The World War II miniseries, "The Pacific," was victorious, winning best miniseries. Tom Hanks served as its executive producer.
"We're not engineers, we're artists," Hanks said. "We're people that essentially build a camp fire, hang around and we can keep you entertained for 10 hours. That's what we do."
In the lead acting categories, there was a returning victor: Bryan Cranston of "Breaking Bad" earned his third Emmy.
"I feel gluttonous," Cranston said. "It's more than I can take in. It really is."
Edie Falco has won before in the dramatic category for "The Sopranos," but she was as shocked as anyone to win an Emmy for the comedy, "Nurse Jackie."
"The women I was up against are hysterically funny, talented comedians," Falco said. "So, yes, I am shocked. I'm not playing coy. I really am dumbfounded by the events of the evening."
First-time winners included Kyra Sedwick for "The Closer." She has been nominated five times before.
"You kind of think you haven't got a chance in hell of winning after five times, but it is always such a gift and a surprise to be invited to the party," Sedwick said.
Jim Parsons of "The Big Bang Theory" is also new to the Emmy party.
"How will I celebrate?" Parsons said. "I am the lamest old man, but I think that this gives me enough energy to make it roughly 10:30 or 11 tonight. I can rock out with ice cream or something."
In the series supporting categories, all trophies went to first timers: Eric Stonestreet of "Modern Family," Jane lynch of "Glee," Archi Punjabi of "The Good Wife," and Aaron Paul of "Breaking Bad."
