Emmys 2011: Guy Pearce on steamy sex scenes with Kate Winslet

Sex. There, we got your attention. At least that’s how Guy Pearce got our attention backstage after his win for supporting actor in a miniseries. He talked quite a bit about it, actually.

For example: Why did he thank costar Kate Winslet and not Evan Rachel Wood? Easy. He “definitely had some steamy emotional scenes” with Wood. But “Kate Winslet, I have sex with four times in the show, and that’s what was in the forefront of my mind,” he said.

To be fair, Pearce did genuinely admit: “There were probably lots of people I forgot to mention.”

But then it was back to the sex scenes with Winslet. “Because it was Kate, we did have a good time. They’re nerve-racking to do, but she made it easy.”

Of course this raises the question: What does Winslet think of sex scenes with Pearce? And how does he stack up as a kisser compared to, say, Leonardo DiCaprio?

“I keep asking her [that],” said Pearce. “But she keeps refusing to tell me, so there’s obviously some bad news there. She might tell me tonight if I get her drunk enough.”

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Photo: Guy Pearce has a lot to smile about with his supporting actor Emmy win. Credit: Lucy Nicholson / Reuters

Emmys 2011: For 'Downton Abbey,' a David vs. Goliath win

It was, as creator Julian Fellowes put it, akin to the battle of David vs. Goliath. “Downton Abbey,” the British PBS miniseries about an aristocratic family and its household staff, on Sunday beat out favorite “Mildred Pierce” from powerhouse HBO, whose miniseries always seem to sweep the category.

“As you know, HBO has tremendous marketing and advertising muscle behind it,” said Rebecca Eaton, an executive producer for the PBS network. “When a program like ‘Downton Abbey’ wins, its because it stands on its merits.”

But, Eaton pointed out, the program has already received a number of accolades outside of the Emmy telecast.

“I have to say that its profile was very high when it aired last January,” said Eaton. “The reviews were spectacular. We just entered the Guinness Book of World Records for best reviewed program over ‘Mad Men.’”

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Photo: "Downton Abbey" winners, from left, Michelle Dockery, Rebecca Eaton, Joanne Froggatt, Julian Fellowes and Elizabeth McGovern. Credit: Matt Sayles/Associated Press.

Emmys 2011: Kate Winslet makes no apologies for giddy speeches

An Oscar. Golden Globes. Now an Emmy. And if there was an award for overly giddy acceptance speeches, Kate Winslet might well win that too. And she's quite all right with that.

When asked about her tendency to be slightly over-the-top in her speeches, Winslet made no apologies to the haters.

"I was truly, extremely unprepared, and I didn't think I would win at all," she said. "I'm so thrilled to have won this. It just comes out the way it comes out. There's not a huge amount you can do about it."

Winslet was awarded lead actress in a miniseries or movie for the title role in HBO's five-part miniseries "Mildred Pierce." Sure, the gold statuette was nice. But it was more of a thrill to share screen time with costar -- and fellow winner -- Guy Pearce.

"I've had a crush on Guy Pearce since I was 11 years old."

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Photo: Kate Winslet with her Emmy Award for "Mildred Pierce." Credit: Paul Buck / EPA

Emmys 2011: Matthew Weiner loves 'Boardwalk Empire'

"Mad Men" creator Matthew Weiner wasn't giving a second thought to all the talk about HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" posing a serious threat to another "Mad Men" win for best drama series (it turns out he was right!)

"Terry Winter and I worked together on 'The Sopranos,' he's a great writer, he's very deserving -- it's a great show," said Weiner of "Boardwalk Empire" and its executive producer and writer, Terence Winter.

 

Having written for "The Sopranos," Weiner is familiar with the power of HBO and says, "The idea that we are a competitor to HBO is very thrilling for me."

In fact, since "The Sopranos," Weiner said that things have just gotten better and better for TV. That show, he said, helped pave the way for television series (particularly those on cable) to attract interesting people and a broad audience.

Film is still a great business, he added, but this is an especially great time for television. After thinking about that for a moment, he shrugged and said, "In the end it's all going to be watched on your phone anyway, so what's the difference?"

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Photo: Elisabeth Moss hugs executive producer Matthew Weiner after he accepted the award for drama series for "Mad Men" at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards. Credit: Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

Emmys 2011: 'Modern Family' wins for comedy series

 
ABC's "Modern Family" won its second consecutive Emmy for comedy series on Sunday. The series about a lovably dysfunctional family earned 17 nominations in its second season, including for directing and for cast members Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ed O'Neill, Eric Stonestreet, Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara.

The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards were handed out at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles and televised live on Fox TV.

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Photo: "Modern Family" cast. Photo credit: Danny Feld/ABC.

Emmys 2011: 'Mad Men' wins for drama series

 
AMC's "Mad Men" won its fourth consecutive Emmy for drama series Sunday night. The stylish series set in the world of Madison Avenue in the 1960s was the first basic cable show to earn the Emmy in the drama series category.

Before Sunday's awards ceremony, "Mad Men" had already won 13 Emmys, four Golden Globes and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

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Photo: Elisabeth Moss and Jon Hamm in a scene from "Mad Men." Credit: AMC

Emmys 2011: Martin Scorsese compares new prize to Oscar

Now that Martin Scorsese has both an Emmy and an Oscar under his belt, which prize does he consider more gratifying?

“I must say, this is something I really never dreamed of,” Scorsese told reporters backstage of his Emmy win for directing HBO's period drama series “Boardwalk Empire.” “It’s a different medium in a way, although we approached ‘Boardwalk Empire’ as a film — a very long film. It’s just as exciting [as the Oscar win].”

Scorsese won his first Academy Award back in 2007 for directing “The Departed,” the crime drama loosely based on the life of Whitey Bulger. Asked if when he made the film he ever imagined that the mobster would ever be caught, Scorsese replied: “No. Absolutely not,” he said, beginning to chuckle. “I really didn’t. Who knew? He’s in California. Surprising, eh?”

The filmmaker said he was intrigued by “Boardwalk” because it allowed him the opportunity to develop characters over a longer period of time.

“It was almost like the way Victorian novels were written. They were serialized. Dickens wrote that way,” he explained. “We had always hoped in the '60s when films started to be made for television that long-form films were going to be created for the medium, and it didn’t really work out that way. I think you really have an opportunity here now, and I can see it even more so than what is possible in independent cinema.”

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Photo: Martin Scorsese backstage at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards. Photo credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.

Emmys 2011: 'Downton Abbey' wins for miniseries / TV movie

 
The PBS "Masterpiece Theatre" drama "Downton Abbey" won the Emmy for TV miniseries or movie on Sunday.

Created by Julian Fellowes, who won the Oscar for writing 2001's "Gosford Park," the stylish series is set in the stately English country home of an earl and countess and follows their lives as well as those of their servants just before World War I.

The series won Emmys for cinematography and costumes last week at the Creative Arts Emmys. "Downton Abbey" was the most successful British period drama on English TV since "Brideshead Revisited" 30 years earlier. The second season premieres on "Masterpiece" in  January 2012.

The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards are being handed out at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, and the show is being televised live on Fox TV. 

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Photo: "Downton Abbey." Credit: PBS

Emmys 2011: Peter Dinklage on his dog -- and learning to love TV

Dog sitters everywhere, this is your day. It's not often your work gets recognized during an Emmy Award acceptance speech. But when you sit Peter Dinklage's dog, Kevin, there's an exception.

The "Game of Thrones" actor, who was awarded in the supporting actor in a drama category for his turn on the lavish HBO fantasy series, gave a shout-out to sitter Kitty during his speech. "I mentioned her, but not my manager!" the actor said with some regret backstage.

It's an award that might not have happened. Dinklage, who was somewhat serious backstage, noted that he was less than enthusiastic about doing television.

"'Game of Thrones' is a very good job to have. I've learned to really love being on a TV show. I fought it for a very long time. Television has become something that it never was before ... the writing ... I get so excited when I get the scripts. I don't skip to read my part. And HBO's TV shows are a really, really good thing."

Speaking to his show, in particular, which threw viewers for a loop when it killed off its main character Ned Stark (played by Sean Bean), Dinklage said the unpredictability is what makes it great. 

"The villains live and the heroes die," he said. "It's unexpected. George R.R. Martin, who wrote the books, doesn't follow a traditional formula. It makes it fun."

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Photo: Peter Dinklage backstage at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards. Credit: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

Emmys 2011: Margo Martindale on getting better with age

Margo Martindale feels justified. More accurately, she feels satisfied.

“I’ve been doing it a long time,” said the actress, clutching her supporting actress Emmy Award for her turn on the FX series "Justified." “The great thing about time is you can really appreciate it so much more. I could not have appreciated anything like this had I been 30 -- at 60 it feels ... I’m deeply grateful to be recognized. It’s an honor.”

Backstage at the ceremony she was still blushing, looking rosy head to toe in a sparkling red dress. And she didn’t hold back her feelings. “I’m thrilled. I’m on cloud nine. I’m outta my body. It’s just been a joyous year and a joyous ride.”

But, alas, all good things must come to an end; like Martindale’s character on "Justified." “I loved working with these actors -– it was just a perfect fit for me. Unfortunately, it’s in the past –- they killed me off,” she said. Then she smirked, devilishly: “Maybe they’ll regret it.”

Martindale said she didn’t quite see her character’s demise coming. “They seemed so happy with what I was doing, I thought I would live. Silly me!” But Martindale has come to terms with what happened. “It was a poetic and perfect ending for that character, however,” she said.

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Photo: Margo Martindale backstage at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards. Credit: Paul Buck / EPA

Emmys 2011: Melissa McCarthy basks in her victory

In the best romantic comedies, the girl always gets the guy. And in the case of Melissa McCarthy, she gets the Emmy too.

McCarthy took home a golden statuette Sunday night for lead actress in a comedy for her role as Molly Flynn in the CBS half-hour romcom "Mike & Molly." Leading up to the big reveal, McCarthy, along with fellow nominees Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Martha Plimpton, Laura Linney and Edie Falco prematurely took to the stage as Rob Lowe and Sofia Vergara read the list of nominees. It was all Poehler's idea, McCarthy revealed.

"I think I heard it first through Martha [Plimpton]," she said backstage at the Emmys. "She said, 'Amy has an idea.' Before I heard it, I was like, 'I'm in.' Amy Poehler says something is funny? I'll do it."

McCarthy, better known to some as Sookie from the long-running series "Gilmore Girls," has had quite the year thanks in part to her laugh-out-loud role in the hit movie "Bridesmaids." Still, she was not an obvious choice for a lead role in a comedy -- at least, that's what she said.

"Chuck Lorre ['Mike & Molly's' executive producer] fought for me," she said. "This is my first lead ... there was some trepidation; it's a big line to cross. I don't think people looked at me and thought, 'Oh, of course! Put her in a lead!' I don't think people saw me that way. He dug in his heels and fought for me. I'm certainly glad he did." 

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Emmys 2011: Kyle Chandler wins lead drama actor

 
Kyle Chandler won his first Emmy for lead actor in a drama series on Sunday for his role as Texas high school football coach Eric Taylor in DirecTV/NBC's "Friday Night Lights." The acclaimed series, which was never a ratings blockbuster but had a devoted fan base, ended its five-season run last spring.

Chandler, 46, previously was a regular on the 1990 CBS series "Tour of Duty," the 1991-93 ABC series "Homefront" and the 1996-2000 CBS series "Early Edition." He was also seen on the big screen this summer in J.J. Abrams' "Super 8."

The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards are being handed out at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, and the show is being televised live on Fox TV. 

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Photo: Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton of "Friday Night Lights." Credit: Ricardo DeAratanha/Los Angeles Times.