Emmys 2011: Julianna Margulies wins lead drama actress

Julianna Margulies won her first Emmy for lead actress in a drama series Sunday as litigator Alicia Florrick on CBS' legal drama "The Good Wife." She was nominated last year for an Emmy and has won the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award for this role.

Margulies, 45, became a household name as Nurse Carol Hathaway on NBC's "ER," winning an Emmy for supporting actress in a drama the first season. She left the show in 2000; subsequently she's appeared in the miniseries "The Mists of Avalon" and "The Grid," the series "Canterbury's Law," "The Sopranos" and several feature films including the 2005 thriller "Snakes on a Plane."

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: Julianna Margulies in 2010. Credit: Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times

Emmys 2011: 'Big Bang' star explains Charlie Sheen chat

When Charlie Sheen presented Jim Parsons with his award for lead actor in a comedy, “The Big Bang Theory” star appeared visibly uncomfortable. But after the handoff, Sheen was nothing but nice to Parsons, the Emmy winner told reporters backstage.

“He just congratulated me and said, ‘That’s awesome,’” Parsons recalled of the post-win exchange with Sheen. “It was that sweet and that banal, I’m afraid. I wish there was something lurid to say.”

There was also nothing all that dramatic about him beating costar Johnny Galecki, Parsons insisted. The actor said that Galecki –- a first-time nominee this year –- sent him a text message earlier in the day relaying his anxiety over the impending telecast.

“We did text today, and he mentioned to me that it was a butterfly-making day and he’d been on-and-off the treadmill all day,” said Parsons. “I texted back and said, ‘I agree. It’s nerve-racking, and the treadmill definitely helps.’ I happened to do the elliptical this morning, but close enough.”

Parsons, who took home the same award at last year’s event, said he was more shocked to win the prize the second time around –- especially with Steve Carell as a favorite for his final season on “The Office.”

“That was what my mother had said, along with other prognosticators,” he said of Carell’s likely win. “It would have been very richly deserved on his part. He’s just done such a wonderful job on that show for such a consistent, long time period. That’s really who I thought it would be. I really felt it would be anybody but me, and Steve had a better chance than maybe the rest.”

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-- Amy Kaufman

Photo: Jim Parsons holds the Emmy for lead  actor in a comedy series backstage at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards. Credit: AP Photo/Jae Hong

Emmys 2011: Or is that the 'Modern Family' awards?

As host Jane Lynch put it during the Emmy Awards ceremony: “Welcome to the 'Modern Family' awards.” In the first backstage interview of the night in the press room, winners Ty Burrell and Julie Bowen took the stage together –- which makes sense. As husband and wife on the ABC comedy series, the actors said they lean on one another for support and “fear management.” “He’s a rock on the set at all times,” Bowen said.

Burrell threw the praise back in Bowen's direction: “That the straight person wins an Emmy –- that doesn’t happen very often,” he said. “The fact that she won is due to her resourcefulness as an actress.” Bowen, though, seemed shocked to be taking home the statue: “I thought it was a lock on Betty White.”

Both actors said they take particular pride in the show’s potential to help change misconceptions about gay people. “It feels very, very good to be on a show that seems like it’s slowly changing a lot of minds,” Burrell said. 

As for Bowen? “As a straight woman I feel marginalized,” she joked. “No, I'm thrilled, and it’s absurd it’s even an issue, but I’m thrilled we’re helping to change minds.”

Steve Levitan, the show’s co-creator and executive producer, also had a golden night, with a win for writing for a comedy. When asked what he thought of all the show’s trophies, Levitan called it thrilling: “It’s an embarrassment of riches. From the bottom of my heart, I felt Ty and Julies deserved this. I’m thrilled about their wins. … To tell you the truth, it’s a little surreal. We’re going to have a lot of fun tonight.”

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Photo: Ty Burrell and Julie Bowen hold their Emmys for best supporting actor and actress in a comedy, backstage at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards. Credit: Associated Press /Jae Hong

Emmys 2011: Who's who in the opening number

To open the Emmy Awards on Sunday night, "Glee" star Jane Lynch happily lip-synched her way through a production number that musically celebrated television, envisioning TV (lower case l) land as a building where all of TV lives.

The number featured a who's who of TV stars in cameo roles, some singing and dancing. Did you catch them all? If not here's our count:

• "Star Trek" icon Leonard Nimoy (as the president of television)
• "Entourage" agent Jeremy Piven and "gaysian" assistant-turned-agent Rex Lee
• Kevin Nealon, now on "Weeds" and a "Saturday Night Live" alum
• Eric Dane, "Grey's Anatomy's" McSteamy
• The cast of "Big Bang Theory"
• "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson
• Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, the "Mythbusters" myth busters
•  "Parks and Recreation's" Nick Offerman (we can't help but point out he was reading the Los Angeles Times Business section)
• Andy Richter, Conan O'Brien's longtime sidekick
• The cast of "Mad Men"
• Verizon Wireless' "Can you hear me now?" guy, who has a name: Paul Marcarelli
• And there was Jane Lynch talking to her "Glee" character Sue Sylvester.

Alec Baldwin was cut from the montage because Fox parent company New Corp. apparently didn't find much humor in his bit about phone hacking.

Did we miss anyone? Let us know in the comments.

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Photo: Jane Lynch in the Emmy Awards opening number. Credit: Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

Emmys 2011: 'Amazing Race' wins for reality competition series

 
CBS' "The Amazing Race" returned to the winner's circle, earning the Emmy for reality competition series on Sunday. The series, which began in 2001, was the dominant force in this category, winning the trophy continuously from 2003-09. Its reign ended last year, when Bravo's "Top Chef" took the top prize. The show's new season begins Sept. 25.

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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-- Susan King

Photo: Phil Keoghan, left, greets winning sisters Jen and Kisha on "Amazing Race."  Credit:  Jeffrey R. Staab / CBS

Alec Baldwin confirms that his Emmy skit was cut

Before the show even began, controversy broke out at the "63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards." Alec Baldwin, who had been scheduled to appear in the pretaped opening skit, asked producers to dump him partly because a phone-hacking scandal joke didn't make it into the final version of the vignette.

Baldwin, who did not attend the awards ceremony Sunday night, confirmed by Twitter an earlier report in Deadline that said his News Corp. gag was cut. "Fox did kill my News Corp. hacking joke," he wrote. "Which sucks bc I think it would have made them look better. A little."

The "30 Rock" star, who is nominated for a lead actor Emmy, had been scheduled to open the show, playing a fictional network TV president in a skit that starred host Jane Lynch. He reportedly worked with the program's writers on the skit, collaborating on the joke that referenced the ongoing investigation in the U.K. into Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloids.

Baldwin sent out a tweet on Saturday noting that he'd heard that "News Corp. may cut the funniest line."

In light of the cut, Baldwin asked to be taken out of the skit all together. Since it was edited after the fact, Baldwin was concerned that the bit would no longer flow, according to Deadline.

Lynch instead appeared with "Star Trek" veteran Lenoard Nimoy in the opening scenes.

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Photo credit: Ali Goldstein/NBC

 

 

Emmys 2011: Melissa McCarthy wins lead comedy actress

 
Melissa McCarthy won her first Emmy for lead actress in a comedy series on Sunday for her role as Molly Flynn on the CBS hit "Mike & Molly." McCarthy, 41, played the role of Sookie St. James on the WB series "Gilmore Girls" from 2001-07 and Deana on the 2007-09 ABC comedy "Samatha Who?"

She won many more fans earlier this year as the outrageous, man-crazy Megan in the box-office smash "Bridesmaids," earning a Teen Choice Award nomination for best Scene Stealer Female.

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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-- Susan King

Photo: Melissa McCarthy at the Emmy Awards on Sunday night. Credit: Chris Pizzello / AP

Emmys 2011: Jim Parsons wins lead comedy actor

Jim Parsons won his second consecutive Emmy for lead actor in a comedy on Sunday for his performance as the brilliant, infuriating physicist Sheldon Cooper on the hit CBS sitcom "The Big Bang Theory."

The 38-year-old Parsons, who also played Cooper on an installment of Fox's animated series "The Family Guy," has also appeared on such series as "Judging Amy" and "Ed." Parsons has said that he had auditioned for 15 to 20 pilots before "Big Bang." He won the Golden Globe in January for the role. This spring, he appeared on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning revival of "The Normal Heart."

His "Big Bang" costar Johnny Galecki was also nominated this year for lead actor in a comedy.

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: Jim Parsons in "The Big Bang Theory." Credit: Rober Voets/CBS

Emmys 2011: Paula Abdul talks 'X Factor,' 'Idol'

Looking as if she was having trouble focusing her eyes, Paula Abdul went from zero to 60 when asked about her new show "The X Factor." The former "American Idol" judge said that the show democratizes the "Idol" format by allowing competitors of all ages.

"'X Factor' is something you can't quite articulate, it's an emotional connection," she gushed before launching into extreme detail about every aspect of the show, and not stopping until her anxious publicist literally led her away.

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Photo: Paula Abdul and fellow "X Factor" judge Antonio "L.A." Reid. Credit: Reuters / Fred Prouser.

Emmys 2011: Alan Cumming shows his true colors

If you are watching any of the fashion coverage of the Emmy Awards, you'll almost certainly catch Alan Cumming and his, uh, rather interesting clothing choice. He said that the Jean Paul Gaultier look, which included a pair of bright-orange pants, came from his desire to be "traditional but more California and casual."

Cumming might be comfortable with attention on the carpet but he said he was eager for the evening to come to a close so he could let go of his palpable anxiety over his supporting actor in a drama series nomination for "The Good Wife."

"I'm just looking forward to my award being announced and the nerves and the attention being over," he said with a smile.

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Photo: Alan Cumming poses at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards Performers & Nominee Reception on Friday in an equally splashy ensemble. Credit: Chris Pizzello / Associated Press

Emmys 2011: Edie Falco won't root for her favorite shows

Edie Falco, nominated at the Emmy Awards for lead actress in a comedy series for Showtime's "Nurse Jackie," seemed relaxed about the impending telecast only moments before airtime. The fourth season of the series hasn't begun shooting yet, she said, and being at the ceremony gave her an opportunity to see her colleagues in advance of filming. "I miss my friends and I'm excited to see them."

Falco said she wasn't rooting for any other programs, since most of the ones she watches "aren't gonna be here tonight," she smiled. Indeed, cast members from Falco's admitted favorite shows -- "The First 48" and "Househunters International" -- were nowhere to be found on the red carpet.

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Photo: Edie Falco. Credit: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times.

Emmys 2011: Melissa Leo, reporting for awards duty

Melissa Leo has been a fixture on the awards circuit over the last year. At the Emmy Awards, where she was nominated for her supporting role in the HBO's miniseries "Mildred Pierce," she said she was "delighted" that offers began rolling in even in her middle age." "I turned 40 and work started getting more and more interesting and therefore there was more of a chance to get noticed."

Leo's speech at the Oscars, where she took home the best supporting actress prize for her role in "The Fighter" in February, got its fair share of attention for its somewhat hysterical delivery. So if she wins tonight, will she taper down the emotion? Doesn't sound like it.

"As you can see, I have so much joy in the job, it won't be hard to call up joy and gratitude."

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Photo: Melissa Leo arrives to the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards Credit: Chris Pizzello/AP