Emmy Winners: 'Modern Family,' 'Mad Men,' 'Temple Grandin' Get Gold

"Modern Family" beat fellow newcomer "Glee" to win best comedy.

ByABC News
August 30, 2010, 8:48 AM

Aug. 30, 2010 — -- Television's newcomers and underdogs ruled the 2010 Emmys, with the ABC comedy "Modern Family" and the HBO movie "Temple Grandin" picking up many of the night's major awards.

CLICK HERE for the full list of 2010 Emmy Award winners.

"Modern Family" beat out Fox's "Glee" to win the Emmy for best comedy series. The two much-lauded freshmen series went head to head in a number of categories and inspired skits featured in NBC's three-hour-long Emmy telecast.

"Glee's" finger prints were all over the opening song and dance, which starred the show's cast and included cameos by Kate Gosselin, Betty White, Jon Hamm, and Tina Fey. "Modern Family" got its moment during a mock plot brainstorming session that tried to work George Clooney into the show about a motley group of relatives.

"Temple Grandin," the biopic of an autistic woman turned doctor of animal science, dominated the TV miniseries/movie awards, winning best made-for-TV movie and best actress in a miniseries or movie for Claire Danes' portrayal of Grandin. Grandin herself scored a standing ovation from the audience.

The night's other big winners included "Mad Men" (best drama), Edie Falco (best actress in a comedy for "Nurse Jackie"), Kyra Sedgwick (best actress in a drama for "The Closer"), Bryan Cranston (best actor in a drama for "Breaking Bad"), Jim Parsons (best actor in a comedy for "The Big Bang Theory"), and Al Pacino (best actor in a miniseries/movie for "You Don't Know Jack").

There were a couple of surprises: "Top Chef" scored the award for best reality competition program, putting an end to "The Amazing Race's" seven-year-long winning streak.