Never mind that Breaking Bad wrapped up the second half of its final season nearly a year ago. Out of sight definitely didn't mean out of mind for the Academy voters this year, as the acclaimed AMC drama dominated the Emmy Awards, facing off against HBO's Game of Thrones and True Detective, among other series, and coming out on top. That includes closing out the awards show by winning the grand prize of Outstanding Drama series one last time.
While Breaking Bad came out on top at tonight's Bbroadcast, earning 5 statues at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards, Sherlock technically wins the top spot for total Emmys won in 2014, when adding the 4 Creative Arts Emmys the series won to the 3 it collected tonight. Sherlock's 7 wins top Breaking Bad's 6 (1 Creative Arts, 5 won during the broadcast). It certainly helps that both dramas weren't in the same category. Sherlock was submitted as a TV Miniseries or Movie for some reason. Perhaps because its seasons are so short, or because its episodes are so long. Regardless, not having to compete against one another had to have helped.
Sherlock stars Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch both won Emmys for Outstanding Supporting and Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie respectively. Steven Moffat won for Outstanding Writing in the miniseries/TV movie category.
With True Detective making such a major splash at HBO this year, it seemed like there was a good chance the gritty crime drama would secure itself a number of statues tonight, and while the HBO series did earn itself a win for Outstanding Directing (and a few Creative Emmy Awards) it was Breaking Bad that came out on top tonight, winning for Best Drama, as well as Outstanding Lead Actor (Bryan Cranston), Outstanding Supporting Actor (Aaron Paul) and Outstanding Supporting Actress (Anna Gunn). The series wasn't nominated for lead Actress or Guest Actor/Actress so it was out of those category.
Breaking Bad also won for Outstanding Writing for a Drama series for the "Ozymandias" episode, which was written by Moira Walley-Beckett. The episode actually beat out Breaking Bad's series finale "Felina," which would have earned Vince Gilligan the statue. The wins Breaking Bad secured tonight join the ten previous Emmy Awards the AMC drama has secured over the course of its run, going back to 2008.
HBO took a gamble in putting True Detective in the drama category this year, and it's one that might have paid off if Breaking Bad hadn't had such a great final season. Or maybe this is simply a matter of the Academy sticking to the favorites, which we could argue was the case with Modern Family's good showing tonight. It'll be interesting to see whether or not HBO puts True Detective in the Drama category next year -- or if they're even allowed to. It already looks like it won't be an issue at the Golden Globes next year. Perhaps the Emmy Awards will follow suit.
Get the full list of 2014 Emmy Award Winners HERE. And check out Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn and Aaron Paul on stage accepting their awards after the jump...
