The Emmys From the Gay Nosebleed Seats

This year's Emmys telecast was produced by Mark Burnett of Survivor and Apprentice fame, and his reality show experience might have served him well as he staged a few truly memorable moments during the show. But there were a lot of misfires too.

One overarching problem: at times it felt like the show was actively insulting its audience. When the opening number and various time-wasting musical interludes by "The Emmytones" constantly referred to how vapid and mind numbing the medium is - you wind up feeling like a sucker for you know... watching it.

Also pretty much a total disaster: the trivia voiceovers every time a winner took the stage. Incredibly not funny, and also completely inappropriate when viewers are trying to cheer a winner they happen to be sentimental about.

But then there were some really clever moments during the ceremony: like when Amy Poehler jumped the gun and stormed the stage before the Best Actress in a Comedy winner was announced. The other nominees awkwardly followed her, and they stod there like giddy beauty pageant contestants. Seemed like a really sweet, impromptu moment. But then when Melissa McCarthy won, Rob Lowe pulls out a beauty crown and roses, demonstrating that the whole bit was actually staged. So yeah, I'd say Burnett's reality show experience came in handy at times.

Well played Mr. Burnett, well played!

We have a full list of winners at the end of this post, but forget who actually took home the trophys, here's our list of the real Emmy winners and losers.

WINNING...

Charlie Sheen

Yes, I said it. Charlie Sheen. He actually showed up clean, sober and healthy, and he demonstrated some grit by apologizing publicly to his former Two and a Half Men castmates. Not sure if that's enough to convince anyone in the TV industry to work with him again, but hey, it was a step in the right direction.

Ty Burrell (left) and Charlie Sheen

Ty Burrell

Winning the Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy was swell and all - but his acceptance speech was the real prize. Burrell's riff on what his dead father would have said about his wearing makeup was hilarious. It's the sort of thing people will remember, and next year they'll vote for him again - just to hear another great acceptance speech from him.

Modern Family

Best supporting actor, best supporting actress, best writing, best directing, best comedy - damn was it a big night for MF! And for the most part their acceptance speeches were intelligent and entertaining.

Modern Family creators Steven Levitan and Jeffrey Richman