Modern Family wins comedy honours

Modern Family and Two And A Half Men provided the biggest laughs as they walked away with comedy gongs at the 2012 Emmy Awards.

Modern Family won the best directing trophy and Eric Stonestreet and Julie Bowen claimed supporting actor awards.

Stonestreet was touching as he accepted for his role as half of a devoted gay couple.

"I wouldn't be standing here without Jesse Tyler Ferguson, there is no Cam without Mitch," he said, saluting his co-star. "We get the awesome opportunity to play these two characters on TV and show America and the world what a loving couple we can be just like everybody else."

Emmy voters decided that Two And A Half Men without Charlie Sheen is really good, as Jon Cryer claimed the best comedy actor trophy.

"Don't panic, people. Something has clearly gone terribly wrong. I'm stunned," said Cryer, who on the red carpet before the show has expressed confidence he wouldn't win. Ashton Kutcher, who joined the show after Sheen was fired, was not nominated.

Julianne Moore's uncanny take on Governor Sarah Palin in the TV movie Game Change, about the 2008 presidential campaign, earned her best actress honours. "I feel so validated because Sarah Palin gave me a big thumbs down," Moore said, beaming.

Kevin Costner was named best actor for the history-based mini-series Hatfields & McCoys, while Tom Berenger was named best supporting actor for the project and Jessica Lange won supporting actress honours for American Horror Story. Game Change was crowned best series.