‘Modern Family’, Jim Parsons, and Melissa McCarthy Win 2011 Emmys

Ty Burrell in Modern Family
Ty Burrell in 'Modern Family' - © American Broadcasting Companies, Inc

Modern Family came out of the gate on fire, capturing the first four awards of the 2011 Primetime Emmys. Julie Bowen was named Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and her onscreen husband, Ty Burrell, captured the supporting actor award. Collecting his Emmy, Burrell thanked his deceased father who apparently gave him a hard time about the fact he chose a profession that required him to wear makeup.

The ABC series also scored the Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series Emmy for the “Halloween” episode directed by Michael Alan Spiller. Steven Levitan and Jeffrey Richman won Emmys for writing the “Caught in the Act” episode. The episode, which involved…well…Claire and Phil getting caught in the act (the title is self-explanatory) was based on something that actually happened, and in his acceptance speech Levitan thanked his “somewhat-satisfied wife” and three traumatized children.

Meanwhile, The Big Bang Theory‘s Jim Parsons collected his second Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series which was presented to him by a completely under control Charlie Sheen. Sheen didn’t mention his old co-stars or his replacement by name, but he did wish them well from the bottom of his heart.

Mike and Molly‘s Melissa McCarthy, who stole scenes from her co-stars this summer in the surprise box office hit, Bridesmaids, won her first Emmy in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.