When you have to shoehorn in Dr. Horrible and Nathan Fillion into the Emmy broadcast and have that not even be funny, you're trying to grab ratings. Nonetheless, aside from the obligatory "pat ourselves on the back" of the Emmys, Ricky Gervais was funny as always and one show I loved but thought wouldn't get recognized ended up doing so. So fo those who didn't watch it or just unable to find it, here's the list of nominees and winners:

Outstanding Comedy Series
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Entourage • HBO • Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Family Guy • FOX • Fox Television Animation
Flight Of The Conchords • HBO • Dakota Pictures and Comedy Arts in association with HBO Entertainment
How I Met Your Mother • CBS • Bays & Thomas Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television
The Office • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions and Reveille LLC in association with Universal Media Studios
Weeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lionsgate Television and Tilted Productions, Inc.

Winner: 30 Rock.

Not much to say here. I do love 30 Rock, but at times I think there are other comedies out there funnier than it. Even still, the writing prowess of Tina Fey can't be denied. That being said, did anyone expect a win for Family Guy?

Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series
30 Rock • Apollo, Apollo • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Millicent Shelton, Director
30 Rock • Reunion • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Beth McCarthy, Director
30 Rock • Generalissimo • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Todd Holland, Director
Entourage • Tree Trippers • HBO • Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Julian Farino, Director
Flight Of The Conchords • The Tough Brets • HBO • Dakota Pictures and Comedy Arts in association with HBO Entertainment
James Bobin, Director
The Office • Stress Relief • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions and Reveille LLC in association with Universal Media Studios
Jeff Blitz, Director

Winner: The Office

Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series
Battlestar Galactica • Daybreak (Part 2) • Syfy • R&D TV in association with Universal Cable Productions
Michael Rymer, Director
Boston Legal • Made In China/Last Call • ABC • A David E. Kelley Production in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
Bill D'Elia, Director
Damages • Trust Me • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television
Todd A. Kessler, Director
ER • And In The End • NBC • Constant c Productions, Amblin Television in association with Warner Bros. Television.
Rod Holcomb, Director
Mad Men • The Jet Set • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Phil Abraham, Director

Winner: ER

Outstanding Directing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special
Generation Kill • Bomb In The Garden • HBO • Company Pictures and Blown Deadline Productions in association with HBO Films
Susanna White, Director
Grey Gardens • HBO • Specialty Films and Locomotive in association with HBO Films
Michael Sucsy, Director
Into The Storm • HBO • Scott Free and Rainmark Films production in association with the BBC and HBO Films
Thaddeus O'Sullivan, Director
Little Dorrit • Part 1 • PBS • A co-production of BBC Productions and WGBH Boston
Dearbhla Walsh, Director
Taking Chance • HBO • Motion Picture Corp. of America and Civil Dawn Pictures in association with HBO Films
Ross Katz, Director
Wallander: One Step Behind • PBS • A Left Bank Pictures/Yellow Bird/TKBC production for WGBH co-produced with The BBC, Degeto, WGBH Boston and Film i Skane
Philip Martin, Director

Winner: Little Dorrit

Outstanding Directing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Series
American Idol • Show 833 (The Final Three) • FOX • FremantleMedia N.A., Inc. & 19TV Ltd.
Bruce Gowers, Director
Late Show With David Letterman • Episode 2932 • CBS • Worldwide Pants Incorporated
Jerry Foley, Director
Real Time With Bill Maher • 705 • HBO • Bill Maher Productions and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Hal Grant, Director
Saturday Night Live • Host: Justin Timberlake • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Don Roy King, Director
The Colbert Report • 4159 • Comedy Central • Hello Doggie, Inc. with Busboy Productions and Spartina Productions
Jim Hoskinson, Director
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart • 13107 • Comedy Central • Central Productions, LLC
Chuck O'Neil, Director

Winner: American Idol
...I'm not kidding.

Outstanding Drama Series
Big Love • HBO • Anima Sola Productions and Playtone in association with HBO Entertainment
Breaking Bad • AMC • High Bridge, Gran Via Productions, Sony Pictures Television
Damages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television
Dexter • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with John Goldwyn Productions, The Colleton Company,
House • FOX • Universal Media Studios in association with Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions
Lost • ABC • Grass Skirt Productions and ABC Studios
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television

Winner: Mad Men

Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program
American Idol • FOX • FremantleMedia N.A., Inc. & 19TV Ltd.
Ryan Seacrest, Host
Dancing With The Stars • ABC • BBC Worldwide Productions
Tom Bergeron, Host
Project Runway • Bravo • Magical Elves for The Weinstein Company, Full Picture, Heidi Klum Company, Bravo
Heidi Klum, Host
Survivor • CBS • SEG
Jeff Probst, Host
The Amazing Race • CBS • World Race Productions Inc.
Phil Keoghan, Host
Top Chef • Bravo • Magical Elves, Bravo
Padma Lakshmi, Host
Tom Colicchio, Co-Host

Winner: Survivor
Where'd this category emerge from?

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Alec Baldwin, as Jack Donaghy
Flight Of The Conchords • HBO • Dakota Pictures and Comedy Arts in association with HBO Entertainment
Jemaine Clement, as Jemaine
Monk • USA • Universal Cable Productions in association with Mandeville Films and ABC Studios
Tony Shalhoub, as Adrian Monk
The Big Bang Theory • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television
Jim Parsons, as Sheldon Cooper
The Office • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions and Reveille LLC in association with Universal Media Studios
Steve Carell, as Michael Scott
Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Charlie Sheen, as Charlie Harper

Winner: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Breaking Bad • AMC • High Bridge, Gran Via Productions, Sony Pictures Television
Bryan Cranston, as Walter White
Dexter • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with John Goldwyn Productions, The Colleton Company, Clyde Phillips Productions
Michael C. Hall, as Dexter Morgan
House • FOX • Universal Media Studios in association with Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions
Hugh Laurie, as Dr. Gregory House
In Treatment • HBO • Leverage, Closest To The Hole Productions and Sheleg in association with HBO Entertainment
Gabriel Byrne, as Paul
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Jon Hamm, as Don Draper
The Mentalist • CBS • Warner Bros. Television
Simon Baker, as Patrick Jane

Winner: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie
24: Redemption • FOX • Imagine Television and 20th Century Fox TV in association with Teakwood Lane Productions
Kiefer Sutherland, as Jack Bauer
Cyrano de Bergerac (Great Performances) • PBS • A Cyrano on Film, LLC Production with Thirteen/WNET New York in association with Ellen M Krass Productions, Inc. and NHK Enterprises
Kevin Kline, as Cyrano de Bergerac
Into The Storm • HBO • Scott Free and Rainmark Films production in association with the BBC and HBO Films
Brendan Gleeson, as Winston Churchill
King Lear (Great Performances) • PBS • A Co-production of The Performance Company, Iambic Productions Limited, Thirteen/WNET New York and Channel 4, in association with NHK
Sir Ian McKellen, as King Lear
Taking Chance • HBO • Motion Picture Corp. of America and Civil Dawn Pictures in association with HBO Films
Kevin Bacon, as LtCol Mike Strobl
Wallander: One Step Behind • PBS • A Left Bank Pictures/Yellow Bird/TKBC production for WGBH co-produced with The BBC, Degeto, WGBH Boston and Film i Skane
Kenneth Branagh, as Kurt Wallander

Winner: Brendon Gleeson, Into the Storm

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Tina Fey, as Liz Lemon
Samantha Who? • ABC • ABC Studios
Christina Applegate, as Samantha Newly
The New Adventures Of Old Christine • CBS • Kari's Logo Here in association with Warner Bros. Television
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, as Christine
The Sarah Silverman Program • Comedy Central • Central Productions/Eleven Eleven O'Clock Productions/Oil Factory Inc.
Sarah Silverman, as Sarah Silverman
United States Of Tara • Showtime • Showtime presents in association with Dreamworks Television
Toni Collette, as Tara Gregson
Weeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lionsgate Television and Tilted Productions, Inc.
Mary-Louise Parker, as Nancy Botwin

Winner: Toni Collette, United States of Tara
Surprise, surprise. I figured Tina Fey would coast through another year with an Emmy for Leading Actress, but Toni Collette did sell her role on United States of Tara with the multiple personalities. Glad to see her take one home for the show, though that means the only one who hasn't gotten one, as far as I know, is Sarah Silverman. She did have on a mustache tonight, so maybe she needs to play that up a bit more for the next season.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Brothers & Sisters • ABC • ABC Studios
Sally Field, as Nora Walker
Damages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television
Glenn Close, as Patty Hewes
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • NBC • Wolf Films in association with Universal Media Studios
Mariska Hargitay, as Detective Olivia Benson
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Elisabeth Moss, as Peggy Olson
Saving Grace • TNT • Fox Television
Holly Hunter, as Grace Hanadarko
The Closer • TNT • The Shephard/Robin Company, in association with Warner Bros. Television
Kyra Sedgwick, as Brenda Leigh Johnson

Winner: Glenn Close, Damages

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie
Accidental Friendship • Hallmark Channel • A Muse Entertainment and Automatic Pictures Production
Chandra Wilson, as Yvonne
Coco Chanel • Lifetime • Lux Vide S.p.A, Pamp Productions and Alchemy Television Group
Shirley MacLaine, as Coco Chanel
Grey Gardens • HBO • Specialty Films and Locomotive in association with HBO Films
Drew Barrymore, as Little Edie
Grey Gardens • HBO • Specialty Films and Locomotive in association with HBO Films
Jessica Lange, as Big Edie
Prayers For Bobby • Lifetime • Once Upon The Times Films, LTD in association with Permut Presentations and Sladek Taaffe Productions
Sigourney Weaver, as Mary Griffith

Winner: Jessica Lange, Grey Gardens

Outstanding Made For Television Movie
Coco Chanel • Lifetime • Lux Vide S.p.A, Pamp Productions and Alchemy Television Group
Grey Gardens • HBO • Specialty Films and Locomotive in association with HBO Films
Into The Storm • HBO • Scott Free and Rainmark Films production in association with the BBC and HBO Films
Prayers For Bobby • Lifetime • Once Upon the Times Films, LTD in Association with Permut Presentations and Sladek Taaffe Productions
Taking Chance • HBO • Motion Picture Corp. of America and Civil Dawn Pictures in association with HBO Films

Winner: Grey Gardens

Outstanding Miniseries
Generation Kill • HBO • Company Pictures and Blown Deadline Productions in association with HBO Films
Little Dorrit • PBS • A co-production of BBC Productions and WGBH Boston

Winner: Little Dorrit

Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics
81st Annual Academy Awards • Song Title: Hugh Jackman Opening Number • ABC • Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift Of All • Song Title: Much Worse Things • Comedy Central • Spartina Productions
A Muppets Christmas: Letters To Santa • Song Title: I Wish I Could Be Santa Claus • NBC • Muppets Productions in association with The Walt Disney Studios
Flight Of The Conchords • Unnatural Love / Song Title: Carol Brown • HBO • Dakota Pictures and Comedy Arts in association with HBO Entertainment
Saturday Night Live • Host: Justin Timberlake / Song Title: Motherlover • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
The 2008 ESPYS • Song Title: I Love Sports • ESPN • BTW Productions in association with ESPN

Winner: 81st Annual Academy Awards
Really?

Outstanding Reality - Competition Program
American Idol • FOX • FremantleMedia N.A., Inc. & 19TV Ltd.
Dancing With The Stars • ABC • BBC Worldwide Productions
Project Runway • Bravo • Magical Elves for The Weinstein Company, Full Picture, Heidi Klum Company, Bravo
The Amazing Race • CBS • World Race Productions Inc.
Top Chef • Bravo • Magical Elves, Bravo

Winner: The Amazing Race

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Tracy Morgan, as Tracy Jordan
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Jack McBrayer, as Kenneth Parcell
Entourage • HBO • Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Kevin Dillon, as Johnny Drama
How I Met Your Mother • CBS • Bays & Thomas Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Neil Patrick Harris, as Barney Stinson
The Office • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions and Reveille LLC in association with Universal Media Studios
Rainn Wilson, as Dwight Schrute
Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Jon Cryer, as Alan Harper

Winner: Jon Cryer, Two And A Half Men

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Boston Legal • ABC • A David E. Kelley Production in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
William Shatner, as Denny Crane
Boston Legal • ABC • A David E. Kelley Production in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
Christian Clemenson, as Jerry Espenson
Breaking Bad • AMC • High Bridge, Gran Via Productions, Sony Pictures Television
Aaron Paul, as Jesse Pinkman
Damages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television
William Hurt, as Daniel Purcell
Lost • ABC • Grass Skirt Productions and ABC Studios
Michael Emerson, as Ben Linus
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
John Slattery, as Roger Sterling

Winner: Michael Emerson, Lost
I don't watch Lost, but based on seeing Emerson in Law and Order: SVU and the first Saw, I'd say he well deserves it.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie
Grey Gardens • HBO • Specialty Films and Locomotive in association with HBO Films
Ken Howard, as Phelan Beale
Into The Storm • HBO • Scott Free and Rainmark Films production in association with the BBC and HBO Films
Len Cariou, as Franklin D. Roosevelt
Little Dorrit • PBS • A co-production of BBC Productions and WGBH Boston
Sir Tom Courtenay, as Mr. Dorrit
Little Dorrit • PBS • A co-production of BBC Productions and WGBH Boston
Andy Serkis, as Rigaud
The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice • TNT • Electric Entertainment
Bob Newhart, as Judson

Winner: Ken Howard, Grey Gardens

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Jane Krakowski, as Jenna Maroney
Pushing Daisies • ABC • Living Dead Guy Productions, The Jinks/Cohen Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Kristin Chenoweth, as Olive Snook
Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Amy Poehler, as Various Characters
Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Kristen Wiig, as Various Characters
Ugly Betty • ABC • ABC Studios
Vanessa Williams, as Wilhelmina Slater
Weeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lionsgate Television and Tilted Productions, Inc.
Elizabeth Perkins, as Celia Hodes

Winner: Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
24 • FOX • Imagine Television and 20th Century Fox Television in association with Teakwood Lane Productions
Cherry Jones, as President Allison Taylor
Damages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television
Rose Byrne, as Ellen Parsons
Grey's Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios
Sandra Oh, as Dr. Cristina Yang
Grey's Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios
Chandra Wilson, as Dr. Miranda Bailey
In Treatment • HBO • Leverage, Closest To The Hole Productions and Sheleg in association with HBO Entertainment
Dianne Wiest, as Gina
In Treatment • HBO • Leverage, Closest To The Hole Productions and Sheleg in association with HBO Entertainment
Hope Davis, as Mia

Winner: Cherry Jones, 24

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
Grey Gardens • HBO • Specialty Films and Locomotive in association with HBO Films
Jeanne Tripplehorn, as Jackie O.
House Of Saddam • HBO • HBO Films in association with BBC
Shohreh Aghdashloo, as Sajida
Into The Storm • HBO • Scott Free and Rainmark Films production in association with the BBC and HBO Films
Janet McTeer, as Clementine Churchill
Relative Stranger • Hallmark Channel • A Larry Levinson Production
Cicely Tyson, as Pearl
The Courageous Heart Of Irena Sendler (Hallmark Hall Of Fame Presentation) • CBS • Jeff Most/Jeff Rice Productions in association with Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions
Marcia Gay Harden, as Janina

Shohreh Aghdashloo, House of Saddam

Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series
Late Show With David Letterman • CBS • Worldwide Pants Incorporated
Real Time With Bill Maher • HBO • Bill Maher Productions and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
The Colbert Report • Comedy Central • Hello Doggie, Inc. with Busboy Productions and Spartina Productions
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart • Comedy Central • Central Productions, LLC

Winner: The Daily Show
No complaints here.

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
30 Rock • Reunion • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Matt Hubbard, Writer
30 Rock • Apollo, Apollo • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Robert Carlock, Writer
30 Rock • Mamma Mia • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Ron Weiner, Writer
30 Rock • Kidney Now! • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Jack Burditt, Writer
Robert Carlock, Writer
Flight Of The Conchords • Prime Minister • HBO • Dakota Pictures and Comedy Arts in association with HBO Entertainment
James Bobin, Writer
Jemaine Clement, Writer
Bret McKenzie, Writer

Winner: Matt Hubbard, 30 Rock (Did Flight of the Conchords have a chance?)

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
Lost • The Incident • ABC • Grass Skirt Productions and ABC Studios
Carlton Cuse, Writer
Damon Lindelof, Writer
Mad Men • A Night To Remember • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Robin Veith, Writer
Matthew Weiner, Writer
Mad Men • Six Month Leave • AMC • Lionsgate Television
André Jacquemetton, Writer
Maria Jacquemetton, Writer
Matthew Weiner, Writer
Mad Men • The Jet Set • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Matthew Weiner, Writer
Mad Men • Meditations In An Emergency • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Kater Gordon, Writer
Matthew Weiner, Writer

Winner: Kater Gordon and Matthew Weiner, Mad Men

Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
Generation Kill • Bomb In The Garden • HBO • Company Pictures and Blown Deadline Productions in association with HBO Films
David Simon, Writer
Ed Burns, Writer
Grey Gardens • HBO • Specialty Films and Locomotive in association with HBO Films
Michael Sucsy, Writer
Patricia Rozema, Writer
Into The Storm • HBO • Scott Free and Rainmark Films production in association with the BBC and HBO Films
Hugh Whitemore, Writer
Little Dorrit • PBS • A co-production of BBC Productions and WGBH Boston
Andrew Davies, Writer
Taking Chance • HBO • Motion Picture Corp. of America and Civil Dawn Pictures in association with HBO Films
LtCol Michael R. Strobl, USMC (Ret.), Writer
Ross Katz, Writer

Winner: Andrew Davies, Little Dorrit

Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Series
Late Night With Conan O'Brien • NBC • Broadway Video, NBC Studios, Conaco
Late Show With David Letterman • CBS • Worldwide Pants Incorporated
Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
The Colbert Report • Comedy Central • Hello Doggie, Inc. with Busboy Productions and Spartina Productions
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart • Comedy Central • Central Productions, LLC

Winner: The Daily Show
Again, no complaints, but this would be a difficult one for me. That being said, I think Conan O'Brien had the best nomination video with him ignoring all the friend requests from his writers on Facebook.

And of course, a tribute to all of the many in the entertainment business who died this year. Nice tribute and I enjoyed that they didn't have all of the most recent deaths come last and give them more screen time, but had them all spread out. Heck, I'd forgotten that Bea Arthur had died. So another Emmy year goes by. Some surprises, usual winners, and tributes to the dead. Here's to next year, just don't have Dr. Horrible and Nathan Fillion on the program.

Please