‘Modern Family’ dominates early Emmy winners

What say you on the issue below?

LOS ANGELES, Sept 19 — “Modern Family” dominated the early winners at the Primetime Emmy Awards yesterday, winning the first four trophies for the ABC mockumentary.

Now what will she say in therapy? First-time winner Julie Bowen with her award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series. — Reuters pic

Julie Bowen was a surprise first-time winner for her supporting role in the comedy, while her screen husband Ty Burrell, also an Emmy rookie, took the trophy for supporting actor.

“Oh my God! Are you kidding me? I don’t know what I am going to talk about in therapy now,” an astonished Bowen said.

The comedy about three assorted couples and their children also won Emmys for directing and writing, putting it in a commanding position to win best comedy series for the second straight year, in results to follow.

“Welcome back to the ‘Modern Family’ awards!” Emmy host Jane Lynch quipped.

Best drama series — another top prize — will be handed out towards the end of the three-hour ceremony.

Melissa McCarthy won lead comedy actress at her first shot for her role in “Mike & Molly” on CBS, in which she plays a teacher who falls in love with a man she meets at an overeaters group.

Jim Parsons made it two in a row for his lead comedy actor role as the geeky physicist of “The Big Bang Theory”. But Parson’s win meant a fifth straight Emmy defeat for departing “The Office” star Steve Carell.

Lynch, wearing a shimmering floor-length gown, introduced the show with a video-taped swing through the sets of shows such as “Mad Men”, “Big Bang Theory” and her own comedy “Glee”, and a live song and dance routine.

A smiling Charlie Sheen, on the comeback trail after being sensationally fired from CBS hit “Two and A Half Men”, was one of the surprise presenters of the night.

“From the bottom of my heart, I wish you nothing but the best for this upcoming season,” a sincere Sheen said.

Advertising drama “Mad Men” is vying for a fourth straight win but is thought to be facing stiff competition from the Prohibition-era gangsters of “Boardwalk Empire”.

Medieval fantasy series “Game of Thrones”, which proved a surprise success for HBO, has an army of fans, while CBS lawyer show “The Good Wife” starring Julianna Margulies topped an Xfinity TV poll on Facebook as favourite drama. “Dexter” and “Friday Night Lights” make up the other drama contenders.

Margulies also is the front-runner for best dramatic actress, along with Elisabeth Moss, who plays the quiet but feisty young Peggy Olson of “Mad Men”.

“It is such a great showcase for Moss,” said Tom O’Neil of awards website TheEnvelope.com. “It is quite a contest. I think Margulies will win, but it is very close.”

Jon Hamm, who plays suave but enigmatic Don Draper in “Mad Men”, also is hoping to clinch his first Emmy this year but has Steve Buscemi of “Boardwalk Empire” hot on his heels.

The HBO miniseries “Mildred Pierce” has a leading 21 nominations and is expected to deliver an acting Emmy for its star, British actress Kate Winslet.

“There was nothing ‘mini’ about filming ‘Mildred Pierce’,” Winslet said yesterday. “No question, it was the toughest job I have done since ‘Titanic’.”