What goes through the mind of a newly-minted Emmy winner? We’ve got the answers! Read ahead to find out what the stars had to say backstage at the 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.
Tina Fey: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Writing For a Comedy Series and Outstanding Comedy Series
30 Rock‘s Liz Lemon
Tina Fey walked away a triple winner with Emmys for Outstanding Actress, Writing and Comedy Series, but ultimately couldn’t compare them. “They look identical,” she joked backstage, adding, “The show – that one really belongs to everyone so I don’t like it as much.”
The actress, who once compared her scenes with Alec Baldwin to Fred Astaire dancing with a coat rack, won’t be apologizing anymore either. Baldwin told her after her latest win “to stop apologizing for being an actor and being on the show.”
Of course it’s those same acting chops that had fans buzzing about her recent guest spot on Saturday Night Live posing as Vice Presidential hopeful Sarah Palin.
While Fey was in denial about the uncanny resemblance between the two, it was her daughter who saw Palin on TV and said “that’s mommy.” But Fey hopes her impersonation will be short-lived, telling the press, “I want to be done playing this lady Nov. 5, so if anyone can help me be done playing this lady Nov. 5, that would be great with me.”
KEEP READING: Jeremy Piven turns teary-eyed over mention of late father
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Jeremy Piven: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Entourage‘s Ari Gold
Jeremy Piven just added another statue to his trophy chest tonight with a third win for his role as the ornery Ari Gold on HBO’s Entourage. That puts the native New Yorker one step closer to a tie with five-time winner Don Knotts–and apparently that’s all Piven can think about.
“There isn’t a moment that goes by that I don’t think ‘When am I going to take Don Knotts down?’ It is my mantra before I go to sleep and when I wake up,” he joked backstage.
The serial-jokester couldn’t help but poke a little fun at this year’s five reality hosts, too, saying, “I thought we were being Punk’d as an audience. I was confused. You know, like in the movie The Producers, ‘Springtime for Hitler.’”
All kidding aside, Piven turned teary-eyed at the mention of his late father. While on stage, he lifted his Emmy up in the air as a tribute, something he’s done at past ceremonies. “I was talking to my mother before I came here and she was saying ‘Just raise it up to him.’”
KEEP READING: Stephen Colbert admits to trying to “sink” Jon Stewart’s Daily Show
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Jon Stewart: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program
Daily Show‘s Host
Stephen Colbert: Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
The Colbert Report‘s Host
If you had suspicions about Stephen Colbert trying to go after Jon Stewart and The Daily Show, you’re right. “I’ve been gunning for him for years,” reveals Colbert. “Even when I worked for him I did not wish him well…clearly I was trying to sink his show.”
His Colbert Report is certainly making strides, beating out The Daily Show in Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program. Of course, The Daily Show tied things up with a big win over Colbert for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program.
Stewart says, “I’m excited for them and excited for us, too. It’s always great to come out here and win. It’s a long flight.”
On a more serious note, Colbert admits, “We’re thrilled for The Daily Show. Absolutely. We think of the hour as an hour block. They do the first half, we do the second half. Two flavors of the same DNA…exactly like [Entertainment Tonight] and The Insider.
Jean Smart: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Samantha Who?‘s Regina Newly
Jean Smart was “extremely flattered” to be taking home her third Emmy tonight, but despite all the accolades, she couldn’t help but sing the praises of another woman in her life; Christina Applegate.
“I feel very protective of her,” Smart says of her Samantha Who? co-star. “I was shocked when she told me [she had breast cancer] and I started to cry a little bit when she told me…I started tearing up and I said it’s not because I think anything is going to happen to you, but I hate that you have to go through this. She’s a very spiritual person, she’s very strong and now she’s 100 percent so it’s all good.”
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Bryan Cranston: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Breaking Bad‘s Walter H. White
Bryan Cranston thought he was the dark horse in this year’s Emmy competition for lead actor in a drama series, since his new show Breaking Bad just got underway. “We only had seven episodes to air and I didn’t know if that would be enough sampling for the Academy to take a look at,” he confessed. “I’m shocked and wonderfully surprised.”
The former Malcolm in the Middle star, who received three nominations for his past role as Hal, likens the experience to going to a high school dance.
“When you’re nominated for the fourth time it’s like getting invited to the dance by a really pretty girl. Then you go to the dance but then you don’t know you’re actually going to dance with that particular girl or if you are just going to sit there. You just get used to it and when she asks you to dance its amazing and I’m so surprised and I’m thrilled.”
KEEP READING: Jeff Probst makes history as first ever Emmy winning reality host
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Jeff Probst: Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program
Survivor
Jeff Probst has a new claim to fame; the first ever reality show host to receive an Emmy. Too bad for Probst he had to host the show, too! At least he wasn’t alone. His fellow nominees including Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Tom Bergeron and Ryan Seacrest were by his side to share the MC duties.
The fivesome got off to a rough start and never quite recovered. Probst explains that “having five people try to agree on anything is difficult” and credits Jimmy Kimmel for stepping in with a helping hand. “He was emailing me at midnight a couple nights ago saying, ‘you should try this, you should try that,’ but every time we had one idea, two people wouldn’t like it and that’s why we ended up with nothing.”
Nothing, not even jabs from Piven and others, could put a damper on Probst‘s big win. “I actually kind of went a little numb,” he admits. “All I heard was that [Jimmy] held it up and then I heard him say ‘Jeff’ and I was very calm. I think I’m still a little in shock honestly.”
KEEP READING: Glenn Close and the Sisterhood of the TV Drama Divas?
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Glenn Close: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Damages‘ Pattie Hewes
You’ve probably heard of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, but the Sisterhood of the TV Drama Divas? Now that’s a new one.
It’s easy to guess who would be in such a girls club; Holly Hunter, Kyra Sedgewick and, of course, the woman who came up with the label, Glenn Close. “We’re proving that complicated, powerful, mature women are sexy and are high entertainment and can carry a show,” she told the crowd as she accepted her Emmy.
Close doesn’t take the win lightly or the fact that Damages was one of the first basic cable shows in the running for Outstanding Drama Series, “I’m very, very proud to be on basic cable and proud that our show was next to Mad Men and that they were the first two shows to be nominated for basic cable. I hope that it will happen more in the future.”
KEEP READING: Paul Giamatti’s John Adams mini-series makes history
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Paul Giamatti, Outstanding Lead in a Mini Series or Movie
John Adams‘ John Adams
John Adams won a whopping 13 Emmys this year, but star Paul Giamatti couldn’t be more surprised about his own win for lead actor in a mini-series. Already “not an optimist,” he says, “I was not expecting to win a thing. It was long, hard and I never shut up. It was just a lot to do. It was five movies in six months. I’ve never done television like that before. It was amazing.”
Giamatti is “astounded” by the record number of wins and he’s “glad to hear it. Angels in America is amazing. If this was equally amazing or even more so I couldn’t be happier.”
