03:19 GMT - That's an Emmys wrap - Television's Emmy Awards are done and dusted. Big winner: "Breaking Bad." Loser: "Game of Thrones."
'Modern Family' actress Sarah Hyland at the Emmy Awards
"Breaking Bad" won four of the five top categories in which it was nominated including outstanding drama, with its stars Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul and Anna Gunn claiming the evening -- a fitting finale for a show that came to an end this year after seven riveting seasons.
The ABC hit sit-com "Modern Family" took three statuettes, including outstanding comedy series (for the fifth year in a row), supporting actor and director.
"Sherlock" was also a big winner, snagging Emmys for outstanding lead actor, supporting actor and writing for a miniseries.
The stars and creators of "Game of Thrones," the top nominee this year, went home empty-handed, however.
Other high quality shows like "True Detective," "Homeland" and "Mad Men" also ran into the buzzsaw that was "Breaking Bad," whose climactic final series was among the greatest season of any television show in modern history.
The Emmy production included a touching tribute to late actor/comedian Robin Williams, and the fashion statements by actors and actresses on the red carpet kept Twitter and other social media buzzing.
AFP is now closing this live report. Thanks for tuning in.
03:05 GMT - 'Game of Thrones' iced out at Emmys - Fantasy clan drama "Game of Thrones" may have led all Emmy nominations with 19, but it came up empty-handed tonight, losing in major and minor categories alike including outstanding drama series.
And with a decade-long winter approaching in the series' fourth season, perhaps it is fitting that the show has been iced out.
That won't hurt its future, apparently. HBO, which led the Emmys with 99 nominations, has already renewed the hugely popular series -- about power struggles among dueling clans in a mythical realm -- for a fifth and sixth season.
02:57 GMT - 'Breaking Bad' hauls in best drama series - "Breaking Bad" wins for outstanding drama, wrapping up an extraordinary seven-year run for one of the most critically acclaimed shows of the 21st Century.
"Thanks so much for a wonderful farewell for our show," creator and executive producer Vince Gilligan says.
The award caps a spectacular evening for the AMC series, which also won oustanding lead actor (Bryan Cranston), supporting actor (Aaron Paul), supporting actress (Anna Gunn) and writing (Moira Walley Beckett).
02:52 GMT - 'Modern Family' wins outstanding comedy Emmy - "Modern Family," the mockumentary sitcom about a slightly dysfunctional clan and its daily travails, wins the Emmy Award for best comedy series.
The ABC show has now won the award five straight seaons, ever since it debuted in 2009.
02:45 GMT - Bryan Cranston, outstanding actor - Call it a farewell gift for Walter White.
Bryan Cranston, the lead in "Breaking Bad," captures the Emmy for outstanding actor in a drama series for his portrayal of White.
He beats out other stars including Matthew McConaughey, Jon Hamm and Kevin Spacey to win his fifth Emmy for his work on the show.
"Even I thought about voting for Matthew," he says, refering to his TV rival who had earned much of the advance hype.
"Breaking Bad," which wrapped up its seventh and final season this year, has now won four Emmys tonight.
02:38 GMT - Juliana Margulies wins best actress - Julianna Margulies receives the Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a drama, for her work as Alicia Florrick in the legal hit "The Good Wife."
"What a wonderful time for women on television," she says upon claiming her statuette.
Margulies has won previous Emmys in 2011, for the same show, and back in 1995 for "ER."
02:33 GMT - 'Breaking Bad' Emmy for writing, too - "Breaking Bad" is pulling ahead in the Emmy hunt, securing its third statuette in three attempts.
Moira Walley Beckett picked up her Emmy for outstanding writing in a drama series, for the show's episode "Ozymandias."
02:25 GMT - Anna Gunn wins best supporting actress - Anna Gunn wins her second straight Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a drama, for her work in "Breaking Bad."
Gun also won last year for portraying Skyler White, the troubled wife of Bryan Cranston's main character Walter White.
"It turned into the most extraordinary journey," she says of her involvement with one of television's most compelling shows of the past decade.
The 46-year-old Gunn also pays tribute to Cranston, calling him "the baddest and absolute best human being" and screen partner.
02:15 GMT - 'He made us laugh, big time' - A tribute to the men and women of television who died over the past year brings somber emotion to the Emmy Awards.
The segment, highlighting the likes of Casey Kasem, Paul Walker, Lauren Bacall, Maya Angelou, Shirley Temple Black, and Don Pardo, ended with a touching tribute to Robin Williams, who died August 11 at age 63.
"He made us laugh, big time," fellow comedian Billy Crystal tells the audience.
"It's very hard to talk about him in the past because he was so present in all of our lives," he says, adding that for almost 40 years, he was "the brightest star in the comedy galaxy."
02:08 GMT - 'Breaking Bad' gets on Emmy scoreboard - Aaron Paul receives the statuette for outstanding supporting actor in a drama, for his character Jesse Pinkman in the chaotic drug-dealing drama "Breaking Bad."
It's the third Emmy win for Paul, whose character could usually be found wearing a yellow meth-cooking suit.
"My God, 'Breaking Bad,' it has changed my life," Paul said.
The hit AMC show wrapped up it's seventh and final season this year, and is one of the favorites to win best drama series.
02:03 GMT - Colbert wins again - American comedian Stephen Colbert's show, "The Colbert Report," rakes in another Emmy, for outstanding variety series.
It's the show's fifth Emmy overall. And it is a farewell award of sorts for Colbert, who is ending his program as he moves to NBC to host "The Late Show," succeeding David Letterman.
01:53 GMT - Awwwkward... in a good way - Glenn Weiss wins the Emmy for outstanding director for a variety special for his work on the 67th annual Tony Awards -- while currently directing tonight's Emmy Awards show.
Speaking from the Emmy control booth, Weiss says it is "beyond surreal while also awesome" to win for the Tony's -- the awards for American stage theater. He then wraps up his acceptance speech, wheels around in his director's chair, and cues the cameras for the next shot, all while holding his statuette.
01:40 GMT - 'Normal Heart' claims Emmy - "The Normal Heart," the HBO film adaptation of Larry Kramer's play about the rise of HIV/AIDS in the early 1980s, wins for outstanding television movie.
The production has 16 Emmy nominations. It was based on the 1985 play by Kramer, who appears to have been on stage in a thick scarf and an "Act Up" baseball cap, along with "The Normal Heart" team.
In addition, Sarah Silverman wins her second career Emmy, for outstanding writing for a variety special, "We Are Miracles."
"We're all just made of molecules, and we're hurling through space right now, thank you," the comedian says before exiting the stage.
01:37 GMT - "Fargo" best miniseries - The FX Networks' "Fargo" scoops the Emmy for outstanding miniseries
01:26 GMT - 'Horror Story' looking pretty - Oscar winner Jessica Lange pockets the Emmy for outstanding actress in a miniseries, for her role as Fiona Goode in "American Horror Story."
At age 65, Lange looks positively stunning in a black gown as she receives her statuette, her third Emmy.
"I truly am so surprised" at winning, she says.
Perhaps. But Lange won the same award three years ago, also for "American Horror Story."
One of the most acclaimed actresses of her generation, Lange shot to fame in the 1970s after playing the ape's prisoner in the remake of "King Kong."
01:25 GMT - Seeing red - AFP's team in Los Angeles is reporting a distinctly red theme coursing through the Emmy Awards:
The best of American television graced the red carpet at the annual 66th Emmy Awards in Los Angeles -- moved from a Sunday to Monday for scheduling reasons -- and there was no doubt what the dominant theme of the evening was in the fashion stakes.
Red.
Online and at the Nokia Theatre, much of the talk centered on Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who won the statuette of lead actress in a comedy for "Veep." She sported an eye-catching twisted and draped Carolina Herrera halter gown.
"I'm just as nervous now as I ever have been," said Louis-Dreyfus, who reportedly washed her flowing dark locks in the kitchen sink.
January Jones ("Mad Men"), in a Prabal Gurung ensemble, Giuliana Rancic and super model Heidi Klum -- who wore designer Zac Posen -- also all wore various tones of raspberry red.
01:21 GMT - Three-repeat for "Sherlock" - "Sherlock" is shining tonight.
Benedict Cumberbatch wins outstanding lead actor in a miniseries for portraying Sherlock Holmes. The PBS show's Martin Freeman also won earlier for supporting actor in a miniseries, as did one of its writers, Steven Moffat.
01:08 GMT - Sherlock times 2 - It's a double for "Sherlock."
Martin Freeman wins outstanding supporting actor in a miniseries for the PBS show's episode "His Last Vow." He beat out four actors from "The Normal Heart."
Freeman is not in attendance, and presenter Stephen Colbert accepted it on his behalf.
Outstanding directing for a miniseries, movie or dramatic special goes to Colin Bucksey for "Fargo" episode "Buridan's Ass." The show runs on FX. This is Bucksey's first Emmy nomination, and first win.
00:56 GMT - Sherlock, Horror Story - Steven Moffat is awarded the Emmy for outstanding writing for a miniseries, for the show "Sherlock."
And silver screen veteran Kathy Bates wins outstanding supporting actress in a miniseries or movie, for her role as Madame Delphine LaLaurie in "American Horror Story."
She had stiff competition from within the miniseries; Angela Bassett and Frances Conroy, both on the FX Networks' show, were also nominated.
Bates clearly wasn't ready for the win.
"Oh my god. Hold this," she was seen telling her companion, handing him her purse.
00:43 GMT - Veep! - Julia Louis-Dreyfus, star of HBO's "Veep," snags the Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series. The former "Seinfeld" star portrays Vice President Selina Meyer.
In the broadcast's first surprise moment, Louis-Dreyfus is embraced by "Breaking Bad" star Bryan Cranston as she strides toward the stage to receive her award. Cranston plants a half-hilarious, half-passionate six- or seven-second kiss on Louis-Dreyfus, prompting loud applause from the audience.
"Um, yeah he was on Seinfeld," the flustered actress says when she gets to the microphone. Cranston had portrayed a dentist on "Seinfeld" from 1994 to 1997.
Also, the Emmy for outstanding reality competition program goes to "The Amazing Race," on CBS.
00:37 GMT - Lead actor, comedy - Jim Parsons grabs the Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a comedy, as Sheldon Cooper in "The Big Bang Theory." It is his fourth Emmy award.
With all the talk of cable TV like HBO and online streaming such as NETFLIX posing such a hefty challenge to network television, the broadcasters have ruled the first four awards: two each to ABC and CBS.
00:30 GMT - Modern Family, two out of three - Gayle Mancuso, director of Modern Family, wins the Emmy for outstanding directing for a comedy series.
This marks the second award for the show. Ty Burrell won outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series a few minutes ago.
Moments earlier, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel ribbed Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey: "You got so fat since the Oscars," he says, addressing the "True Detective" star in the front row.
The funnyman noted that McConaughey won an Oscar for "Dallas Buyers Club" only a few months ago. "How many of these (awards win) speeches of yours are we supposed to sit through?" he asked. "Alright alright alright already."
Kimmel jokes that McConaughey was too handsome for television.
"Beautiful son of a bitch. That's not a television face, that's a movie star face," he says, adding that McConaughey's "True Detective" co-star Woody Harrelson was "a television god."
Turning to less telegenic British comic Rickie Gervais, he says: "That's a television face."
To McConaughey he adds: "You don't belong here. and take Julia Roberts with you while you're at it."
00:29 GMT - Outstanding supporting actress, comedy series - And the Emmy goes to Allison Janney, who portrays the mother Bonnie in CBS show "Mom."
00:09 GMT - First Emmy goes to... - The tuxedoed Seth Meyers is on stage, sparing few actors or shows in the industry before handing off to Amy Poehler to present the first award of the night, outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series.
And the Emmy goes to...
Ty Burrell of ABC's hit show "Modern Family.
The Emmy Awards ceremony begins
23:51 GMT - Environmentally friendly - Per Variety magazine, latenight host and nominee Jimmy Kimmel took the Los Angeles subway to the Emmys with his wife Molly McNearney, forgoing the traditional limo ride and drop-off.
23:34 GMT - Timely themes - Per AFP Los Angeles bureau's Michael Thurston:
Mandy Patinkin, who plays CIA chief Saul Berenson in spy drama "Homeland," says the cast has been in Cape Town for the last three months, shooting the new series.
"We are so sad that the day will come when we have to say goodbye," he says.
He refuses to divulge which direction the show goes after (spoiler alert) the shock death of Nicholas Brody at the climax of the last series, but he said the terror-themed drama was worryingly topical, given recent events in Iraq and Syria.
"It is terrifying how timely it is. I wish it wasn't," he tells KTLA television.
23:33 GMT - A busy red carpet - Some of television's top stars have already filed down the carpet into the theater ahead of the Emmy kick-off -- signing autographs, posing for the cameras and doing their 360 twirls for the fashion police.
Among them is the show's first-time host Seth Meyers, who despite a dozen years on "Saturday Night Live" and now hosting his own late-night show confessed to having a bit of the jitters.
"Much like a lot of people in Hollywood I'm wearing a mask right now," Meyers says.
Heidi Klum arrived in a fitting red gown, apparently setting off a fashion debate by displaying her pink fingernails.
And the US vice president has arrived -- er, make that Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who portrays America's number two in the HBO political comedy "Veep" and is nominated for best lead actress in a comedy.
22:59 GMT - It's a girl! - First off from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, a bit of news: actress Hayden Panettiere arrives on the Emmy Awards red carpet showing her baby bump, and she reveals to E! News that she and fiancee Vladimir Klitschko are expecting a girl.
22:49 GMT - Live from the Emmys - The 66th Primetime Emmy Awards -- television's highest honors -- airs tonight, and AFP is here to bring you coverage of the shows and stars of the small screen, beginning now with red carpet coverage. The official awards presentations begin at 8:00 pm (0000 GMT).
Will "Breaking Bad," the mega-hit about a man's spiral into a violent drug underworld, go out on a high by winning the best drama series Emmy at the conclusion of its phenomenally successful seven-season run? Will "Game of Thrones," the nominations-leading medieval drama, scoop up key awards, or will newcomer "True Detective," with Hollywood royalty Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, crash the party?