The Emmys: History New and Old

TV Guide — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 01:43:00 -0400

The 60th annual Emmy Awards set out to honor TV history and ended up making a little of its own. As expected, AMC's stylishly adult 60s-era drama Mad Men took home the best drama prize, the first ever for a basic cable series. The upstart channel delivered a much more shocking triumph in Bryan Cranston's surprise (but well-earned) win for Breaking Bad. "She's bald, too," marveled the actor, who shaved his head to play Walter White, a cancer-ravaged teacher-turned-meth dealer. Best known for outrageous comedy roles like the dad in Malcolm in the Middle, Cranston is a well-liked star who was considered an underdog in a strong field that included fellow AMC leading man Jon Hamm of Mad Men, House's Hugh Laurie (amazingly, still empty-handed), Dexter's brilliant Michael C. Hall, In Treatment's brooding Gabriel Byrne and Boston Legal's showboating James Spader.

OTHER LINKS:

Mad Men
John Adams
60th Primetime Emmy Awards
Laura Linney
Bryan Cranston
Tina Fey
30 Rock
Glenn Close
Pushing Daisies
Damages
Breaking Bad

TV Guide: Breaking Bad

The Emmys: History New and Old