Breaking Bad and Modern Family were the big winners at the 65th annual Primetime Emmy Awards last night (September 22, U.S. time).
The critically-acclaimed Bryan Cranston-starring show—which is due to conclude later this month after five seasons—was lauded with the night's top prize for Best Drama.
Anna Gunn, who plays Skyler White, added to the accolades with a Best Supporting Actress trophy.
Show creator and writer Vince Gilligan admitted he didn't expect the victory, as he took the stage at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.
He said: "I did not see this coming. I thought this was going to be House of Cards..."
Meanwhile, hit sitcom Modern Family—featuring an ensemble cast that includes Sofia Vergara and Julie Bowen—claimed its fourth consecutive prize for Best Comedy.
Homeland actress Claire Danes won her second Emmy for her portrayal of CIA agent Carrie Mathison.
The Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons earned his third Emmy for his portrayal of uber-nerd Sheldon Cooper.
The Newsroom actor Jeff Daniels and Nurse Jackie actress Meritt Wever were among the surprise winners of the night—collecting Best Actor in a Drama and Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy, respectively.
A-list movie actor Michael Douglas was also honored with a prize for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for his role as Liberace in Behind the Candelabra.
The Steven Soderbergh-directed film aired on pay channel HBO in the U.S., making it eligible for the Emmys rather than the Oscars.
This year's Emmy Awards proved more solemn than in years past, with tributes being paid to late Glee actor Cory Monteith and The Sopranos leading man James Gandolfini.
Gandolfini's on-screen wife Edie Falco led a tribute to him, while Glee actress Jane Lynch led a tribute to Cory, who died in July.
The winners at this year's 65th Primetime Emmy Awards:
DRAMA SERIES
Breaking Bad, AMC
COMEDY SERIES
Modern Family, ABC
MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Behind the Candelabra, HBO
LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Claire Danes, Homeland, Showtime
LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom, HBO
LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jim Parsons, Big Bang Theory, CBS
LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep, HBO
LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Michael Douglas, Behind The Candelabra, HBO
LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Laura Linney, The Big C: Hereafter, Showtime
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Bobby Cannavale, Boardwalk Empire, HBO
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad, AMC
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Tony Hale, Veep, HBO
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Merritt Wever, Nurse Jackie, Showtime
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Ellen Burstyn, Political Animals, USA
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
James Cromwell, American Horror Story: Asylum, FX
REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM
The Voice, NBC
VARIETY SERIES
The Colbert Report, Comedy Central
VARIETY SPECIAL
Louis C.K.: Oh My God, HBO
DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
House of Cards, Netflix
DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
Modern Family, ABC
DIRECTING FOR A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Behind the Candelabra, HBO
WRITING FOR A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
The Hour, BBC America
DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY SERIES
Saturday Night Live, NBC
WRITING FOR A VARIETY SERIES
The Colbert Report, Comedy Central
WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Homeland, Showtime
WRITING FOR COMEDY SERIES
30 Rock ("Last Lunch"), NBC
GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Bob Newhart, The Big Bang Theory, CBS
GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Melissa Leo, Louie, FX
HOST FOR A REALITY OR REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM
Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn, Project Runway, Bravo
GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Carrie Preston, The Good Wife, CBS
GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Dan Bucatinsky, Scandal, ABC