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(CBS/AP) LOS ANGELES - Updated 9:56 p.m. ET
The Emmy Awards refused to play it predictably Sunday, with awards going to Damian Lewis and Claire Danes of "Homeland" and Jon Cryer of "Two and a Half Men" and Jimmy Kimmel proving a game but uneven host.
Lewis' win denied Bryan Cranston of "Breaking Bad" his fourth Emmy Award as lead actor in a drama series, and made "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm an also-ran once more.
Pictures: Emmy Awards red carpet
Complete Coverage: 2012 Emmy Awards
"I'm one of those pesky Brits, I apologize," said Lewis, who plays an American in Showtime's espionage thriller. "I don't really believe in judging art, but I thought I'd show up, just in case."
A pregnant Danes, eye-catching in a bright yellow dress, was effusive, thanking husband Hugh Dancy during her acceptance speech.
"My husband, my love, my life, my baby daddy, this doesn't mean anything without you," she said.
Aaron Paul won best supporting drama actor for "Breaking Bad," and "Homeland" won the best writing award.
"Thank you so much for not killing me off," Paul said of his drug-dealing character's lucky survival. "Thank you, Hollywood, for allowing me to be part of your group," he added, noting he'd moved from Idaho to pursue his dreams.
Maggie Smith was honored as best supporting drama actress for her tart-tongued dowager in "Downton Abbey," unhurt by the program's move from the miniseries category. She was not on hand to accept the honor.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jon Cryer were among the comedic winners. She picked up the outstanding lead actress in a comedy series award for "Veep," while he won the acting honor for "Two and a Half Men."
"Don't panic, people. Something has clearly gone terribly wrong. I'm stunned," said Cryer, who on the red carpet before the show had expressed confidence he wouldn't win. Among others, he beat out two-time winner Jim Parsons of "The Big Bang Theory."
"Modern Family" stars Eric Stonestreet and Julie Bowen claimed supporting actor awards.
Kimmel dared to mock the in memorian package that typically airs at awards shows with one showing him in various guises. Josh Groban sang a mournful rendition of One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" in background.
"I will be missed," Kimmel said.
Among reality competitors, "The Amazing Race" was honored as best reality series, ninth time in 10 nominations for the award. Tom Bergeron of "Dancing With the Stars" won as best host of a reality series.
"Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane found presenting can be tricky.
"Oh, the mic's over there," he said, after discovering he was on the wrong side of the stage. "This is what happens when you don't come to rehearsal," MacFarlane said.
The ceremony started with bathroom humor: A filmed bit with Kathy Bates, Zooey Deschanel and other nominees prepping in the restroom, then discovering a weeping Jimmy Kimmel lamenting a Botox reaction he said would keep him off stage as host.
"You look beatiful," he was reassured. "You look like a 'Real Housewife.'"
Viewers of the skit may have been puzzled by a nude Lena Dunham, the creator-star of "Girls," unless they're aware she's routinely brave about showing skin on the HBO comedy.
He also set up one of the night's best filmed comedy bits by musing on what "Breaking Bad" would have been like had it aired in a G-rated, pre-cable era.
The answer: a spoof of the opening to "The Andy Griffith Show," with "Breaking Bad" stars Cranston and Paul, fully suited up to cook crystal meth, out at the lake with their fishing poles as the "Andy Griffith" whistling theme song was heard.
As a pungent punchline, they shot dead an unexpected witness: a friendly deputy billed as co-star Don Knotts.
HBO came into the night with a leading 17 creative arts Emmys from a Sept. 15 ceremony honoring technical and other achievements. CBS was second with 13, followed by PBS with 11. Discovery received six awards, NBC got five and ABC and the Cartoon Network won four each. Fox received two trophies.
Emmy has to prove herself a winner with the audience. After rebounding somewhat to 13.5 million viewers in 2010 after an all-time low in 2008 of 12.3 million, last year's show drew 12.4 million viewers airing on Fox. The ceremony rotates annually among the four major networks.
