The LGBT community was well-represented among the winners at Sunday night’s 65th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, which were hosted by Neil Patrick Harris.
The openly gay actor and veteran awards show host might have let some fans down by not performing a musical number during the opening monologue, but he drew quite a few laughs by involving several past Emmy hosts — Jane Lynch, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon. Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Kevin Spacey made memorable cameos as well.
Check out the opening monologue below:
[jump]Harris did eventually surprise the audience and perform a song-and-dance routine — the funny “The Number in the Middle of the Show” featuring Nathan Fillion and Sarah Silverman — later in the evening.
The Liberace biopic “Behind the Candelabra”won the award for Best Miniseries or Movie, after vying against “American Horror Story: Asylum,”“Political Animals,”“Phil Spector,”“Top of the Lake” and “The Bible” for the honor.
Michael Douglas, who starred as the flamboyant pianist, also took home the prize for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie, beating out his co-star Matt Damon, who played Liberace’s assistant-turned-lover Scott Thorson. But Douglas graciously offered to share the award with Damon, jokingly asking him, “You want top or bottom?” Steven Soderbergh also won Best Director.
Sir Elton John also turned up to pay tribute to Liberace. He took the stage to perform “Home Again,” which he said always reminded him of the late performer and gay icon.
“Modern Family” won for Best Comedy Series and openly gay actor Jim Parsons won Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his role of the nerdy Sheldon on “The Big Bang Theory.” This was his fifth nomination and third win for the role — his previous awards came in 2010 and 2011. Bobby Cannavale, known for his recurring role as Will’s boyfriend on “Will and Grace,” won Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role on Boardwalk Empire.
NBC’s “The Voice,” which has had several openly gay competitors, won for Best Reality Competition, winning over several other gay-friendly shows, including “Project Runway,”“Dancing with the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance.”“Project Runway” co-hosts Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum won the award for Best Reality Host.
For a complete list of winners, go here.