After the trophies were passed out, it was time for the Emmy winners to head back to the press room. I've already shared quips from the likes of George Clooney, Aaron Paul, and Edie Falco, but there were plenty of other big names hamming it up in the press room. Here are a few more quotables from the night's big winners.
The stars of Mad Men may have been snubbed in the acting categories at the Emmys, but the cast crammed together in the press room with creator Matt Weiner after winning best drama series. They laughed off their reputation for being party animals while Jon Hamm and Weiner took the microphone to talk reactions and what makes Mad Men so great.
How does it feel to win three years in a row?
Matt Weiner: I'm overwhelmed. We worked very hard, and it is an honor being nominated and I can't believe we won. Jon Hamm: It was completely unexpected, and the quality of the nominees, this season more than any other, really is phenomenal. To be singled out in that group of shows continues to be amazing. We're humbled and thankful.
If you were really shocked, what did you think was going to win?
MW: I thought that Breaking Bad might win, they had an amazing season. And I also, like a lot of people, thought that Lost might win. Just because it was going off the air and being such a landmark in television.
Why do you think people connect with Mad Men?
JH: I think our show is different from a lot of other shows. I think it's, in many ways, unique. But addresses truth about the human condition and relationships and life and politics and work, and all of these things that are universal. And they exist for all of us throughout time. Things that don't have to do with a particular period or time. And I think that's why our show does resonate across generations. People that lived through this time, or children of people that lived through this time, or people that have no connection to this time whatsoever. The joy of watching this show. Because it's different. There's something special about putting something different on the air. And I think that's what Lost is, honestly. That's what Breaking Bad is, that's what Dexter is. That's what a lot of these wonderful programs are. They're different. And amazing to be celebrated for that.
I see Bryan Batt up on the stage, is Sal Romano coming back this season?
MW: Real fans of the show don't want to know, they want to watch every week. And they should.
Earlier this year there were rumors that you were setting an end date for Mad Men. Would you like to be a show that sets an end date?
MW: Yes. And I don't know when it is yet. We're all enjoying it. We'd do it forever.
After his big night at the Emmys, Aaron Paul just might be my new crush. He got sweet thanking his mom in his acceptance speech for outstanding supporting actor in a drama, and in the Emmy press room, he couldn't stop mentioning how "fantastic" he feels. Here's more:
How do you feel about your statue?
Aaron Paul: I can't believe I own her. I get to take her home. It's fantastic.
What does your first Emmy mean to you?
AP: I have no idea but I love it. I think it's wonderful. My buddy who lives with me in my house, he won one years ago. So I'm happy to have one to call my own. It's fantastic. I'm just happy that people like the show.
Were you nervous?
AP: You have no idea. I was losing my mind. When they called my name I couldn't believe they actually called my name. I sat in my seat for a little bit. I didn't know what to say and I'm sure I looked like an idiot. But it was fantastic.
How do you relate to Jesse?
AP: I have such a soft spot for Jesse Pinkman. He's just this lost kid struggling to find his way. I'm so, so opposite of that character. It's nice to kinda zip on that skin, play make believe for a little bit. I love everything about him. He's just this messed up kid who thinks cooking crystal meth is an art form and I think that's beautiful.
Who did you think was going to win?
AP: I truly was rooting for either Michael Emerson or Terry O'Quinn because I'm obsessed with Lost. I was not expecting it at all. I'm just so unbelievably honored to be mentioned in the same breath as my fellow nominees, it's just incredible.
Edie Falco mentioned in her speech for best lead actress in a comedy series that she doesn't think she's funny, and she echoed that sentiment when she made her way back to the press room. Here are more highlights from the Nurse Jackie star:
Do you really think you aren't funny?
Edie Falco: As soon as someone calls you funny, you're not funny anymore. It becomes something you're aware of. I never really thought of myself as funny, no.
Will Jackie ever see the light?
EF: I don't know. I have no idea. And the writers keep wanting to give me hints but frankly I don't want to know until we start shooting it. It could go either way.
How is it different to win for Nurse Jackie than when you won for The Sopranos?
EF: I won in a drama for a show that was funny but it was pretty serious the stuff that we dealt with. This comedy world is completely new terrain for me. Tina Fey? It's utterly ridiculous. I'm just happy to be here.
Were you really shocked even though you were the favorite?
EF: Who said I was a favorite to win? I stay out of all that stuff. All I know is that I was nominated in a comedy series and I laughed my head off because I thought that was funny. The women I was up against are hysterically funny, talented comediennes. I'm not playing coy here, I was actually shocked.
How will you celebrate?
EF: I hadn't planned on celebrating. I had planned on going home and ordering room service, so I have no idea what I'm going to do.
Which character are you more like: Carmela Soprano or Jackie?
EF: I think I kind of fall right about in the middle of the two of them. There are things that are similar to both. But I do kind of like the low maintenance aspect of my present character. In that way we are similar.
George Clooney made his way back to the Emmy press room to discuss winning the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award. He talked a bit about his humanitarian efforts and how he doesn't feel he should be awarded for "doing something he's supposed to do." In typical Clooney fashion, he also couldn't help giving props to his buddy Brad Pitt and poking fun at his former costar and friend John Krasinski. Here are more highlights:
Is there someone who has impressed you with their impact on the world?
George Clooney: In terms of well-known celebrities, Brad's in New Orleans right now, and he's done a tremendous job of trying to bring focus and build houses and hit us all up for dough and building houses. And he's really good at that.
What makes you want to get involved in so many programs?
GC: I don't particularly do more than anybody else in the position I'm in. I try to pick subjects that I can learn about and then focus on and then do as much as I can. If you have a tremendous amount of heat from the spotlight, then you're able to shine a little bit more of your light in a different direction. It's just deflecting. My dad calls it a celebrity credit card that you can cash in. Truly it's not more than, you can name dozens of people in millions of other industries that are doing the same thing. I think if you're in this position you should do it.
How did it feel to have Julianna Margulies present the award?
GC: It was pretty great. We've stayed in touch and we're good friends and we see each other when we're in New York. But it's still really nice. When she and I came back for the last episode and I came back for her leaving the show, you get the sense that people really do enjoy the fact that we ended up sort of together at the end. So it meant a lot to have her standing there. It was a nice thing.
Who did you bring as a date and what did you do today to prepare?
GC: She picked me up in Italy, Elisabetta. My day today was: John Krasinski came over to my house with a bunch of guys and we played basketball. If you see him later, he's limping. He's lost a step.
How is it being at the Emmys?
GC: It's fun. The show's really good tonight. Jimmy Fallon is just killing it out there, he's really funny. It's fun back in the green room because you see a lot of people you haven't seen in a long time. At one point I was standing next to Tom Selleck and Al Pacino. And it's still Tom Selleck and Al Pacino and suddenly I'm 14 years old again. There's such good shows out right now. Breaking Bad is such a good, interesting show, and I love Modern Family. There's a lot of good television out there right now.
Eric Stonestreet beat out two of his fellow Modern Family stars for the best supporting actor Emmy, but he made it clear in the Emmy press room that his statue will be shared with all of his cast members. He also discussed what's coming up for Cam (bike shorts!) and says he's sending his trophy to his parents in Kansas City so they can look at it every day. Here's more:
Will it be awkward on the set since you beat out two of your cast mates?
Eric Stonestreet: No not at all. You know, we had all joked around before, if one of us won, whether it would be funny to punch someone in the stomach or storm out of the auditorium. This win is a win for our show as it would have been if Jesse or Ty or Sofia or Julie had won. We're proud of our show and we just love love our job so it won't be awkward at all.
What's your reaction to your fans wanting PDA from Cameron and Mitchell?
ES: Well, we appreciate it. Quickly you learn it's way better to have fans talking about caring about your show than not. From a cast perspective we always knew that [writers] Chris and Steve have an arc for these characters, so it's not as though anything was being avoided. They're gonna write the show in a way that they're gonna write the show. The story was pitched last year just like an episode we shot a few weeks ago where I'm bike shorts.
Who influenced your portrayal of Cam?
ES: I looked to my mom because she's a very passionate person and she's excitable. And that's how I influenced my take on Cameron.
What will we learn about Cam next season?
ES: That he likes bike shorts, and that they're not appropriate attire for himself. We're gonna meet Cameron's mom, I know that's an episode that's coming. Continue to raise Lily and tell stories that apply to men and women, gay straight, whatever. We just love that we're telling stories that people like and relate to.
While the Emmys are underway and trophies are being handed out, I'm live in the press room to hear the first words of wisdom from all the winners. Here's what The Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons had to say about his win for best lead actor in a comedy series:
How do you feel about this win?
Jim Parsons: This feels absolutely dream-like and I mean that in the most literal sense of the word. Is this really happening? I don't understand. And I keep waiting for someone to wake me up.
How does it feel to be nominated two years in row?
JP: It's been a huge honor both last year and this year to be nominated. It just feels like being a small part of history. I'm a big reader of almanacs and I like lists . . . boy do I sound OCD. So I was oddly thrilled to be part of a list, a group like this. The winning is kind of beyond. It's a cherry on top. I'm thrilled, I'm honored, but I'm stunned too.
How do you plan on celebrating?
JP: What am I doing to celebrate? I am the lamest old man, tired, but I think this gives me the energy to make it to 10:30, 11 tonight. I could rock out with some ice cream.
What was your first acting role?
JP: I played the cola cola bird, and I only had one line I had to sing over and over again. [sings] I don't know that I was good, I have a feeling that I wasn't overly riveting. But I obviously caught a bug.
What other TV nerds have influenced you over the years?
JP: There's a little nerd in a lot of classic sitcom characters. Isn't Ted Baxter a bit of a nerd? Isn't Michael J. Fox or Alex P. Keaton a bit of a nebbish little nerd in his own way? The spirit of that is what I felt like and still feel like is helping form what I do.
Stay tuned for more updates from the winners in the Emmy press room!
