Mad Men, Downton toast Emmy success

AMC’s cult series Mad Men has scooped the best drama Emmy for the fourth year in a row, while UK period drama Downton Abbey also bagged a host of awards.

Mad Men beat off competition from HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and Game of Thrones at the 63rd Primetime Emmys last night to win the outstanding drama series award, despite not being on air for almost a year.

The 1960s-set ad agency show is set to return to US screens with a fifth season in March next year.

Meanwhile, Downton Abbey, which is produced by Carnival Films in the UK and airs on US pubcaster PBS, won four awards in total, including the Emmy for outstanding miniseries or movie. The show was honoured on the same night as its second season began on UK terrestrial channel ITV1.

ABC sitcom Modern Family, about three couples and their children, won five awards including outstanding comedy series, while Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart won outstanding variety, music or comedy series.

Adventure format The Amazing Race, which airs on CBS, took home the award for outstanding reality-competition.

Overall, Disney-owned ABC won five awards, the most of any network, while CBS, HBO and PBS each earned three.