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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

First-timers rule Emmy Awards

Kyra Sedgwick, ‘Top Chef’ among new award-winners

Jimmy Fallon jokingly knocks out Tina Fey as he sings the opening number, “Born to Run,” during the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards Sunday in Los Angeles. (Associated Press)
Susan King Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES – It was a good night for first-timers.

The majority of the statuettes handed out at the 62nd annual Emmy Awards have gone to first-time winners – although almost all were familiar faces.

Kyra Sedgwick won her first Emmy, for actress in a drama series, playing the sweet-as-sugar and hard-as-nails L.A. cop in TNT’s “The Closer,” while Bravo’s “Top Chef” put a stunning end to the reign of CBS’ “The Amazing Race,” which had won for competitive reality series seven years in a row, ever since the category was created by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

By contrast, there were several winning streaks that showed no sign of slowing. Bryan Cranston for the third year in a row won for lead actor in a drama for “Breaking Bad.” For the seventh year in a row, variety, musical or comedy series went to Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.”

First-time Emmy host Jimmy Fallon has brought a lot of rock ’n’ roll to his comedy. He kicked off the 62nd annual awards with a fun-filled take on Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” in which he played the Boss and was joined by cast members from “Glee” as well as Tina Fey, Jon Hamm and Randy Jackson among others. Later, he bid farewell to departing series “24,” “Law & Order” and “Lost” with spot-on imitations of the likes of Elton John and Green Day.

Oscar winner George Clooney earned a standing ovation when he accepted the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award from his former “ER” co-star Julianna Margulies. He was being honored for his work in mobilizing the entertainment community to raise funds during such crises as the Haitian earthquake and 9/11. He is only the fourth person to receive the honor and the first in six years.

The Primetime Emmy Awards were broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.