The Emmys statuette, a winged woman holding an atom, recognizes excellence in the industry of television. The 2014 Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony was held on Monday, Aug. 25 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The 66th annual ceremony was held to honor the best in U.S. primetime television programming from June 1, 2013 through May 31, 2014. The show was broadcast by NBC and hosted by Seth Meyers.
The Emmys were filled with memorable moments and quotes. Before he presented the award for leading actress in a comedy, Jimmy Fallon added some comedy of his own.
“There’s one common truth that binds us all together. None of us will ever make as much money as Kim Kardashian did for her iPhone game,” Fallon said.
AMC’s Breaking Bad was the big winner at the Emmys with a total of five wins, including its second Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series for the second part of its fifth season. The show’s Bryan Cranston (Walter White) won the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Breaking Bad also won Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (episode: “Ozymandias, written by Moria Wallery-Beckett). Modern Family (ABC) took home its fifth consecutive award for Outstanding Comedy Series, tying with Frasier as the show with the most wins in the category. The Amazing Race (CBS) won its tenth Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program.
Jim Parsons won the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Dr. Sheldon Cooper on CBS’s The Big Bang Theory (episode: “The Relationship Diremption”).Sherlock: “His Last Vow” (PBS) won three awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie (Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie (Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson), and Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special (Steven Moffat). The award for Outstanding Variety Series went to The Colbert Report (Comedy Central).
There were some nostalgic and teary moments throughout the ceremony that did not involve an actor or actress accepting their award. Billy Crystal paying tribute to the late Robin Williams brought tears to countless eyes and sent viewers searching for a box of Kleenex.
“As genius as he was onstage, he was the greatest friend you could ever imagine–supportive, protective, loving. It’s very hard to talk about him in the past because he was so present in all our lives,” Crystal said.
This years Emmys were also historic due to NBC’s commitment to Sunday Night Football. The ceremony was held on a day other than a Saturday for the first time since 1976. NBC’s ideal date for the Emmys was originally Aug. 24, but that plan hit a roadblock since MTV’s Video Music Awards had been scheduled for that date for more than a year in advance. Host Seth Meyer took advantage of the odd timing in some of his jokes.
Scheduling of the Primetime Emmys was coordinated with that of the 66th Creative Arts Awards ceremony, held the previous weekend on August 16.
“This year we’re doing the Emmys on a Monday night in August, which if I know anything about televisions means the Emmys are about to get cancelled. Of course no one remembers the 1976 Emmys, because they were held on a Monday,” Meyer said.
-Kim Krulish