'60 Minutes' sweeps News and Documentary Emmys

"60 Minutes" was the big winner at the News and Documentary Emmys on Monday night in New York, winning seven awards, including that for coverage of a breaking news story and for reporting in a news magazine for "The Blowout," regarding the "Deepwater Horizon" oil catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico. See video below.

Other big champs: PBS' program "P.O.V." won four trophies, including informational programming (long form) and documentary for "Food Inc.," an expose of the food industry that was nominated for doc at the 2009 Oscars.

Watch the full episode. See more POV.

Check out a full list of News and Documentary Emmy winners here.

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Behind the Emmy scenes with Gwyneth Paltrow

Emmys: Bill Maher expands record losing streak

Poll: Will Melissa McCarthy be an Oscar contender?

-- Tom O'Neil

Behind the Emmy scenes with Gwyneth Paltrow

At her personal blog, Gwyneth Paltrow describes her recent adventure at the Emmys, where she won guest actress in a comedy series for "Glee."

She wasn't present at the Creative Arts Ceremony when the victory was announced, but she traveled from Britain to Hollywood the following weekend to accept the statuette and to bestow the award for best comedy series at the prime-time ceremony. Her blog logs every detail of the journey, including makeup and hair preparation, plus photos of her being sewn into her dress.

Paltrow notes that her late father, Bruce Paltrow, would've been thrilled with her Emmy success: "This was especially meaningful, as my father (who made great TV shows back in the day — 'The White Shadow,' 'St. Elsewhere') had been nominated and lost the Emmys nine times. So I'm pretty chuffed about the whole thing. And my dad would have been over the moon."

Her mom, Blythe Danner, won two Emmys for supporting drama actress on "Huff" (2005, 2006).

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— Tom O'Neil

Photo: Screen shot of Gwyneth Paltrow's blog. Credit: Goop.co.

Emmys: Bill Maher expands his record losing streak

Amid all of the post-Emmys chatter about big wins ("Modern Family") and shocking losses (Steve Carell), there was, curiously, little or no mention of one significant defeat: "Real Time With Bill Maher" losing in the variety series category to "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart."

There was good reason for Hollywood shrugging off that news. "Daily Show" never loses, of course. It just romped through the race for a ninth time in a row. Furthermore, Bill Maher has never clutched an Emmy statuette as champ. However, the number of times he's been skunked just climbed to a record high: 27, considering he was recently nominated as executive producer of his self-titled show.

Back in 2007, Maher surpassed Angela Lansbury's old record of 19 losses to emerge as Emmy's biggest loser -– the new Susan Lucci, so to speak -– and the snubbing continues every year.

What does he think of the relentless drubbing?

"Honestly, my take is that you cannot speak the truth about as many things as I do without incurring the wrath of some people who vow every year not to vote for me," he told the L.A. Times last year. "I'm sure that happened after I said what I said about 9/11. I guarantee there have been those who pledge, 'I'll never vote for him because he's an atheist and says all those things about God.' Others probably declare, 'I'll never vote for him because he doesn't think we should get a flu vaccination.'"

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Photo credit: HBO

Poll: Will Melissa McCarthy be an Oscar contender?

Melissa McCarthy's amazing upset in the Emmy race for lead comedy actress proves that she has strong support across Hollywood, support that many observers have probably underestimated. Most "experts" had bet on Laura Linney ("The Big C") or Amy Poehler ("Parks and Recreation") to take the prize, and they pooh-poohed McCarthy's hopes.

In large part, McCarthy's Emmy victory was probably helped by her recent starring role in the comedy blockbuster "Bridesmaids." Hey, if she's got that much Hollywood award support for "Bridesmaids," it may mean she might be a stealth Oscar contender next. Possible? Don't scoff at the idea that she can make the cut for a comedic role. Look at how many stars have won best supporting actress for comedic turns: Penelope Cruz ("Vicky Cristina Barcelona"), Mira Sorvino ("Mighty Aphrodite"), Dianne Wiest ("Bullets Over Broadway"), Marisa Tomei ("My Cousin Vinny") and others.

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-- Tom O'Neil

Photo: Wendi McLendon-Covey, Melissa McCarthy and Ellie Kemper in "Bridesmaids." Credit: Universal

Will Ashton Kutcher's new role lead to an Emmy for 'Men'?

Believe it or not, the crass, lowbrow "Two and a Half Men" has actually performed fairly well at the often snooty Emmys. Former lead actor Charlie Sheen netted four Emmy nominations between 2006 and 2009, while costar Jon Cryer won for supporting actor in 2009. Three times it was nominated for best comedy series (2006-2008). Now that Ashton Kutcher has propelled the series to its highest-ever ratings (27.7 million), award pundits wonder: Could Kutcher win "Men" its first lead actor Emmy?

The last time a TV series switched out its main star and received awards attention was when James Spader replaced Dylan McDermott on "The Practice." Spader went on to win the lead drama actor race in 2004, and when his character was spun off to "Boston Legal," he won two more trophies (2005 and 2007). Ironically, when Sheen replaced Michael J. Fox on the sitcom "Spin City," Sheen went on to win a Golden Globe.

Award shows clearly take notice whenever lead actors are replaced, and no replacement has received more buzz, attention and ratings recently than Kutcher. The former "That '70s Show" star has never been nominated for a major award, though he has reaped a slew of Razzie nods including: worst actor for "Cheaper by the Dozen" (2004), worst screen couple (with Brittany Murphy) for "Just Married" (2004), worst screen couple (with Cameron Diaz) for "What Happens in Vegas" (2009) and worst actor for "Killers" (2010) and "Valentine's Day" (2010).

While the jury is still out on whether Kutcher's role as lovelorn Walden Schmidt on "Two and a Half Men" is worthy of a serious award, critics who watched his highly anticipated return to television Monday night had mixed reviews. Snippets:

Ken Tucker (Entertainment Weekly): "It’s easy to see how Kutcher is going to fit into the ensemble. He’s part-contrast-to-Charlie (he ordered ginger ale, not liquor, while out at a bar with Alan), and part-Charlie 2.0 (he beds women with ease, but in a nice, horny-puppy-dog kind of way). Welcome to Charlie Sheen’s world, Ashton Kutcher. You’re living the dream."

Lori Rackl (Chicago Sun-Times): "Filling the void left by a well-established character isn't easy, but Kutcher mostly succeeded.... After eight long seasons, the show might end up being better off with some new blood -- of the non-tiger variety."

Eric Ditzian (MTV): "Nothing's changed. Ashton Kutcher may have joined the cast, but the same collection of writers is still churning out jokes about threesomes, venereal diseases and flatulence."

Joe Flint (Los Angeles Times): "I thought Ashton Kutcher was fine on 'Two and a Half Men,' but I'd be lying if I didn't say I missed that Vatican assassin Charlie Sheen."

David Eckstein (Zap2it): "The only question no one knows the answer to yet is whether the Ashton Kutcher experiment will work. Time will tell."

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Photo: Ashton Kutcher with Jon Cryer in "Two and a Half Men." Credit: CBS

Emmys: Did 'Bridesmaids' help Melissa McCarthy pull off an upset?

"'Bridemaids' – that's how she did it," huffed a top Emmys honcho backstage Sunday night as we tried to figure out how Melissa McCarthy pulled off that surprise victory for best comedy actress.

He might be right. Normally, TV series stars win based upon the strength of the sample episode they submit to the judges, who are all fellow actors usually swayed by big, over-the-top emoting. That's why most pundits picked Laura Linney to prevail. Linney submitted the pilot episode of "The Big C" in which she battles cancer, wacky neighbors, devilish city officials and dysfunctional family members. She also seemed like a good bet because the three-time past champ had never lost an Emmy bout.

Granted, McCarthy's episode of "Mike & Molly" was a good submission. Titled "First Date," we see her character beset with calamity after she takes a cold medication before her first big date with Mike (Billy Gardell). She passes out in bed just before the big event, but finally makes it to the dinner date where she's so blotto from effects of the medicine and her cold that she blathers crazy talk at the restaurant.

Funny stuff, but Amy Poehler entered a similar episode of "Parks and Recreation" called "Flu Season" in which she battled the flu with equally disastrous results. Many Emmy pundits thought it was a more dynamic performance than McCarthy's, so the latter's victory was widely considered to be a surprise.

That Emmy honcho might be on to something, suggesting McCarthy was helped by her breakout role in the hit feature film "Bridesmaids." In 2007, when Katherine Heigl ("Grey's Anatomy") pulled off a jaw-dropper in the race for supporting drama actress, her breakout role that year in comedy blockbuster "Knocked Up" probably helped.

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-- Tom O'Neil

Photos: Melissa McCarthy in "Bridesmaids" and Katherine Heigl in "Knocked Up." Credit: Universal Pictures

Emmys 2011: What was the worst award snub? (Poll)

When I exited the Nokia Theatre after the Emmys on Sunday night, a journo pal from a local TV station said that he just saw Steve Carell and Hugh Laurie walk by, looking upset and skipping the Governors Ball.

Both had good reason to be irked, if that's what was going on. After Carell lost for comedy actor five times, most pundits believed he'd win for his final year on "The Office" -– just as Sarah Jessica Parker won her first Emmy for her last year on "Sex and the City" (2004). Laurie ("House") had lost for dramatic actor five times too, but nobody thought he'd win this year. Still, Laurie has won two Golden Globes (2006, 2007) and two SAG Awards (2007, 2009), so he probably believes Emmy voters have a grudge against him.

That's probably how Jon Hamm feels too. "Mad Men" just won best drama series for a record-tying fourth time, but its lead star has yet to claim an Emmy. Hamm won a Golden Globe in 2008. Costar John Slattery just lost for a fourth time in the supporting race.

That's nothing. TV's top-rated "American Idol" just lost best reality competition show for a ninth time.

-- Tom O'Neil

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Photo: Steve Carell in "The Office." Credit: NBC

Emmy upsets: Which was the biggest? [Poll]

Upsets ruled this year's Emmys. After three previous losses, Jon Hamm was widely picked to win lead drama actor. But, even though "Mad Men" just won best drama series for a historic fourth time (tying the record held by "The West Wing," "Hill Street Blues" and "L.A. Law"), its star continued to be snubbed. Instead, Kyle Chandler caught a Hail Mary pass and ran for an Emmy touchdown after the final season of "Friday Night Lights." The series, shockingly, even beat "Mad Men" for best drama series writing.

"Mad Men's" John Slattery was presumed to be the front-runner for best supporting drama actor, but he lost to Peter Dinklage ("Game of Thrones"). Before this year, three-time champ Laura Linney had never lost an Emmy race and most pundits believed she'd prevail easily for best comedy actress in "The Big C," but she was beat out by Melissa McCarthy ("Mike & Molly").

No leading media pundits picked Barry Pepper to win lead actor in a TV movie/mini for portraying Bobby Kennedy in "The Kennedys." Most believed it would go to Edgar Ramirez ("Carlos").

-- Tom O'Neil

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Photo: Kyle Chandler exults in his surprise Emmy victory. Credit: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Secret behind Jim Parsons' and Julie Bowen's Emmy victories

Most Emmy pundits bet that Steve Carell would finally win best comedy actor for his last season on "The Office" just like Sarah Jessica Parker finally won her overdue, elusive Emmy for her final year on "Sex and the City." In the race for best supporting comedy actress, most bets were on Emmy host Jane Lynch winning for "Glee."

But victories were scored by Jim Parsons ("The Big Bang Theory") and Julie Bowen ("Modern Family") instead. How did they do it?

Both stars benefited from a quirk of Emmy voting: They were nominated against costars. Because winners are chosen by a small jury of voters evaluating single episodes, they get to be seen more than once. Parsons also gave judges a performance on costar Johnny Galecki's episode submission. Bowen gave judges an extra performance on Sofia Vergara's episode.

That's why it was no surprise that Ty Burrell won best supporting comedy actor, as widely expected. He was nominated against three "Modern Family" costars: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ed O'Neill and Eric Stonestreet.

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Photo: Jim Parsons in "The Big Bang Theory." Credit: CBS

Poll: What will be the big Emmy jaw-dropper?

At the Emmys, upsets occur often because of the award's unique voting process. Winners are decided by judges who view sample episodes submitted by nominees as examples of their best work. In the acting races, for example, there are only about 50 to 75 judges per category, all fellow actors, and you never know what they're thinking. No pundit, for example, foresaw that jaw-dropper pulled off last year by Archie Panjabi ("The Good Wife") in the race for best supporting drama actress.

Below is a list of some upsets I believe are possible Sunday night. Which one do you think has the best chance to occur?

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-- Tom O'Neil

Photo: The cast of "Project Runway" Season 8. Credit: Lifetime