CHICAGO TRIBUNE, LA DAILY NEWS, LA TIMES, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER (USA), LE MONDE (France), TWITTER
LOS ANGELES – Quality television “is the only American product the Chinese haven’t figured out how to make,” joked host Jimmy Kimmel, presiding over the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday.
The list of nominees may have been impressive, writes the Chicago Tribune, but the broadcast itself was far from a ringing endorsement of Hollywood’s ability to produce anything but an eye-rolling awards show.
Some of the strongest moments of comedy came from the presenters, including Stephen Colbert, who gave out the award for outstanding female in a comedy: “We should be celebrating women,” he said. “Women are wonderful. For the most part, obviously. Some women are awful."
There was some new blood at the Emmy Awards, with Showtime's freshman series Homeland taking home honors as outstanding drama, said the Los Angeles Daily News. Homeland also won the Emmy for outstanding drama writing, for lead actor, drama (Damian Lewis), lead actress, drama (Claire Danes).
President Obama is a fan of the series, according to the Hollywood Reporter, which revolves around America's ongoing war on terror. "Does it bother anybody else that President Obama said his favorite show is Homeland? I don't think the president should be watching Homeland for the same reason Charlie Sheen shouldn't be watching Breaking Bad,” said Jimmy Kimmel in his monologue.
Nobody was expecting Homeland to nab so many awards. The thriller, inspired by Israeli series Hatufim (Prisoners of War) portrays an America trapped in a crisis of paranoia since September 11, something that the death of Osama bin Laden hasn’t been able to cure. French daily Le Monde writes that the series demonstrates perfectly how the U.S. has been taken over by fear since the 2001 attacks, as well as the guilt of not being able to prevent them.
On a lighter note, it was a three-peat for prime-time comedy Modern Family, said the LA Times.
ABC’s ensemble hit comedy about a loving, dysfunctional family won the Emmy for best comedy series for the third consecutive year, capping a night in which it also won awards for directing, supporting actor and supporting actress — four trophies in all. In addition to best comedy series, it won a trophy for directing (Steve Levitan, who is the show’s co-creator, writer and producer), as well as statuettes for supporting actress (Julie Bowen) and supporting actor (Eric Stonestreet).
Our favorite tweets of the night:
I'm presenting an Emmy tonight. If you see a brown bearded man presenting an award tonight - rest assured - it is me & you're not racist.
— Aziz Ansari (@azizansari) September 23, 2012
Christina Hendricks' dress wins Best Supporting of an Actress #Emmys
— Andy Levy (@andylevy) September 23, 2012
I'm 13, riding in a limo to my 3rd Emmy's!!! Amazing. Thanks Modern Family fans for making us a hit. say.ly/bKE4es5
— Nolan Gould (@Nolan_Gould) September 23, 2012
Too soon maybe for this one?
I forget is "Innocence of Muslims" up for comedy or drama? #Emmys
— Andy Levy (@andylevy) September 24, 2012
Find a complete list of the night’s winners and losers here.
