In an Emmy Awards that most agree was a stone-cold classic, AMC's meth-drama 'Breaking Bad' was the big winner, taking home most of the night's major TV awards including the big one: outstanding drama series. Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul and Anna Gunn all took home acting gongs, leaving a couple of big, big players - Matthew McConaughey, Kevin Spacey, Woody Harrelson - going home with nothing.

Bryan CranstonBryan Cranston kissed Julia Louis-Dreyfus on stage [Getty/Kevin Winter]

Cranston probably deserved his Emmy for meth dealer Walter White in Breaking Bad's final season, though some raised eyebrows at the snubbing of McConaughey given his faultless performance as Rust Cohle in HBO's 'True Detective'. The current recipient of the Oscar for best actor was nevertheless in high spirits and was the butt of several jokes given his status as one of the world's best. "You don't belong here," said Jimmy Kimmel at one point, "And take Julia Roberts with you."

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Emmys Bryan CranstonCranston won the Emmy for best lead actor [Getty/Kevin Winter]

Later, Breaking Bad director Gail Mancuso said: "I knew if I had to look at my cast, I would tear up.I thought, 'what's the next best thing? Matthew McConaughey.' He was sitting right there."

More: Matthew McConaughey approached by Ford after 'The Lincoln Lawyer'

Elsewhere, Modern Family won the best comedy award for the fifth year running, leaving co-creator Steve Levitan at a loss for something new to say. 

"It's a wonder that we get to do this for a living, that we get to be the ones up here when there are so many deserving shows," he said. The show has now tied the five-year winning streak of Frasier. Actor Ty Burrell won the Emmy for best supporting actor, while Sarah Hyland was generally considered to be one of the best dressed on the evening.

Lena Dunham EmmysLena Dunham was one of the best dressed at the Emmys [Getty/Jason Merritt]

Sarah Silverman - who brought pot to the ceremony - won her second Emmy award for the HBO variety special Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles and thanked boyfriend Michael Sheen in her speech. "We're just all made of molecules and we're hurtling through space right now," she said.

Sarah Hyland EmmysSarah Hyland chatting with Cat Deeley [R] at the Emmys [Getty/Michael Buckner]

Sarah Silverman
Sarah Silverman with her Emmy Award [Getty/Jason Merritt]