Emmys dip in ratings, still win night

Lisa Respers France, CNN
1 minute read
Updated 4:33 PM EDT, Tue August 26, 2014
The winners at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards gave us déjà vu, but at least the show itself was fresh. Host Seth Meyers opened with well-aimed jokes, including some about the Emmys show itself. "This year we're doing the Emmys on a Monday night in August, which if I understand television means the Emmys are about to get canceled," the "Late Night" host quipped. Here are a few other memorable moments:
Emmy moments 2014 —
The winners at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards gave us déjà vu, but at least the show itself was fresh. Host Seth Meyers opened with well-aimed jokes, including some about the Emmys show itself. "This year we're doing the Emmys on a Monday night in August, which if I understand television means the Emmys are about to get canceled," the "Late Night" host quipped. Here are a few other memorable moments:
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
"Modern Family's" Ty Burrell won the first award of the night, and accepted his Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy with a speech supposedly written by his kid co-stars. "I also want to thank my two children that I bring to set sometimes," Burrell read from his mock (or so we assume) speech. "They are definitely cute. They are just not 'I can support my whole family' cute."
Emmy moments 2014 —
"Modern Family's" Ty Burrell won the first award of the night, and accepted his Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy with a speech supposedly written by his kid co-stars. "I also want to thank my two children that I bring to set sometimes," Burrell read from his mock (or so we assume) speech. "They are definitely cute. They are just not 'I can support my whole family' cute."
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Having someone else do the acceptance speech legwork was a theme this year, as Stephen Colbert had Jimmy Fallon take the stage and act as his mouthpiece for the outstanding variety series Emmy win. "I want to thank his wife and his children," Fallon said, playing along as Colbert whispered in his ear. "They're just fantastic. And everyone who's worked on the show for the last nine years. ... If you always wanted to work on the show and you don't have a chance now because it's ending, just put your name on IMDb and I'll back you up. Just call yourself like a creative consultant or some bull***t like that."
Emmy moments 2014 —
Having someone else do the acceptance speech legwork was a theme this year, as Stephen Colbert had Jimmy Fallon take the stage and act as his mouthpiece for the outstanding variety series Emmy win. "I want to thank his wife and his children," Fallon said, playing along as Colbert whispered in his ear. "They're just fantastic. And everyone who's worked on the show for the last nine years. ... If you always wanted to work on the show and you don't have a chance now because it's ending, just put your name on IMDb and I'll back you up. Just call yourself like a creative consultant or some bull***t like that."
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
For Julia Louis-Dreyfus' third consecutive win for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series, the "Veep" actress didn't just receive an Emmy. She was also awarded an impromptu passionate kiss from Bryan Cranston as she took the stage to accept the award. "It was pretty good," Louis-Dreyfus later said backstage. "He went for it. He goes for it in everything he does."
Emmy moments 2014 —
For Julia Louis-Dreyfus' third consecutive win for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series, the "Veep" actress didn't just receive an Emmy. She was also awarded an impromptu passionate kiss from Bryan Cranston as she took the stage to accept the award. "It was pretty good," Louis-Dreyfus later said backstage. "He went for it. He goes for it in everything he does."
Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
If you're going to be a sore loser, be a funny one, like Ricky Gervais. "Well done to Jim Parsons," Gervais said after losing the outstanding actor in a comedy Emmy to the "Big Bang Theory" star. "I've come a long ways, he's probably local. It's like, four years in a row seems unfair, doesn't it?"
Emmy moments 2014 —
If you're going to be a sore loser, be a funny one, like Ricky Gervais. "Well done to Jim Parsons," Gervais said after losing the outstanding actor in a comedy Emmy to the "Big Bang Theory" star. "I've come a long ways, he's probably local. It's like, four years in a row seems unfair, doesn't it?"
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
The only thing better than having Amy Poehler present an award? Having her initially introduced to the audience as Meyers' "friend Beyonce." Later, Poehler helped Meyer introduce Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as "two men who also have no idea what happened at the end of 'True Detective.'"
Emmy moments 2014 —
The only thing better than having Amy Poehler present an award? Having her initially introduced to the audience as Meyers' "friend Beyonce." Later, Poehler helped Meyer introduce Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as "two men who also have no idea what happened at the end of 'True Detective.'"
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
The magical duo of Harrelson and McConaughey was one of the best parts of the 2014 Emmys, as evidenced by how often host Meyers pulled them out for jokes. When the "True Detective" co-stars took the stage, we all got a glimpse of their Southern-accented bromance. "You won an Oscar, Sexiest Man Alive, and now you want an Emmy too," Harrelson said to McConaughey who retorted, "I think that you should have gratitude for what you have, and not envy what I do."
Emmy moments 2014 —
The magical duo of Harrelson and McConaughey was one of the best parts of the 2014 Emmys, as evidenced by how often host Meyers pulled them out for jokes. When the "True Detective" co-stars took the stage, we all got a glimpse of their Southern-accented bromance. "You won an Oscar, Sexiest Man Alive, and now you want an Emmy too," Harrelson said to McConaughey who retorted, "I think that you should have gratitude for what you have, and not envy what I do."
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Aaron Paul was so thrilled with his best supporting actor in a drama win that he almost made himself sick. "Oh, wow, I feel like I'm going to throw up," the "Breaking Bad" star said. And because no Aaron Paul acceptance speech is complete without a shout-out to his spouse, Lauren Parsekian, the actor concluded, "to my wife, my God, thank you for marrying me."
Emmy moments 2014 —
Aaron Paul was so thrilled with his best supporting actor in a drama win that he almost made himself sick. "Oh, wow, I feel like I'm going to throw up," the "Breaking Bad" star said. And because no Aaron Paul acceptance speech is complete without a shout-out to his spouse, Lauren Parsekian, the actor concluded, "to my wife, my God, thank you for marrying me."
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Jim Parsons' best lead actor in a comedy win took a bittersweet turn during his acceptance speech. The actor thanked his dad, "somebody that I've never thanked before, largely because he passed away shortly before this craziness started." But his father, Parsons went on, "always encouraged me to be an actor. He never discouraged me to be an actor. And in a career that hinges so much on confidence a lot of the time, that was a really great gift."
Emmy moments 2014 —
Jim Parsons' best lead actor in a comedy win took a bittersweet turn during his acceptance speech. The actor thanked his dad, "somebody that I've never thanked before, largely because he passed away shortly before this craziness started." But his father, Parsons went on, "always encouraged me to be an actor. He never discouraged me to be an actor. And in a career that hinges so much on confidence a lot of the time, that was a really great gift."
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
When Kathy Bates snagged the outstanding supporting actress in a miniseries or movie Emmy, she seemed genuinely surprised as she had spotted the accountants who handle the results earlier. "(T)he first place I went when I got here was the green room and there were guys in there with the little silver suitcase and they had it open. ... they caught my eye when I walked in and they both kind of tilted their heads in that sort of social worker, 'I'm sorry' way."
Emmy moments 2014 —
When Kathy Bates snagged the outstanding supporting actress in a miniseries or movie Emmy, she seemed genuinely surprised as she had spotted the accountants who handle the results earlier. "(T)he first place I went when I got here was the green room and there were guys in there with the little silver suitcase and they had it open. ... they caught my eye when I walked in and they both kind of tilted their heads in that sort of social worker, 'I'm sorry' way."
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Allison Janney's outstanding supporting actress in a comedy Emmy was presented by Jimmy Kimmel, who spent most of his time ribbing Matthew McConaughey. The laughter continued when Janney took the stage, who joked of her Emmy-winning role on "Mom," "Listen, I play a mom ... I play a grandmother and, as of last season, I play a grea-grandmother. I'm just crossing my fingers (that) this season I'll be incontinent."
Emmy moments 2014 —
Allison Janney's outstanding supporting actress in a comedy Emmy was presented by Jimmy Kimmel, who spent most of his time ribbing Matthew McConaughey. The laughter continued when Janney took the stage, who joked of her Emmy-winning role on "Mom," "Listen, I play a mom ... I play a grandmother and, as of last season, I play a grea-grandmother. I'm just crossing my fingers (that) this season I'll be incontinent."
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
You know how most TV theme songs today are just instrumentals without lyrics? Andy Samberg and Emmys host Seth MacFarlane tried to fix that during the show with help from Weird Al Yankovic. The king of parody supplied lyrics for "Mad Men," "Scandal" and "Game of Thrones," the latter of which included the lines, "don't get too attached to a certain guy ... he might drink some poison wine (that's a spoiler)."
Emmy moments 2014 —
You know how most TV theme songs today are just instrumentals without lyrics? Andy Samberg and Emmys host Seth MacFarlane tried to fix that during the show with help from Weird Al Yankovic. The king of parody supplied lyrics for "Mad Men," "Scandal" and "Game of Thrones," the latter of which included the lines, "don't get too attached to a certain guy ... he might drink some poison wine (that's a spoiler)."
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Sarah Silverman was predictably unpredictable when she accepted her Emmy for outstanding writing for a variety special. The "We Are Miracles" scribe stepped behind the mic and announced, "Thank you to my Jews at CAA." She concluded with, "We're all just made of molecules, and we're all hurtling through space right now. Thank you!"
Emmy moments 2014 —
Sarah Silverman was predictably unpredictable when she accepted her Emmy for outstanding writing for a variety special. The "We Are Miracles" scribe stepped behind the mic and announced, "Thank you to my Jews at CAA." She concluded with, "We're all just made of molecules, and we're all hurtling through space right now. Thank you!"
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
In one of the more somber moments of the night, Billy Crystal gave heartfelt tribute to Robin Williams. "He made us laugh. Hard. Every time you saw him," Crystal said. "The brilliance was astounding ... It's very hard to talk about him in the past because he was so present in all of our lives. For almost 40 years, he was the brightest star in the comedy galaxy."
Emmy moments 2014 —
In one of the more somber moments of the night, Billy Crystal gave heartfelt tribute to Robin Williams. "He made us laugh. Hard. Every time you saw him," Crystal said. "The brilliance was astounding ... It's very hard to talk about him in the past because he was so present in all of our lives. For almost 40 years, he was the brightest star in the comedy galaxy."
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
As the CEO of the Television Academy, Bruce Rosenblum, took the stage, he got some help from "Modern Family's" Sofia Vergara. After encouraging Vergara to stand up on a rotating platform like a model at a car show, Rosenblum claimed that "what truly matters" is that the Academy "never (forgets) that our success is based on always giving viewers something compelling to watch." Some viewed the bit as sexist, but Vergara disagreed with that interpretation while talking with press backstage.
Emmy moments 2014 —
As the CEO of the Television Academy, Bruce Rosenblum, took the stage, he got some help from "Modern Family's" Sofia Vergara. After encouraging Vergara to stand up on a rotating platform like a model at a car show, Rosenblum claimed that "what truly matters" is that the Academy "never (forgets) that our success is based on always giving viewers something compelling to watch." Some viewed the bit as sexist, but Vergara disagreed with that interpretation while talking with press backstage.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Emmy moments 2014

Story highlights

Monday night's show draws 15.6 million viewers

Last year's had 17.8 million viewers

Monday is first time Emmys hasn't aired on a Sunday night since 1976

CNN  — 

A new night proved not to be a major hindrance to the Emmys.

According to the Los Angles Times, Monday night’s NBC telecast of the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards saw a slight dip in viewership, with 15.6 million tuning in. Last year’s CBS show, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, was Emmy’s most watched ceremony since 2005, with 17.8 million total viewers.

Yet even with the decline the show still won its time slot.

TV By The Numbers reports that the Emmys garnered a 4.2 rating in the coveted 18-49 demographic. That made it NBC’s most successful Monday night programming in the past two years, excluding the Olympics.

5 buzzworthy moments of the 2014 Emmy Awards

It was the first time the Emmys hasn’t aired on a Sunday night since 1976. Last year’s show saw robust ratings despite the challenge of going up against series finales of popular cable shows “Dexter” and “Breaking Bad.” It also got help from having Sunday night football as a lead-in.

This year’s show was hosted by late-night talk show host and former “SNL” funnyman Seth Meyers. On Tuesday, NBC posted footage of Meyers ending the Emmys by participating in the ALS ice bucket challenge.

Primetime Emmy Awards 2014: The winners list