Jeff Daniels shock win over Bryan Cranston at the Emmys Breaking Bad celebrate their Emmy success Breaking Bad beats online series House of Cards to win best drama at the Emmys, as Modern Family picks up its 4th consecutive best comedy Emmy. PT2M5S http://www.smh.com.au/action/externalEmbeddedPlayer?id=d-2u9ww 620 349 September 23, 2013 - 5:21PM The biggest shock at this year's Emmy Awards was undoubtedly The Newsroom's Jeff Daniels scooping the best actor gong from under hotly tipped Bryan Cranston, of Breaking Bad fame. "I didn't expect this," The Newsroom actor said looking justifiably pleased, "I usually don't win anything." Breaking Bad executive producer Vince Gilligan, next to Bryan Cranston, accepts the Emmy award for Outstanding Drama Series. Breaking Bad still won the all important category of best drama and Cranston now becomes the absolute favourite to win the best actor Emmy next year, when the final episodes of Breaking Bad are made eligible. Even Emmy-winner Claire Danes was caught off guard when she almost congratulated Cranston for his non-existent award, while the pair were presenting onstage. "I've still got my fingers crossed for my category," Cranston quickly quipped. Daniels' sentiment, of pleased surprise, was also echoed by others as they took their place on the stage to accept the prestigious TV awards. Unlike previous Emmys, when a single show cleaned up, this time the gongs were spread, with only one production taking three awards (Behind The Candelabra) and three others winning two each (The Colbert Report, Veep and Breaking Bad). Presented by Neil Patrick Harris with his usual flair - and obligatory song and dance numbers - the 65th Annual Emmy Awards proved what many had suspected, that this year there really was too much talent and too many good programs for anyone to dominate. Emmy winner for Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series, Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom). There may have been no clear winner and plenty of unexpected wins but if nothing else it gave fertile ground for some honest speeches from recipients who appeared truly surprised to be honoured. "Thank you everyone," said Merritt Wever who took out one of the earlier awards, for best supporting actress for her role in Nurse Jackie. I have to go now. And off she walked, looking stunned. "Merritt Wever, best speech ever," said Neil Patrick Harris, "Good luck to everyone else." Possibly not caught out was Michael Douglas, who rivalled Wever's applause as he accepted what, almost everyone agreed, was his award for most outstanding actor in a miniseries or movie, when he played Liberace in Behind The Candelabra. In a clearly polished speech he made co-star Matt Damon squirm as he lobbed innuendo from the stage. "This was a two-hander" he said, waving his award. Laughs aside - even Douglas managed to get in a very straight-faced jab, saying he hoped to be allowed to see his son soon* - this was also, as Modern Family creator Steven Levitan pointed out, "the saddest Emmys ever." A string of five farewells were given for stars who had died in the past year on top of the usual "In Memorium" section. Sir Elton John also sang a tribute to Liberace but not because he died in the past year. Robin Williams remembered his mentor Jonathon Winters, Rob reiner his one-time on-screen mother Jean Stapleton, The Sopranos' star James Gandolfini was remembered, as was Family Ties creator Gary David Goldberg and, of course, Glee star Corey Monteith. "From the first time you saw Cory he had a star quality and a genuine sweetness that made it impossible not to fall in love with him," said his costar Jane Lynch. As he accepted gold for most outstanding comedy series, the Modern Family creator said: "Well, this may be the saddest Emmys of all time but we couldn't have been happier." And so too were a lot of pleasantly surprised recipients. Corrected Full list of winners: Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Merritt Wever, Nurse Jackie, Showtime. Writing, Comedy Series: Tina Fey, Tracey Wigfield, 30 Rock, NBC. Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Tony Hale, Veep, HBO. Actress, Comedy Series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep, HBO. Directing, Comedy Series: Gail Mancuso, Modern Family, ABC. Actor, Comedy Series: Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory, CBS. Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Laura Linney, The Big C: Hereafter, Showtime. Writing, Drama Series: Henry Bromell, Homeland, Showtime. Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad, AMC. Reality-Competition Program: The Voice, NBC. Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Bobby Cannavale, Boardwalk Empire, HBO. Actor, Drama Series: Jeff Daniels, The News-room, HBO. Actress, Drama Series: Claire Danes, Homeland, Showtime. Directing, Drama Series: David Fincher, House of Cards, Netflix Writing, Variety Series: The Colbert Report, Comedy Central. Directing, Variety Series: Don Roy King, Saturday Night Live, NBC. Variety Series: The Colbert Report, Comedy Central. Choreography: Derek Hough, Dancing With the Stars, ABC. Writing, Miniseries or Movie: Abi Morgan, The Hour, BBC America. Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie: James Cromwell, Amer-ican Horror Story: Asylum, FX Networks. Directing, Miniseries or Movie: Steven Soderbergh, Behind The Candelabra, HBO. Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Ellen Burstyn, Political Animals, USA. Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Michael Douglas, Behind the Candelabra, HBO. Miniseries or Movie: Behind the Candelabra, HBO. Comedy Series: Modern Family, ABC. Drama Series: Breaking Bad, AMC.