifer Euston, CSA, and Outstanding Editing to William Turro.

Out actress Jane Lynch (“Hollywood Game Night”) won for Outstanding Host for a Realty or Reality Competition Program.

Aren’t there a lot of movie people on TV these days? Kathy Bates seemed genuinely surprised to win her second Emmy (her first was for “Two and a Half Men”) for “American Horror Story: Coven.”

From the booth backstage, Glenn Weiss accepted the Emmy for Directing Variety Special for the Tony Awards. He thanked Neil Patrick Harris, who starred in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” on Broadway.

Billy Crystal stayed cool as he gave tribute to Robin Williams, his longtime friend and co-star for many years raising money for Comic Relief. “He made us laugh,” Crystal said, adding that he always thought, “if I could just put a saddle on him and ride for 8 seconds….” It was a warm and personal remembrance of an amazing talent.

Julianna Margulies came out on top in a tough category for best actress. “What a wonderful time for women on television,” she said. “All the women I’m nominated with are a testament of that.”

Jay Leno introduced the Outstanding Comedy Series winner, “Modern Family.” The award was its fifth consecutive win.

The complete list of winners:

Drama series
WINNER: Breaking Bad, AMC
Downton Abbey, PBS
Game of Thrones, HBO
House of Cards, Netflix
Mad Men, AMC
True Detective, HBO

Comedy series
WINNER Modern Family, ABC
Louie, FX
Orange is the New Black (Netflix)
Silicon Valley (HBO)
Veep (HBO)

Actor, drama series
WINNER: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Matthew McConaughey, True Detective (HBO)
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom (HBO)
Woody Harrelson, True Detective (HBO)
Jon Hamm, Mad Men (AMC)
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards (Netflix)
Actress, drama series

WINNER: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife (CBS)
Robin Wright, House of Cards(Netflix)
Lizzy Caplan, Masters of Sex (Showtime)
Claire Danes, Homeland (Showtime)
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey (PBS)
Kerry Washington, Scandal (ABC)

Actor, comedy series
WINNER: Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Louis C.K., Louie (FX)
Don Cheadle, House of Lies (Showtime)
Ricky Gervais, Derek (Netflix)
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes (Showtime)=
William H. Macy, Shameless (Showtime)
Actress, comedy series

WINNER: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep (HBO)
Lena Dunham, Girls (HBO)
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly (CBS)
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation (NBC)
Taylor Schilling, Orange is the New Black (Netflix)
Supporting actor, drama series

WINNER: Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Jim Carter, Downton Abbey (PBS)
Josh Charles, The Good Wife (CBS)
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones (HBO)
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland (Showtime)
Jon Voight, Ray Donovan (Showtime)

Supporting actress, drama series
WINNER: Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife (CBS)
Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey (PBS)
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones (HBO)
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men (AMC)
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey (PBS)

Supporting actor, comedy series
WINNER: Ty Burrell, Modern Family (ABC)
Andre Braugher, Brookyn Nine-Nine (Fox)
Fred Armisen, Portlandia (IFC)
Adam Driver, Girls (HBO)
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family (HBO)
Tony Hale, Veep (HBO)

Supporting actress, comedy series
WINNER: Allison Janney, Mom (CBS)
Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Julie Bowen, Modern Family (ABC)
Anna Chlumsky, Veep (HBO)
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Kate Mulgrew, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)

Guest actor, drama series
Joe Morton, Scandal (ABC)

Guest actress, drama series
Allison Janney, Masters of Sex (Showtime)

Writing, drama series
Moira Walley-Beckett, Breaking Bad, AMC

Directing, drama series
Cary Joji Funkunaga, True Detective, HBO

Guest actor, comedy series
Jimmy Fallon, Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Guest actress, comedy series
Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black (Netflix)

Writing, comedy series
Louis C.K., Louie, FX

Directing, comedy series
Gail Mancuso, Modern Family

Reality

Competition reality program
WINNER: The Amazing Race (CBS)
The Voice (NBC)
Dancing With the Stars (ABC)
Project Runway (Lifetime)
So You Think You Can Dance (Fox)
Top Chef (Bravo)

Reality host
WINNER: Jane Lynch, Hollywood Game Night (NBC)
Anthony Bourdain, The Taste (ABC)
Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars (ABC)
Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance (Fox)
Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, Project Runway (Lifetime)
Betty White, Off Their Rockers (NBC)

Structured reality program
WINNER: Shark Tank, ABC
Antiques Roadshow, PBS
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Food Network
Mythbusters, Discovery
Undercover Boss, CBS
Who Do You Think You Are?, TLC

Unstructured reality program
WINNER: Deadliest Catch 10, Discovery
Alaska: The Last Frontier, Discovery
Flipping Out, Bravo
Million Dollar Listing: New York, Bravo
Wahlburgers, A&E
Wild Things With Dominic Monaghan, BBC America

Variety series
WINNER: The Colbert Report, Comedy
The Daily Show, Comedy
Jimmy Kimmel Live!, ABC
Real Time With Bill Maher, HBO
Saturday Night Live, NBC

Writing, variety series
The Colbert Report, Comedy

Directing, variety series
Don Roy King, Saturday Night Live (Jimmy Fallon), NBC

Variety special
AFI Lifetime Achievement Awards: A Tribute to Mel Brooks (TNT)

Writing, variety special
Sarah Silverman: We Are All Miracles, HBO

Directing, variety special
Glenn Weiss, 67th Annual Tony Awards, CBS

Miniseries/movie
WINNER: Fargo, FX
American Horror Story: Coven, FX
Bonnie & Clyde, Lifetime
Luther, BBC America
Treme, HBO
The White Queen, Starz

Movie
WINNER: The Normal Heart, HBO
Killing Kennedy, National Geographic
Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight, HBO
Sherlock: His Last Vow, Masterpiece/PBS
The Trip to Bountiful, Lifetime

Actor, miniseries or movie
WINNER: Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: His Last Vow (Masterpiece/PBS)
Billy Bob Thornton, Fargo (FX)
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dancing on the Edge (Starz)
Idris Elba, Luther (BBC America)
Martin Freeman, Fargo (FX)
Mark Ruffalo, The Normal Heart (HBO)

Actress, miniseries or movie
WINNER: Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Coven (FX)
Cicely Tyson, The Trip to Bountiful (Lifetime)
Helena Bonham Carter, Burton and Taylor (BBC America)
Minnie Driver, Return to Zero (Lifetime)
Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Coven (FX)
Kristen Wiig, The Spoils of Babylon (IFC)

Supporting actor, miniseries or movie
WINNER: Martin Freeman, Sherlock: His Last Vow (Masterpiece/PBS)
Matt Bomer, The Normal Heart (HBO)
Colin Hanks, Fargo (FX)
Joe Mantello, The Normal Heart (HBO)
Alfred Molina, The Normal Heart (HBO)
Jim Parsons, The Normal Heart (HBO)

Supporting actress, miniseries or movie
WINNER: Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Coven (FX)
Angela Bassett, American Horror Story: Coven (FX)
Ellen Burstyn, Flowers in the Attic (Lifetime)
Frances Conroy, American Horror Story: Coven (FX)
Julia Roberts, The Normal Heart (HBO)
Allison Tolman, Fargo (FX)

Writing, miniseries or movie
Steven Moffat, Sherlock: His Last Vow, Masterpiece/PBS

Directing, miniseries or movie
Colin Bucksey, Fargo (FX)