Breaking Bad and Modern Family are the best shows on TV, say Emmys

Modern Family and Breaking Bad repeated their wins for Outstanding Comedy and Drama Series, respectively, at the Emmys. It was the fifth win in a row for Modern Family and the second for Breaking Bad.

It made for a great valedictory lap for Breaking Bad, which ended its run last year, shortly after the Emmys where it won its first Drama Series award. This year, the show also won awards for writing and editing, as well as three acting awards for Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, and Aaron Paul. In his speech accepting the award, the series’ creator Vince Gilligan thanked the Academy for recognizing the show in a boom season for great TV drama.

It’s also a boom season for great TV comedy, though you wouldn’t think so from how rarely the nominees in the Comedy Series category turn over. Modern Family seemed like it might be slowing down, after winning fewer awards last year and picking up fewer nominations this year. But it, too, had a dominant night, winning awards for directing and Ty Burrell’s performance. It’s only the second series in TV history to win five Emmy series trophies in a row, after Frasier, a show that Modern Family co-creators Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd also worked on. Clearly, they have a secret.