The Emmy Awards ceremony, hosted by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, took place on August 25. Often called the Oscars of television, the Emmys are considered the most prestigious awards in the U.S. broadcasting industry.
The highly anticipated Outstanding Drama Series award went to the crime drama "Breaking Bad," produced by cable network AMC, for the second consecutive year. The series, which depicts a chemistry teacher diagnosed with terminal cancer who turns to drug manufacturing in order to leave an inheritance for his family, won a total of six awards, including Best Actor for Bryan Cranston, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Writing, and Best Editing. In addition, Julianna Margulies won Best Actress for "The Good Wife."
In the comedy series category, ABC's sitcom "Modern Family" won the award for Outstanding Comedy Series for the fifth consecutive year. The show also won awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor and Outstanding Directing. In addition, Jim Parsons of "The Big Bang Theory," the highest-rated comedy in the United States, won the award for Outstanding Lead Actor, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus of "Veep" won the award for Outstanding Lead Actress.
In the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, which honor technical achievements, Apple's iPhone commercial "Misunderstood," produced last Christmas season, won the top prize in the commercial category. The heartwarming story of a boy creating a family memorial video showcases the product's advanced camera and image editing capabilities.
The popularity of the Emmys has grown significantly in recent years, with this year's viewership ranking second all-time, just behind last year's record high. A recent trend shows the blurring of lines between television and film, with Hollywood stars increasingly appearing in TV dramas. Robin Williams, who passed away suddenly in August, had won both an Oscar and an Emmy, and the ceremony included a tribute to him.
