EMMY AWARDS - 30 ROCK TAKES ACTING AND WRITING HONOURS AT TELEVISION EMMYS

30 ROCK TAKES ACTING AND WRITING HONOURS AT TELEVISION EMMYS

Comedy series 30 Rock was a major winner at the US television Emmy awards, with four prizes, while John Adams took five.

NBC's 30 Rock, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a live entertainment show, was named best comedy series, while stars Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey were named the best lead comedy actors.

Fey, an alumnus of the legendary Saturday Night Live and writer of Mean Girls and Baby Mama, was also rewarded with the best comedy writing award.

Though it was nominated 16 times for the TV Emmys, Mad Men was only rewarded with two prizes.

However, in winning the best drama series prize, the 1960s-set show about the advertising industry made history for a programme shown on US basic cable.

Historical drama John Adams took five honours, the most of the night, for its tale of the life of the second US president.

Lead actors Laura Linney and Paul Giamatti won the best actors in a miniseries gongs, with British thespian Tom Wilkinson taking a supporting actor prize.

Dame Eileen Atkins was the only other Briton to win a trophy, taking the best supporting actress in a mini-series award for Cranford.

The winners of the 2008 TV Emmys were:

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jeremy Piven, Entourage (HBO)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jean Smart, Samantha Who? (ABC)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Zeljko Ivanek, Damages (FX)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Diane Wiest, In Treatment (HBO)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
Tom Wilkinson, John Adams (HBO)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
Dame Eileen Atkins, Cranford (Masterpiece) (PBS)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
Laura Linney, John Adams (HBO)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
Paul Giamatti, John Adams (HBO)

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY PROGRAM
Louis J. Horvitz, The 80th Annual Academy Awards

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY PROGRAM
The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)

OUTSTANDING VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES
The Daily Show with John Stewart (Comedy Central)

OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE IN A VARIETY OR MUSIC PROGRAM
Don Rickles, Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (HBO)

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
Barry Sonnenfeld, Pushing Daisies - Pie-lette (ABC)

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
Tina Fey, 30 Rock - Cooter (NBC)

OUTSTANDING MADE FOR TELEVISION MOVIE
Recount (HBO)

OUTSTANDING MINISERIES
John Adams (HBO)

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Jay Roach, Recount (HBO)

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Kirk Ellis, John Adams - Independence (HBO)

OUTSTANDING REALITY/COMPETITION PROGRAM
The Amazing Race (CBS)

OUTSTANDING HOST FOR A REALITY OR REALITY/COMPETITION SHOW
Jeff Probst, Survivor (CBS)

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Greg Yaitanes, House - House’s Head (Fox)

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Matthew Weiner, Mad Men - Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (AMC)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Tina Fey, 30 Rock (NBC)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Glenn Close, Damages (FX)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock (NBC)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Brian Cranston, Breaking Bad (AMC)

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
Mad Men (AMC)

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
30 Rock (NBC)