This was the first time the Emmys were held on a Monday since 1976, which meant that E!’s red carpet Dorian Gray, Ryan Seacrest, was unable to attend, leaving a void in the coverage. Well, emptier than usual. (Jordan Strauss / Invision / AP)
The best and worst moments from the 2014 Emmy Awards ceremony.
Giuliana Rancic glossed over Kit Harington’s work in “Game of Thrones” to talk about the actor becoming the face of Jimmy Choo shoes. Because Emmy night is a celebration of endorsement deals. (Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)
Some actors take a Prius to awards shows to make a statement. Jimmy Kimmel took things a step further and rode public transportation from Hollywood to downtown L.A. to get to the Emmys. Probably the smartest move of the night. (Jason Merritt / Getty Images)
What does a nominee bring to the Emmys? Sarah Silverman brought cash, her drivers license, her cellphone and liquid pot in an e-cig. Perhaps the most insightful E! red carpet interview ever. (Jason Merritt / Getty Images)
Advertisement
NBC red carpet host Billy Bush asked Bryan Cranston if Heisenberg in “Breaking Bad” was dead or alive. When Cranston couldn’t answer for sure, Bush pointed to his heart and said, “He’s alive in here.” A cheeseball classic. (Jason Merritt / Getty Images)
Seth Meyers wasn’t as edgy as Ricky Gervais or as masterful at the hosting gig as Billy Crystal. But he got off quite a few good jokes in his monologue. “Duck Dynasty” the most VCR-taped show? Yes! (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
As far as late night hosts go, Jimmy Kimmel appeared much more confident on the Emmy stage than actual Emmys host Seth Meyers. And he got in some good digs at the crowd, including Matthew McConaughey, who, Kimmel claimed, “traded his TV in for a conch shell full of weed.” (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
For all the talk and jokes about cable and Netflix taking all the Emmys from broadcast TV, the broadcasters came out pretty well. Especially in the comedy category, where Allison Janney, Jim Parsons, Ty Burrell and “Modern Family’s” producers all won for their network shows. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
Kiss of the night: Bryan Cranston and Julia Louis-Dreyfus took a moment to re-create their massive snogging from “Seinfeld” all those years ago when JLD went up to take her actress in a comedy trophy. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Can you have too many Emmys? Yes, you can. Just ask producers of “The Amazing Race,” who have won the reality competition category 10 out of 12 years. It’s become so predictable, the audience is saving its applause for next year. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)
Through all the empty platitudes and self-congratulations, soon-to-be Emmy-winner Julianna Margulies hit on a deep, dark place of truth when, in an interactive comedy bit, she asked Seth Meyers, “I see that Maggie Smith isn’t here. If she wins, can I have it?” She didn’t need to worry. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)
Gutsiest joke of the night came from Woody Harrelson to his “True Detective” costar Matthew McConaughey when he said, “I’m glad you had all the plagarized lines.” No word on how the line went over with series writer Nic Pizzolatto, who was accused of plagiarism. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
“Weird Al” Yankovic sang that George R.R. Martin needed to type more to finish his “Song of Ice and Fire” novels, then had someone hand the author a typewriter. The only way more pressure could be placed on the guy would have been if President Obama addressed the issue with the nation. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Ryan Murphy escorted LGBT rights activist Larry Kramer to stage when “The Normal Heart” won for best TV movie. The playwright, nearly hidden beneath a baseball cap and scarf, got a major standing ovation. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)
Sarah Silverman took up the mantle from Matthew McConaughey for most inscrutible acceptance speech comment when she ended winning the writing for variety special with, “We’re all just made of molecules and we’re hurtling through space right now.” Huh? (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)
Lots of professional funny people got a chance to work the room, but many of them, including Chris Hardwick, Weird Al, Ricky Gervais and Key and Peele, didn’t set the world on fire with their jokes. Comedy is hard, but drama always wins at the Emmys. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)
Advertisement
Emmy winner Julianna Margulies said it was a great time for women on TV. Don’t tell that to Sofia Vergara, who showed off her bod on a rotating platform while the TV academy’s president spoke. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)
So many showbiz tributes can be mawkish and overbearing. So when one is as genuinely heartfelt as Billy Crystal’s tribute to his friend Robin Williams, it can really land with power. “Robin Williams: What a concept,” Crystal said, his heart broken. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)
“True Detective” director Cary Joji Fukunaga won the Emmy for directing a drama series, but who can remember who he thanked (not series creator Nic Pizzolatto -- oooohhhh), because everyone was discussing his manbraid. Yes, he has a manbraid. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)
Don’t mess with “Breaking Bad.” The long-departed drama series picked up the best drama award as well as awards for stars Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, writer Moira Walley-Beckett and Bryan Cranston, who picked up his fourth Emmy for playing Walter White. “Say my name” indeed. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)