Claire Danes and Damian Lewis of Showtime's "Homeland"

It was a big night for premium cable channels. Despite its newcomer status, Showtime’s “Homeland” took several awards, marking the net’s first ever best drama win. HBO’s “Game Change” took home 4, making its overall total 6, the highest network tally of the evening.

 

HBO’s big winner of the night was “Game Change,” which took the best miniseries or movie category, lead actress (Julianne Moore), best writing and best director. “Boardwalk Empire” took one home for directing and Julia Louis-Dreyfus of “Veep” topped the lead actress in a comedy series category.

 

Showtime followed with 4 wins for “Homeland,” including best writing, lead actor (Damian Lewis), lead actress (Claire Danes), best drama and best writing. FX took home 3 statues—2 for Louis C.K.’s writing in “Louie” and “Louis C.K. Live At The Beacon Theatre” and a supporting actress win for Jessica Lange in “American Horry Story.”

 

History notched 2 awards, both for the favored “Hatfield & McCoys,” in the supporting (Tom Berenger) and lead actor (Kevin Costner) categories. AMC Nets were largely snubbed this year, with just one Emmy for Aaron Paul’s performance in “Breaking Bad.” Yet again, “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” took the variety category, despite a sheepish post-win plea from Stewart to give props to the other nominees, who go unrecognized year after year.

 

Of the broadcasters, ABC was the frontrunner with 5 total wins—4 for award-magnet “Modern Family” and one for “Dancing With the Stars” host Tom Bergeron. CBS took 3, “Two and a Half Men”’s John Cryer as lead actor, “The Amazing Race” for reality show and best director of a variety special, won by Glenn Weiss for the 65^th Annual Tony Awards. PBS got just one for best supporting actress, awarded to Maggie Smith of “Downton Abbey.”

 

Read tonight’s CableFAX Daily for more coverage on the Emmys. In the meantime, enjoy some of our favorite tweets about the awards:

 

Random thoughts on last nights #emmys...Was it sponsored by Perma Tan? Cause half the people on stage looked orange!!

 

My mom during the #emmys "In Memoriam" segment: "Heavy D... I'll miss him the most!!"

 

Just opened a beer using Jon Hamm’s chin! #emmys

 

Lena Dunham’s 'Girls' has been favorably compared to 'The Wire' for illustrating challenges of city life. #Emmys