The ceremony honored the best in prime time television programming from June 1, 2009, until May 31, 2010.[4][5] The HBO miniseries The Pacific won eight awards, the most for any program this year, including Outstanding Miniseries. ABC's freshman series Modern Family was the most honored comedy series of the year with six awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series. Modern Family would go on to win again the top prize for four more years (2010-2014) to reach a record five Outstanding Comedy Series wins. AMC's period piece dramaMad Men won four awards, including Outstanding Drama Series, its third consecutive victory in that category. The HBO film Temple Grandin won five major awards, tying the record for most major wins by a television film, set by Promise in 1987.
The ceremony was telecast live coast-to-coast in the United States by NBC, the first such broadcast since ABC did so for the 34th ceremony held in 1976.[6] The ceremony was held before its usual mid-September date to avoid a conflict with NBC Sunday Night Football.[7]
On August 21, 2010, the Creative Arts Emmy Awards were presented at the same venue. E! aired clips from the ceremony on August 28, the evening preceding the night of the primetime telecast.
The ceremony was received well by critics, with much praise going to the quality of the production, the voting trends and the entertainment factor. Jimmy Fallon received unanimous acclaim for his performance as the host, with some critics citing him as one of the greatest Emmy hosts in recent times.
Winners and nominees
Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold:[8]
Programs
Acting
Lead performances
Supporting performances
Directing
Writing
Most major nominations
Most major awards
Notes
^ a b"Major" constitutes the categories listed above: Program, Acting, Directing, and Writing. Does not include the technical categories.
Presenters
The awards were presented by the following:[9]
In Memoriam
The singer Jewel performed an original song called "The Shape of You" (which would later be released on her 2015 album Picking Up the Pieces) during the tribute:[10]
This Primetime Emmy telecast commenced with a cold open spoofing the musical drama series Glee. Host Jimmy Fallon convinces several Glee castmembers to "enlist" in a singing competition in order for them to earn money for tickets to the Emmy ceremony.[11][12] Together they recruit several nominees and famous television personalities in and around the Nokia Theatre for help. They break out in song to Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run".[13]
People who appeared in the opening segment/number:
^Ray, Rachel (August 30, 2010). "62nd Primetime Emmy Awards: NBC, US TV review". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on September 2, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
^"Key quotes from the Primetime Emmy Awards". Reuters. August 30, 2010. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
^"62nd Primetime Emmy Awards". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on September 14, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
^"NBC Confirms the Emmys Will Be Live On The West Coast". TV Squad. America Online. August 26, 2010. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
^Block, Alex (August 27, 2010). "Big Emmy ratings come with consequences". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 29, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
^Emmys.com list of 2010 Nominees & Winners
^"Final Presenters Announced for the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. August 26, 2010. Archived from the original on August 31, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
^Songfacts page on "The Shape Of You". Retrieved December 18, 2017.
^Stanley, T.L. (August 31, 2010). "Jimmy Fallon scores with Emmys' 'Glee' spoof". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
^Bentley, Jean (August 29, 2015). "Jimmy Fallon's Emmy Opening Number Celebrates 'Glee' With Star-Studded Rendition of 'Born to Run' (VIDEO)". AOL TV. AOL. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
^Vena, Joycelyn (August 29, 2010). "Emmys Pay Homage To 'Glee' In Opening Number". Viacom Media Networks. MTV. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2015.