'Mad Men' and '30 Rock' scoop top Emmy awards

Period drama "Mad Men" and network comedy "30 Rock" scooped top honors as the 61st Emmy Awards produced a virtual repeat performance of last year at the television industry's equivalent to the Oscars.

Stylish AMC cable drama "Mad Men," set in the politically incorrect world of a New York advertising firm in the early 1960s, took the outstanding drama prize for the second year running at the Nokia Theater.

"We all want to thank the voting members of the academy for recognizing our show again," said "Mad Men" creator Matthew Weiner.

"We work very hard to not have it stink the second year, and we're very proud to be here... Everybody works so hard and I'm glad that the show got its recognition."

NBC television's "30 Rock," about the inner workings of a fictional television sketch show, also won in the outstanding comedy series category for the third straight year.

In total, five of the six top awards at the extravaganza were repeat victories, with the only upset coming in the best comedy actress category, where Australian star Toni Collette stunned favorite Tina Fey of "30 Rock."

Collette, who has appeared in a series of hit movies including "The Sixth Sense" and "Little Miss Sunshine," won for her portrayal of a woman with a multiple personality disorder in "United States of Tara."

"This is insane," Collette said as she accepted her award.

The outstanding actor in a drama series category was won by Bryan Cranston of "Breaking Bad," the dark AMC cable drama about a terminally ill high school chemistry teacher who forges a new career as a methamphetamines dealer.

Cranston, 53 -- who rose to fame in the offbeat comedy "Malcolm in the Middle" -- won the Emmy for the same role at last year's awards.

"Lee Trevino was struck by lightning twice, and now I know how he feels," Cranston said. "It's an embarrassment of riches for me. I don't know what I'm doing up here. I feel like Cinder-fella."

"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," which hit comedy gold last year with its coverage of the 2008 presidential election, won in the best variety, music or comedy series category -- its seventh trophy in a row.

The weeknight show on the Comedy Central channel, and seen around the world on CNN International, also triumphed in the category for best writing for a variety, music, or comedy series.

Veteran Glenn Close won the the third Emmy of her career in the best drama actress for her performance as ruthless New York lawyer Patty Hewes in the hit cable show "Damages."

"I've been sitting here and I just think it is such a huge privilege to be in the community that we're all a part of," Close said.

As expected, "30 Rock" star Alec Baldwin took the best actor in a comedy series award for his portrayal of a slippery television network executive.

It was the second Emmy of Baldwin's career following his triumph last year. Baldwin said he owed his success to the support of "30 Rock" executive producer Lorne Michaels.

"It's great when you have a producer, someone who believes in you, in your corner, who hires you and thinks of you in good weather and in bad weather," Baldwin said. "And that person for me is Lorne Michaels."

In other awards, Irish actor Brendan Gleeson scooped the best actor in a miniseries or television movie category for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in HBO's acclaimed war-time drama "Into the Storm."

Gleeson, 54, later thanked producer Frank Doelger for allowing his mother to see a first cut of the film before she died. "It meant a huge amount to me, and I'd like to thank him very much for that," he said.

Jessica Lange meanwhile won the first Emmy of her career, in the best actress in a miniseries or television movie category, for her performance as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis's aunt in HBO's "Grey Gardens."

"This is so wonderful," Lange said as she accepted her award. "I thank you so much. This part was a gift and they don't come around that often for me anymore. So I'm, I'm thrilled."