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See the best and worst moments from the 2013 Emmys

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1 of 24 Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Most Tasteless Intro

Before ushering siblings Zooey and Emily Deschanel onto stage, Neil Patrick Harris says that they are "different from performing sisters I saw in Thailand three years ago" and then makes slow popping sounds with his mouth. Awkward, ew, and apparently we have dirty minds.
2 of 24 Monty Brinton/CBS

Most Gratuitous Tribute to Television

Attention viewers who thought you'd escape with just one huge song-and-dance number courtesy of Neil Patrick Harris: think again! The Outstanding Choreography nominees team up for a modern interpretive dance tribute to nominees including Boardwalk Empire, Mad Men, The Big Bang Theory, Breaking Bad and American Horror Story. Nice to see the acting winners are getting rushed off the stage to make room for these interludes. The performance was more entertaining than the previous musical number in the broadcast, but that's not saying much.
3 of 24 Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Briefest Thank-You

In a stunning upset, Nurse Jackie's Merritt Wever wins her first Emmy for Supporting Actress in a Comedy — and no one appears more surprised than she is. She gets props for what might be the best acceptance speech of all time. "Thank you so much. Um … I gotta go. Bye." The evening's off to a great start!
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4 of 24 Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Giddiest Fanboy Tribute

Comedy legend Robin Williams was a fan of comedian Jonathan Winters before he got to play his alien dad on Mork & Mindy. "Jamming with Jonathan was like dancing with Fred Astaire," Williams says. "He sure burned bright... while he was here. Thanks for the spark, big guy." Nanoo-nanoo!
5 of 24 Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Best Sabotage

After his past success hosting the Emmys and, most famously, the Tonys, Neil Patrick Harris seems to have the art of emceeing award shows down to a tee. However, his pre-taped intro, in which he tries to binge-watch every TV show of the last year, leaves something to be desired. His time on stage is no better, especially when he's interrupted by past hosts Jimmy Kimmel, Jane Lynch, Jimmy Fallon and Conan O’Brien. Thankfully, Kevin Spacey saves the day by turning to the camera and, in the Southern drawl he employed in the Netflix series House of Cards, tells the audience, “It’s all going according to my plan. … They couldn’t host a child’s birthday party. Getting them all to sabotage Neil was all too easy.” We know he has a lot of work to do in D.C., but we elect Rep. Francis Underwood to host the 2014 Emmys.
6 of 24 Lester Cohen/WireImages/Getty Images

The Awkward Acceptance Award

Jim Parsons wins his third Emmy for his socially awkward nerd shtick on The Big Bang Theory, beating out competitors including Alec Baldwin, Louis C.K. and Jason Bateman. "It's so silly to be emotional, isn't it?" he asks during his acceptance speech. We're sure Sheldon would agree!
7 of 24 Monty Brinton/CBS

"And Also These People" Award

With stars like James Gandolfini, Cory Monteith and Jonathan Winters receiving individual tributes, the broadcast honors the rest of this year's deceased with the typical "In Memoriam" montage. Those we lost this year include Dennis Farina, Annette Funicello, Larry Hagman and Jeanne Cooper.
8 of 24 Lester Cohen/WireImage

Goofiest Presentation/Least Surprising Award

After joking that the Emmys called him "45 minutes ago" after Helen Mirren and Maggie Smith dropped out, Ferrell — clad in shorts and a T-shirt, and with his three sons in tow — presents the Best Comedy Award to Modern Family. The show may have gotten bested in the acting categories this year, but its fourth straight win in the Best Comedy category proves that it's still a favorite of the Emmys.The levity is welcome after what creator Steven Levitan calls the "saddest Emmys of all time," referring to the multiple posthumous tributes, JFK flashback and "In Memoriam" montage.
9 of 24 Lester Cohen/WireImage

Keeping It in the Family Award

Rob Reiner pays tribute to his All in the Family mother-in-law Edith Bunker, played by the recently departed Jean Stapleton with a heartfelt and almost tearful farewell. She was "capable of boundless, unconditional love and support," Reiner says. "As a performer, she was fearless." He also honors his late TV father-in-law as well, quoting Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor), "You had no right to leave me that way before giving me one more chance to say, 'I love you.'" The normally glib comedian chokes up before ending with, "Carroll, Jean, I love you."
10 of 24 Lester Cohen/WireImage

The "Hi, Bob!" Award

Did you blink and miss Bob Newhart among the Ernst & Young accountants? No worries. The comedian takes the stage again with Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons. But before they can present, the crowd gives Newhart a standing ovation for finally, after decades of laughter and epic timing, winning an Emmy for his guest-starring role on Big Bang. How's that for timing?
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The Time Capsule Award

The Emmys honors the landmark year of 1963 with a look back at television 50 years ago. Not only is that the year that Diahann Carroll became the first African-American ever to be nominated for an Emmy, but 1963 also marks the coverage of the March on Washington, JFK's assassination and The Beatles' American debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. In honor of the Fab Four, Carrie Underwood performs their hit "Yesterday," the most covered song in the history of music.
12 of 24 Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Next Biggest Upset

In the Supporting Actor in a Drama category, which many predicted should go to Mandy Patinkin for Homeland or sentimental favorite Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul, the award instead goes to Bobby Cannavale for playing bloodthirsty, but insecure Gyp Rosetti on HBO's Boardwalk Empire. Even Cannavale seems surprised and marvels that Patinkin is the first person he ever saw on stage, before remembering to do his acceptance speech properly and thank his family.
13 of 24 Kevin Winter/Getty Images

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12. Getting It Done Award: Jimmy Fallon, a consummate professional and a former Emmys host himself, doesn't let anything prevent him from presenting the award for Best Actress in a Drama Series -- not even a "faulty" mic. Fallon shows off his slapstick skills as he follows the mic, which raises and lowers unpredictably. At one point, Fallon has to lay on the floor to continue speaking. Does SAG health insurance cover chiropractors?
14 of 24 Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Best Attention Paid

In one of the most moving tributes of the night, Edie Falco pays homage to her former TV husband, James Gandolfini. “Jim was not entirely comfortable with all the attention that he got,” Falco says, which makes it all the more fitting, but sad, that The Sopranos star receives a special tribute after his passing in June. Falco goes on to not only remember his work on the seminal HBO series, but also his efforts shining the spotlight on Iraq war veterans. "You all knew James Gandolfini the actor. I was lucky enough to know Jim the man," Falco continues. "It is the very dear man that I will miss the most of all."
15 of 24 Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Sparkliest Tribute

In honor of HBO's Liberace film Behind the Candelabra, co-stars Matt Damon and Michael Douglas introduced Elton John to pay a musical tribute to the legend. John, in his first appearance on the Emmys, donned a blue sequined jacket and thanked Liberace for his musical and fashion inspiration, and plays a new ballad called "Home Again" that he co-authored with Bernie Taupin.
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Biggest Upset

"Well, crap. Didn't expect this," Jeff Daniels, who wins the Best Lead Actor in a Drama, says, echoing the sentiments of just about everyone else watching the show. Continuing the trend of upset victories, Daniels tops Jon Hamm and (apparent audience favorite, judging by the loud applause when his name was read) Bryan Cranston, who's currently enjoying his Breaking Bad swan song, to take home his first Emmy award. Guess that Season 3 renewal will probably happen after all.
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Stealthiest Acknowledgement

When Stephen Colbert wins for Outstanding Variety Program for The Colbert Report, the funnyman makes a couple requisite jokes. But just as the music begins to play him off, he says, "Thank you to my mom for not worrying about me." Colbert's mother died in June this past year. Tear!
18 of 24 Lester Cohen/WireImage/Getty Images

Silliest Diagnosis

Harris' How I Met Your Mother co-stars banded together for a serious message about EHD, aka Excessive Hosting Disorder. In the spoof, the actors mocked Harris' frequent emceeing gigs and need for the spotlight, for song and dance and to announce a winner, any winner. Recent hosting comeback kid Arsenio Hall also made a cameo in the skit and even poked fun at his own 1992 shoulder pad-heavy wardrobe. But what's an EHD sufferer to do? Why, get help at the Ryan Seacrest Center for Excessive Hosting, of course! Seacrest out!
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The It's About Time Award

Yeah, bitch! Breaking Bad actress Anna Gunn wins a long-overdue Emmy for her Supporting Actress performance as aggrieved wife Skyler White. Ironically, by the time she accepts the award, most fans have probably switched over to AMC to catch Bad's penultimate episode.
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Best Imitation

Despite his surprise win for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy for Veep, Tony Hale is, like his character, a loyal soldier. So when his TV boss, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, wins for Best Actress in a Comedy, he quickly morphs into his Veep alter ego, Selina’s assistant Gary, and follows Louis-Dreyfus onstage. During her speech, he holds her clutch, nods his head approvingly and, just like Gary, whispers things she needs to remember to say in her ear, such as thanking her family whom she loves “so much.” Even from the audience, Anna Chlumsky also plays along when Louis-Dreyfus thanks her and the camera cuts to Chlumsky typing furiously away on her BlackBerry, just like her character. Is this the hardest working cast on TV or what?
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Best Double Entendres

Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, who play Liberace and his former lover in HBO's film Behind the Candelabra, get the biggest genuine laughs of the night with an unintentionally (at first) hilarious acceptance speech. When Douglas lands the Lead Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries award, he tips his hat to his co-star in the audience. "This was a two-hander," Douglas says and then starts to crack up. "And Matt, you're only as good as your other hand... You really deserve half of this [award] — so do you want the bottom or the top? Top? I figured that." You're both tops to us!
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Saddest (Early) Endnote

After controversy erupted earlier in the week over Glee star Cory Monteith’s inclusion in the special "In Memoriam" segment, Jane Lynch pays wonderful tribute to her late co-star. In her moving speech, Lynch talks about his warmth and charm, and how Monteith’s beautiful soul “made it impossible not to fall in love with him.” However, Lynch is also painstakingly honest about the circumstances surrounding Monteith's tragic death, saying he "was not perfect" and emphasizing the importance of mourning "the loss of all he could have been." Never stop believing, and never forget.
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Most Meta Musical Number

Ninety minutes into the awards ceremony, Harris showed off his song-and-dance chops with the "Number in the Middle of the Show," a weird but goofy hoofing interlude that featured a light-up staircase, Solid Gold-style dancers, Castle star Nathan Fillion singing a rather off-key solo, and comedian Sarah Silverman working the word "vagina" into the lyrics. "The Emmy Awards are three hours long, now there are three minutes fewer to go," Harris sang, and we were never more aware of how much we needed this refresher.
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It Feels Good to Be Bad Award

After five seasons, Breaking Bad finally get its due when it's crowned the Best Drama Series just a week ahead of its series finale. No one is more shocked by the victory over past winners like Homeland and Mad Men than creator Vince Gilligan whose first words are, "Holy crap!" before paying tribute to the current television era. Talk about going out on a high note!