The Top 11 Emmy Moments

September 20, 11:15 PMSF TV & Movie ExaminerGreg Archer

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The best and brightest of television came out Sunday night to celebrate what some have been calling the “new” Golden Age of Television. It’s hard to argue with that, considering that now, more than ever before, television is ushering out some of its best creative offerings in years. Take note of 11 golden moments from the 61st Emmy Awards:

 11. Alec Baldwin

He won for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (30 Rock) but upon picking up his trophy from presenter Rob Lowe, he told the Nokia Theater audience: “I’d trade this [trophy] to look like him.”

10. Jeff Probst

“The adventure you are ready for is the one you get. Life is short. Go for it.” It’s what the host of Survivor quipped when accepting his award for Outstanding Host of a Reality Series.

9. Bryan Cranston

Showing remarkable grace, Cranstan noted upon accepting his Emmy for Outstanding Actor (Breaking Bad): “I’m a poor kid from the valley I don’t know what I am doing up here. I am Cinderfella.”

8. Bob Newhart

Presenting the Outstanding Comedy Series award, Newhart’s distinct comedic style charmed the house.

7. Jimmy Fallon

Trotting onstage with a headset to announce Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics, Fallon's high-tech microphone made his voice vibrate. It came in handy when he (purposely) fell down and sang, "I fell down on my ass."

6. Glenn Close

Winning her second Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series (Damages), Close was filled with humility and thanked her fellow nominees. “We all go where there is great writing,” she said.

5. Grey Gardens

Good news for this brilliant television movie, which so aptly chronicled the unique yet dysfunctional relationship between Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter. Ken Howard nabbed Outstanding Supporting Actor, Jessica Lange grabbed—deservingly so—for Outstanding Actress and the production took home the top prize. “To the Beales,” Lange mused near the end of her acceptance speech. “It was such a joy to step into their shoes. And ... to mothers and daughters.”

4. Sarah Silverman

Nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series (The Sarah Silverman Program), the comic nearly brought down the house when the camera cut to her: She was wearing a mustache.

3. Kristen Chenoweth

The supporting actress of the now defunct Pushing Daisies, delivered one of the more memorable, and perhaps most tearful, acceptance speeches of the evening. It was also one of the funniest: “I’m unemployed now and I like to be on Mad Men,” she quipped.

2. In Memoriam

Sarah McLachlan crooned “I Will Remember You” and, in what was, undeniably, one of the most heartbreaking televised tributes in years, the faces of some of television’s biggest stars, all of whom passed away this year, graced the screen, including: Gale Storm, Van Johnson, Ertha Kitt, Karl Malden, James Whitmore, Henry Gibson, Dom Deluise, Dominic Dunne, Ron Silver, Natasha Richardson, David Carradine, Bea Arthur, Ricardo Montalban, Ed McMahon, Army Archerd, Larry Gelbert, Paul Newman, Michael Jackson, Patrick Swayze and, in two longer sequences, Farrah Fawcett and Walter Cronkite.

1. Neil Patrick Harris

As host, Harris exuded a refreshing amount of class and humor. Like Billy Crystal from Oscar shows of yore, he kept the show moving along but more importantly, he kept it interesting. Grace always warms hearts. But humility? Even better. Harris unleashed it in droves. Beyond that, he was embraceable and that makes this Emmy host a winner.

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