LOS ANGELES — Cable TV series actors, including Jeremy Piven of “Entourage,” Dianne Wiest of “In Treatment” and Zeljko Ivanek of “Damages,” dominated at Sunday’s Emmy Awards, where presidential politics were a recurring theme.
“These are strange times for all of us. To be a working actor is an unbelievable gift. None of this is lost on me,” Piven said as he accepted the award for best supporting actor in a comedy series.
Piven took aim at the five reality hosts who helped open the ceremony in what could charitably called a rambling way, saying: “What if I just kept talking for 12 minutes — what would happen? That was the opening.”
The crowd at the 60th annual Primetime Emmy Awards laughed heartily, not a good sign for the hosts, who included Ryan Seacreast of “American Idol.”
Jean Smart of ABC’s “Samantha Who?” was honored as best supporting actress in a comedy series. “I’m very proud to be an actor,” Smart 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 award 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.
The award for best TV movie went to “Recount,” about the contested 2000 Bush-Gore contest. “John Adams,” about the founding father, was named best miniseries.
