Sealed with a kiss: Breaking Bad strikes gold

Breaking bad and Modern Family have taken the top gongs at this year's Emmy awards, with Modern Family taking the Best Comedy title for the fifth consecutive year.

Bryan Cranston was honoured as best actor in a drama, proving that True Detective nominee Matthew McConaughey's movie-star appeal couldn't conquer all.

But Cranston played it for laughs too, stopping to exchange a heated kiss with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who he once appeared on Seinfeld with.

"I have gratitude for everything that has happened," Cranston said.

His victory ties him with four-time best drama actor champ Dennis Franz.

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• The Emmy kiss on everyone's lips

Cranston's co-stars Aaron Paula and Anna Gunn were honoured in categories for best supporting acting in a drama series.

"Thank you for this wonderful farewell to our show," Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan said of the series about a teacher-turned-drug kingpin that ended with a bang.

The Good Wife star Julianna Margulies won the Emmy for best lead actress in a drama series.

"What a wonderful time for women on television," Margulies said.

McConaughey was the object of too-handsome jokes by presenter Jimmy Kimmel and adoration by winner Gail Mancuso, honoured as best director for an episode of Modern Family.

"If you don't mind, Matthew McConaughey, I'm gonna make eye contact with you right now," she said from the stage, making good by holding the actor's gaze for much of her speech.

Louis C.K. and Ty Burrell also took prizes in the first half of the awards fest, where hit royal feud saga Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad were among the most tipped for honors.

The show was preceded by a two-hour red carpet parade, at which television's top stars strutted their stuff, before sitting down to await their awards evening fate.

Heidi Klum and Sophia Vergara turn heads on the red carpet. Photo: Getty

Jim Parsons won best comedy actor for The Big Bang Theory, Julia Louis-Dreyfus best comedy actress for Veep, Burrell for Modern Family and Louis C.K. for Louie.

"Beautiful son of a bitch. That's not a television face, that's a movie star face," Kimmel joked, adding: "You don't belong here. And take Julia Roberts with you while you're at it," said the late-night talk show host.

And there were more giggles - and cheers - when Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston planted a prolonged kiss on the lips of Louis-Dreyfus as she went up to collect her prize.

GALLERY: The best and worst dressed from the Emmy Awards red carpet. Photos: Getty

Former Saturday Night Live star Seth Meyers hosted the three-hour show at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.

Games of Thrones, based on George R.R. Martin's best-selling novels about power struggles between dueling clans in seven mythical kingdoms, won most nominations overall with 19 including in the prestigious best drama series.

The show - already renewed for a fifth and sixth season - is among Home Box Office's nominated shows.

True Detective co-stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. Photo: Getty

Robin Williams tribute

The ceremony was overshadowed by the August 11 death, at age 63, of Hollywood great Robin Williams, which rocked the entertainment world.

Girls star Lena Dunham. Photo: Getty

With emotions still raw, his friend and fellow actor-comedian Billy Crystal paid tribute to the Oscar winner during the "in memoriam" part of the primetime program.

When nominations were announced in July there were some notable snubs, including CBS's widely acclaimed The Good Wife in the best drama race, as well as for Homeland star Damian Lewis and Elisabeth Moss of Mad Men.

Office and the Muppets Most Wanted star Ricky Gervais. Photo: Getty

Bruce Rosenblum, chairman of the Television Academy, which nominates and votes on the awards, said its members were faced with an embarrassment of riches.

"We're in a golden age of television," he said.

"When you look at the dramas that were nominated, I'm not sure which one of those you would move out" to accommodate others, Rosenblum said.