HOMELAND and MODERN FAMILY have a good night at the Emmys

HBO led the field with 81 Emmy nominations this year, and they walked off the field with the most statues: 17.

Meanwhile, “Modern Family” is three-for-three in the Outstanding Comedy department, and host Jimmy Kimmel tried for an inside-the-park home run but never made it past second base.

It was all in a night’s work for the 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

“Homeland,” a drama about a returning Iraq war veteran who may have been "turned,"  scored big tonight with Outstanding Lead Actress and Actor wins for Claire Danes and Damian Lewis, and also won for Outstanding Drama and Outstanding Casting. But a name you didn’t hear called was “Mad Men,” which indicates that the voters aren’t so mad about that show any more. 

On the comedy side, it was “Modern Family” again, not only notching that third best comedy win in a row, but also earning Outstanding Supporting Actor and Actress statues for Eric Stonestreet and Julie Bowen, with an Outstanding Directing nod for Steven Levitan. 

But as award shows go, this one was a fairly dull affair. One of the funniest moments actually came when a "Modern Family" skit was shown. Host Jimmy Kimmel and the writers tried all sorts of things, but most gags fell flat. “None of the major networks were included among the nominees for Outstanding Drama,” Kimmel said in his opening monologue, “and I think the academy is sending a pretty clear message: show us your boobs.” Breasts came up again when Bowen won for Outstanding Supporting Actress and took several digs at the censors for requiring her to wear “nipple guards.” 

By and large, though, the acceptance speeches were "pretty standardstuff," as Dr. Evil would say, though other highlights included Julianne Moore, who won for her role as the Republican VP nominee in “Game Change,” quipping, “I feel so validated because Sarah Palin gave me a big thumbs down,” and it was funny when Jon Stewart went to take the stage to accept his Emmy and was tackled in the aisle by fellow nominees Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert. The gag itself was only so-so, but the fun came when an obviously out-of-breath Stewart made it onstage and said, “I’m not in the greatest shape to do a bit with Jimmy Fallon. . . . Son of a bitch!” And that wasn’t even the part of his acceptance speech that got blippity-blip-blip beeped.

Kimmel’s planned gags crashed and burned, though, while the audience supported him with polite laughter. I mean, how dumb was it for him to coach Tracy Morgan to lie down on the stage for 10 minutes or so, lifeless, so that people would tune in online and see him there and tweet how Tracy Morgan passed out onstage? Or or to introduce his parents to the audience and then have them ejected from the theater in a labored routine? How dumb (and totally inappropriate) was it for him to parody In Memoriam tributes to actors who’ve died over the past year by offering up a tribute to himself? Or when he introduced Michael J. Fox as “everyone’s least favorite person” and Fox, whose struggle with Parkinson’s is well known, got a standing ovation. Even if Kimmel was being ironic, he wasn’t being funny.

Whoever wrote the bits for presenters is also guilty, as some of these routines were almost painful to watch. For the most part, it was just a lot of handing out of trophies and a lot of speeches cut short by music. Presenter Ricky Gervais livened things up a bit, and when he took at shot at the Golden Globes by saying, “This is a lot nicer than the Golden Globes,” he was just milking it for laughs. The sad fact is, the Golden Globes were much livelier.

Below is a list of nominees in the big categories, with the winners in bold. For a complete list, including technical and artistic Emmys, visit www.emmys.com.

Outstanding Comedy Series

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
• Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
• Girls (HBO)
• Modern Family (ABC)
• 30 Rock (NBC)
• Veep (HBO)

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

• Lena Dunham, Girls
• Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly
• Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
• Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
• Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
• Tina Fey, 30 Rock
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

• Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
• Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Don Cheadle, House Of Lies
• Louis C.K., Louie
• Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
• Jon Cryer, Two And A Half Men

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

• Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
• Kathryn Joosten, Desperate Housewives
• Julie Bowen, Modern Family
• Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
• Merritt Wever, Nurse Jackie
• Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

• Ed O’Neill, Modern Family
• Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
• Ty Burrell, Modern Family
• Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
• Max Greenfield, New Girl
• Bill Hader, Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series

• Dot-Marie Jones, Glee
• Maya Rudolph, Saturday Night Live
• Melissa McCarthy, Saturday Night Live
• Elizabeth Banks, 30 Rock
• Margaret Cho, 30 Rock
• Kathy Bates, Two And A Half Men

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series

• Michael J. Fox, Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Greg Kinnear, Modern Family
• Bobby Cannavale, Nurse Jackie
• Jimmy Fallon, Saturday Night Live
• Will Arnett, 30 Rock
• Jon Hamm, 30 Rock

Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series

• Robert B. Weide, Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Lena Dunham, Girls
• Louis C.K., Louie
• Jason Winer, Modern Family
• Steven Levitan, Modern Family
• Jake Kasdan, New Girl

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

• Chris McKenna, Community
• Lena Dunham, Girls
• Louis C.K., Louie
• Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
• Michael Schur, Parks and Recreation

Outstanding Drama Series

• Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
• Breaking Bad  (AMC)
• Downton Abbey (PBS)
• Game Of Thrones (HBO)
• Homeland (Showtime)
• Mad Men (AMC)

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

• Glenn Close, Damages
• Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
• Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
• Kathy Bates, Harry's Law
• Claire Danes, Homeland
• Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

• Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
• Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
• Michael C. Hall, Dexter
• Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey
• Damian Lewis, Homeland
• John Hamm, Mad Men

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

• Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
• Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
• Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
• Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife
• Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
• Christina Hendricks, Mad Men

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

• Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
• Giancarlo Esposito, Breaking Bad
• Brendan Coyle, Downton Abbey
• Jim Carter, Downton Abbey
• Peter Dinklage, Game Of Thrones
• Jared Harris, Mad Men

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series

• Martha Plimpton, The Good Wife
• Loretta Devine, Grey's Anatomy
• Jean Smart, Harry's Law
• Julia Ormond, Mad Men
• Joan Cusack, Shameless
• Uma Thurman, Smash

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series

• Mark Margolis, Breaking Bad
• Dylan Baker, The Good Wife
• Michael J. Fox, The Good Wife
• Jeremy Davies, Justified
• Ben Feldman, Mad Men
• Jason Ritter, Parenthood

Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series

• Tim Van Patten, Boardwalk Empire
• Vince Gilligan, Breaking Bad
• Brian Percival, Downton Abbey
• Michael Cuesta, Homeland
• Phil Abraham, Mad Men

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

• Julian Fellowes, Downton Abbey
• Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon, Gideon Raff, Homeland
• Semi Chellas, Matthew Weiner, Mad Men
• Andre & Maria Jacquemetton, Mad Men
• Matthew Weiner, Semi Chellas, Mad Men

Outstanding Miniseries or Movie

• American Horror Story (FX)
• Game Change (HBO)
• Hatfields & McCoys (HISTORY)
• Hemingway & Gellhorn (HBO)
• Luther (BBC America)
• Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia (Masterpiece) (PBS)

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie

• Connie Britton, American Horror Story
• Julianne Moore, Game Change
• Nicole Kidman, Hemingway & Gellhorn
• Ashley Judd, Missing
• Emma Thompson, The Song Of Lunch

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie

• Woody Harrelson, Game Change
• Kevin Costner, Hatfields & McCoys
• Bill Paxton, Hatfields & McCoys
• Clive Owen, Hemingway & Gellhorn
• Idris Elba, Luther
• Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia (Masterpiece)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or A Movie

• Frances Conroy, American Horror Story
• Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
• Sarah Paulson, Game Change
• Mare Winningham, Hatfields & McCoys
• Judy Davis, Page Eight (Masterpiece)

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie

• Denis O’Hare, American Horror Story
• Ed Harris, Game Change
• Tom Berenger, Hatfields & McCoys
• David Strathairn, Hemingway & Gellhorn
• Martin Freeman, Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia (Masterpiece)

Outstanding Directing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special

• Jay Roach, Game Change
• Kevin Reynolds, Hatfields & McCoys
• Philip Kaufman, Hemingway & Gellhorn
• Sam Miller, Luther
• Paul McGuigan, Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia (Masterpiece)

Outstanding Variety Series

• The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
• The Daily Show With Jon Stewart  (Comedy Central)
• Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)
• Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (NBC)
• Real Time With Bill Maher (HBO)
• Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Outstanding Variety Special

• Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute To America's Golden Girl (NBC)
• Kathy Griffin: Tired Hooker (Bravo)
• The Kennedy Center Honors (CBS)
• Mel Brooks And Dick Cavett Together Again (HBO)
• Tony Bennett: Duets II (Great Performances) (PBS)

Outstanding Special Class Programs

• 84th Annual Academy Awards (ABC)
• The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards (NBC)
• The 54th Annual Grammy Awards (CBS)
• Herbie Hancock, Gustavo Dudamel And The LA Phil Celebrate Gershwin (Great Performances) (PBS)
• Louis C.K. Live At The Beacon Theatre (FX)
• 65th Annual Tony Awards (CBS)

Outstanding Directing For A Variety Series

• James Hoskinson, The Colbert Report
• Chuck O’Neil, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
• Jerry Foley, Late Show With David Letterman
• Jonathan Krisel, Portlandia
• Don Roy King, Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Directing For A Variety Special

• Don Mischer, 84th Annual Academy Awards
• Louis J. Horvitz, The 54th Annual Grammy Awards
• Louis C.K., Louis C.K. Live At The Beacon Theatre
• Alan Skog, New York City Ballet George Balanchine's The Nutcracker (Live From Lincoln Center)
• Glenn Weiss, 65th Annual Tony Awards

Outstanding Writing For A Variety Series

• The Colbert Report  (Comedy Central)
• The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
• Portlandia (IFC)
• Real Time With Bill Maher (HBO)
• Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Outstanding Writing For A Variety Special

• 84th Annual Academy Awards (ABC)
• Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute To America's Golden Girl (NBC)
• The Kennedy Center Honors (CBS)
• Louis C.K. Live At The Beacon Theatre (FX)
• 65th Annual Tony Awards (CBS)

Outstanding Animated Program

• American Dad! (FOX)
• Bob's Burgers (FOX)
• Futurama (Comedy Central)
• The Penguins Of Madagascar (Nickelodeon)
• The Simpsons (FOX)

Outstanding Short-format Animated Program

• Adventure Time (Cartoon Network)
• Disney Phineas And Ferb (Disney Channel)
• MAD (Cartoon Network)
• Regular Show (Cartoon Network)
• Robot Chicken (Cartoon Network)

Outstanding Voice-Over Performance

• Brenda Strong, Desperate Housewives
• Dan Povenmire, Disney’s Phineas And Ferb
• Rob Riggle, Disney Prep & Landing
• Maurice LaMarche, Futurama
• Kristen Wiig, The Looney Tunes Show
• Hank Azaria, The Simpsons

Outstanding Children's Program

• Degrassi (TeenNick)
• Good Luck Charlie (Disney Channel)
• iCarly (Nickelodeon)
• Victorious (Nickelodeon)
• Wizards Of Waverly Place (Disney Channel)

Outstanding Children's Nonfiction, Reality or Reality-Competition Program

• It Gets Better (MTV)
• Sesame Street: Growing Hope Against Hunger (PBS)
• The Weight Of The Nation For Kids: The Great Cafeteria Takeover (HBO)

Outstanding Reality Program

• Antiques Roadshow (PBS)
• Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution (ABC)
• MythBusters (Discovery Channel)
• Shark Tank (ABC)
• Undercover Boss (CBS)
• Who Do You Think You Are? (NBC)

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program

• The Amazing Race (CBS)
• Dancing With The Stars (ABC)
• Project Runway (Lifetime)
• So You Think You Can Dance (FOX)
• Top Chef (Bravo)
• The Voice (NBC)

Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program

• Phil Keoghan, The Amazing Race (CBS)
• Ryan Seacrest, American Idol (FOX)
• Betty White, Betty White’s Off Their Rockers (NBC)
• Tom Bergeron, Dancing With The Stars (ABC)
• Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance (FOX)

Outstanding Nonfiction Series

• American Masters (PBS)
• Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (Travel Channel)
• Frozen Planet (Discovery Channel)
• Inside The Actors Studio (Bravo)
• The Weight Of The Nation (HBO)

Outstanding Nonfiction Special

• Bobby Fischer Against The World (HBO)
• George Harrison: Living In The Material World (HBO)
• Gloria: In Her Own Words (HBO)
• Paul Simon's Graceland Journey: Under African Skies (A&E)
• 6 Days To Air: The Making Of South Park (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Casting For A Comedy Series

• The Big C (Showtime)
• Girls (HBO)
• Modern Family (ABC)
• New Girl (FOX)
• Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
• Veep (HBO)

Outstanding Casting For A Drama Series

• Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
• Downton Abbey (PBS)
• Game Of Thrones (HBO)
• The Good Wife (CBS)
• Homeland (Showtime)
• Mad Men (AMC)

Outstanding Casting For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special

• American Horror Story (FX)
• Five (Lifetime)
• Game Change (HBO)
• Hatfields & McCoys (HISTORY)
• Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia (Masterpiece) (PBS)