Drama as Homeland denies Mad Men a fifth Emmy

Homeland, which puts the battle against terrorism on American soil, was honoured as best drama series at the Emmys and earned trophies for stars Claire Danes and Damian Lewis.

Modern Family was named the best comedy.

The drama Homeland stopped Mad Men in its tracks, denying the show a record-setting fifth trophy and kept Bryan Cranston from his fourth consecutive best drama award for Breaking Bad and Mad Men star Jon Hamm an also-ran once more.

The Emmys refused to play it predictably, with Jon Cryer of Two and a Half Men earning a best actor award and Jimmy Kimmel proving a game but uneven host.

“I’m one of those pesky Brits, I apologise,” said Lewis, who plays an American in the espionage thriller. “I don’t really believe in judging art, but I thought I’d show up just in case.”

Danes, eye-catching in a bright yellow dress that gracefully draped the pregnant actress, was effusive.

“My husband, my love, my life, my baby daddy, this doesn’t mean anything without you,” she said to her spouse, actor Hugh Dancy.

Aaron Paul won best supporting drama actor for Breaking Bad and Homeland won the best writing award.

“Thank you so much for not killing me off,” Paul said of his drug-dealing character’s lucky survival.

On the comedy side, Emmy voters decided that Two and a Half Men with Jon Cryer and without Charlie Sheen, is really good, as Cryer claimed the best comedy actor trophy.

“Don’t panic, people. Something has clearly gone terribly wrong. I’m stunned,” said Cryer, who on the red carpet before the show expressed confidence he wouldn’t win. Among others, he beat out two-time winner Jim Parsons of The Big Bang Theory.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus was honoured as best actress in comedy for Veep.

Andy Griffith topped a segment honouring industry members who died in the previous year. Ron Howard, who played Griffith’s son Opie in The Andy Griffith Show, said he belonged “in the pantheon”. Phyllis Diller, Davy Jones of The Monkees, Sheman Hemsley and Richard Dawson were among others feted in a montage.

Maggie Smith was honoured as best supporting drama actress for her tart-tongued dowager in Downton Abbey, unhurt by the programme’s move from the mini-series category.

Modern Family made it look easy, as the comedy won the best directing trophy and Eric Stonestreet and Julie Bowen claimed supporting actor awards.

There was a minor backlash online, as some questioned whether the show had a deserving season.

Stonestreet was funny and touching as he accepted his award for his role as half of a devoted gay couple along with Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

“We get the opportunity to play these two characters on TV and show America and the world what a loving couple we can be, just like everybody else.”

Julianne Moore’s take on Governor Sarah Palin in the TV movie Game Change, about the 2008 presidential campaign, earned her best actress honours.

“I feel so validated, because Sarah Palin gave me a big thumbs down,” Moore said, beaming.

Kevin Costner was named best actor for the history-based mini-series Hatfields & McCoys, while Tom Berenger was named best supporting actor for the project and Jessica Lange won supporting actress honours for American Horror Story. Game Change was crowned best series.

The Daily Show, with Jon Stewart, proved unstoppable, winning its 10th consecutive best variety show trophy.