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'Mad,' '30' rock night

By Lynn Elber Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — The sleek '60s drama Mad Men made Emmy history Sunday as the first basic-cable show to win a top series award, while the sitcom 30 Rock and its stars Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin also emerged as winners.

"We're all so very grateful to have jobs in this turkey-burger economy," Fey said after accepting the best comedy series trophy for her satire about a late-night TV show.

Glenn Close of Damages and Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad captured drama acting trophies.

"This is the greatest job I've ever had in my life," Baldwin said of his role as a network executive.

He paid tribute to Fey, the show's star and creator, as "the Elaine May of her generation."

"I thank my parents for somehow raising me to have confidence that is disproportionate with my looks and abilities. Well done. That is what all parents should do," said Fey, who also won for best actress and writing in a comedy series.

Close, honored for her portrayal of a ruthless attorney, complimented her fellow nominees, including Holly Hunter and Sally Field.

"We're proving that complicated, powerful, mature women are sexy and are high entertainment and can carry a show," she said. "I call us the sisterhood of the TV drama divas."

Cranston won the trophy for his role of a desperate man who turns to making meth.

Dianne Wiest of In Treatment and Zeljko Ivanek of Damages won supporting acting honors for the drama series. Jean Smart of ABC's Samantha Who? was honored as best supporting actress in a comedy series, with Jeremy Piven her actor counterpart for Entourage.

Don Rickles was honored for best individual performance in a variety or music program for Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project.

"It's a mistake," Rickles said. "I've been in the business 55 years and the biggest award I got was an ashtray from the Friars' in New York."

Jeff Probst of Survivor, one of the masters of ceremonies, claimed the first award for best reality series host. "We feel honored to be part of this family. Thank you for letting reality in," Probst said.

As the evening progressed, politics went from having a cameo to a co-starring role.

"I really look forward to the next administration, whoever it is," Jon Stewart said as he accepted the best variety, music or comedy series award for The Daily Show. "I have nothing to follow that. I just really look forward to the next administration."

Later, Stewart and Stephen Colbert, whose The Colbert Report won a writing trophy, teamed to present an award — and exchange banter in which they used a package of prunes as a metaphor for the upcoming presidential election.

"America needs prunes. It may not be a young, sexy plum. Granted, it's shriveled and at times hard to swallow. But this dried-up old prune has the experience we need," Colbert said.

Tommy Smothers received a commemorative writing achievement for his work on the cutting-edge and controversial The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour from the late '60s — and turned serious.

"It's hard for me to stay silent when I keep hearing that peace is only attainable through war. And there's nothing more scary than watching ignorance in action," he said, dedicating his award to "all people who feel compelled to speak out, and are not afraid to speak to power, and won't shut up and refuse to be silenced."