James R | On 26, Aug 2014

It’s hard to believe that it has been almost a year since Breaking Bad’s final season. The 2014 Emmys, though have not forgotten: Vince Gilligan’s series, which won a huge following in the UK after it was released on Netflix UK, took home Outstanding Drama for the second year in a row – not to mention Best Actor for Bryan Cranston (to go with his Best Moustache award), Best Supporting Actor for Aaron Paul and Best Supporting Actress for Anna Gunn.

Aaron Paul, in fact, stole the whole show with a loving tribute to his wife during his acceptance speech. “To my wife,” he finished. “My god. Thank you for marrying me, thank you for dedicating your life to spreading kindness across the world, we all appreciate it. If you guys don’t know what she does look up Kind Campaign, do yourself and your children a favour.”

The Kind Campaign website promptly crashed thanks to the high levels of traffic.

But the evening was expected to be overshadowed by another entity entirely, with even higher levels of traffic. Seth Meyers quipped that MTV holding the Video Music Awards the night before was like “network TV holding an awards show and giving all the trophies to cable and Netflix”, but the predicted wave of VOD victory was held at bay by the established shore of network shows – sort of.

Netflix took home none of the big awards from last night’s trophy sesh, despite having a record 31 nominations, including 12 for Orange Is the New Black and a whopping 13 for House of Cards. But look back at the Creative Arts haul dished out before the primetime slot and Netflix took home seven prizes in total.

Its wins included one for House of Cards – Sound Mixing – two for The Square – Non-fiction Cinematography and Direction – and two for Orange Is the New Black – Single-Camera Editing, Casting and, crucially, Guest Actress for Uzo Aduba’s memorable turn as Crazy Eyes.

The media has hailed this year’s Emmy voters as refocusing attention on the traditional networks, with Ricky Gervais’ Derek (a Netflix exclusive in the US) also going home empty handed. The industry, the narrative goes, is looking to the past not the future.

Indeed, they were not the only new faces to be overlooked, as Modern Family scooped the Outstanding Comedy gong for the fifth year in a row, beating edgier, more modern series, such as Silicon Valley and OITNB. Even HBO’s True Detective, which wowed with its movie star duo of Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, was pipped to the post by Bryan Cranston and his moustache (although Cary Fukunaga deservedly took home Outsanding Directing for a Drama Series).

But while everyone’s eyes were on Walter White, as he jokingly snogged Veep’s Julianna Margulies – and on Sofia Vergara, in an ill-judged sexist moment that literally placed her on a rotating podium for people to admire – Netflix was busy in the wings. If it looks like video on-demand failed to make an impact, the very fact that it is in the room to begin with is testament to Internet TV’s progress and quality. That its wins came largely behind-the-scenes is only fitting for a service that is summed up by the cunning face of Frank Underwood.

Netflix’s total of seven awards ranks its in eighth place overall at the 2014 Emmys, actually joint with FOX and ahead of Breaking Bad’s AMC (six awards), but it is important to remember that the company is a distributor as well as a producer: in the US, Sherlock (which won three prizes for Steven Moffat, Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman), is currently only available on Netflix, while in the UK, Breaking Bad has long been an subscription exclusive for the streaming service. It’s no coincidence that Netflix’s shares reached a record high on the morning of the ceremony. Yes, Breaking Bad stole the show – but Netflix was in the shadows, smiling like a manipulative Kevin Spacey. That’s how you devour a while, one bite a time, Frank told us in Season One. Netflix’s bark may appear bigger this year, but its bite is still there.

A complete list of the 2014 Emmy Award winners

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

TY BURRELL as Phil Dunphy ABC

Modern Family

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES

LOUIS C.K., Written by FX NETWORKS

Louie
So Did The Fat Lady

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

ALLISON JANNEY as Bonnie CBS

Mom

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES

GAIL MANCUSO, Directed by ABC

Modern Family
Vegas

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

JIM PARSONS as Sheldon Cooper CBS

The Big Bang Theory

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS as Vice President Selina Meyer HBO

Veep

OUTSTANDING REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM

THE AMAZING RACE CBS

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A DRAMATIC SPECIAL

STEVEN MOFFAT, Written by PBS

Sherlock: His Last Vow (Masterpiece)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE

KATHY BATES as Madame Delphine LaLaurie FX NETWORKS

American Horror Story: Coven

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE

MARTIN FREEMAN as John Watson PBS

Sherlock: His Last Vow (Masterpiece)

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A DRAMATIC SPECIAL

COLIN BUCKSEY, Directed by FX NETWORKS

Fargo
Buridan’s Ass
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE

BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH as Sherlock Holmes PBS

Sherlock: His Last Vow (Masterpiece)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE

JESSICA LANGE as Fiona Goode FX NETWORKS

American Horror Story: Coven

OUTSTANDING MINISERIES

FARGO FX NETWORKS

OUTSTANDING TELEVISION MOVIE

THE NORMAL HEART HBO

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A VARIETY SPECIAL

SARAH SILVERMAN, Written by HBO

Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY SPECIAL

GLENN WEISS, Directed by CBS

67th Annual Tony Awards

OUTSTANDING VARIETY SERIES

THE COLBERT REPORT COMEDY CENTRAL

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

AARON PAUL as Jesse Pinkman AMC

Breaking Bad

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

CARY JOJI FUKUNAGA, Directed by HBO

True Detective
Who Goes There

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

ANNA GUNN as Skyler White AMC

Breaking Bad

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

MOIRA WALLEY-BECKETT, Written by AMC

Breaking Bad
Ozymandias

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

JULIANNA MARGULIES as Alicia Florrick CBS

The Good Wife

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

BRYAN CRANSTON as Walter White AMC

Breaking Bad

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES

MODERN FAMILY ABC

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

BREAKING BAD AMC

OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES

JENNIFER EUSTON, CSA, Casting Director NETFLIX

Orange Is The New Black

OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A SPECIAL

Fargo FX NETWORKS

OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

True Detective HBO

OUTSTANDING PICTURE EDITING FOR REALITY PROGRAMMING

Deadliest Catch DISCOVERY CHANNEL

OUTSTANDING PICTURE EDITING FOR NONFICTION PROGRAMMING

PEDRO KOS, Edited by NETFLIX
CHRISTOPHER DE LA TORRE, Edited by
MOHAMED EL MANASTERLY, Edited by

The Square

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

JOE MORTON as Rowan ABC

Scandal

OUTSTANDING SINGLE-CAMERA PICTURE EDITING FOR A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE

YAN MILES, Editor PBS

Sherlock: His Last Vow (Masterpiece)

OUTSTANDING MULTI-CAMERA PICTURE EDITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES

PETER CHAKOS, Edited by CBS

The Big Bang Theory
The Cooper Extraction

OUTSTANDING SINGLE-CAMERA PICTURE EDITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

SKIP MACDONALD, A.C.E., Edited by AMC

Breaking Bad
Felina

OUTSTANDING SINGLE-CAMERA PICTURE EDITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES

WILLIAM TURRO, Editor NETFLIX

Orange Is The New Black
Tit Punch

OUTSTANDING ART DIRECTION FOR A CONTEMPORARY OR FANTASY SERIES (SINGLE-CAMERA)
(Area Award: Possibility of one or more than one award).

DEBORAH RILEY, Production Designer HBO
PAUL GHIRARDANI, Art Director
ROB CAMERON, Set Decorator

Game Of Thrones
The Laws Of Gods And Men/The Mountain And The Viper

OUTSTANDING ART DIRECTION FOR A PERIOD SERIES, MINISERIES OR A MOVIE (SINGLE-CAMERA)
(Area Award: Possibility of one or more than one award).

BILL GROOM, Production Designer HBO
ADAM SCHER, Art Director
CAROL SILVERMAN, Set Decorator

Boardwalk Empire
Erlkönig/The Old Ship Of Zion/Farewell Daddy Blues

OUTSTANDING ART DIRECTION FOR A CONTEMPORARY PROGRAM
(HALF-HOUR OR LESS)
(Area Award: Possibility of one or more than one award).

RAY YAMAGATA, Production Designer SHOWTIME
CHIKAKO SUZUKI, Art Director
TIM STEPECK, Set Decorator

House Of Lies
Wreckage/Middlegame/Zhang

OUTSTANDING ART DIRECTION FOR VARIETY, NONFICTION, REALITY OR
REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM
(Area Award: Possibility of one or more than one award).

DEREK MCLANE, Production Designer ABC
JOE CELLI, Art Director
GLORIA LAMB, Art Director

The Oscars

OUTSTANDING ANIMATED PROGRAM

BOB’S BURGERS FOX
Mazel Tina

OUTSTANDING SHORT-FORMAT ANIMATED PROGRAM

DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE DISNEY CHANNEL
‘O Sole Minnie

OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN ANIMATION

NICK JENNINGS, Art Director CARTOON NETWORK

Adventure Time
Wizards Only, Fools

IAN WORREL, Art Director DISNEY CHANNEL

Disney Gravity Falls
Dreamscaperers

NARINA SOKOLOVA, Background Painter DISNEY CHANNEL

Disney Mickey Mouse
‘O Sole Minnie

VALERIO VENTURA, Background Designer DISNEY CHANNEL

Disney Mickey Mouse
The Adorable Couple

SEAN SZELES, Storyboard Artist CARTOONNETWORK.COM

Long Live The Royals

JASMIN LAI, Background Painter CARTOON NETWORK

The Powerpuff Girls: Dance Pantsed

CAMERON BAITY, Animator ADULT SWIM

Robot Chicken DC Comics Special II: Villains In Paradise

DMITRY MALANITCHEV, Color Design Director FOX

The Simpsons
Treehouse of Horror XXIV

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