Critics guessed that this year’s Emmys would be an indication for what type of channel would make the best shows. They were right. AMC’s highly-acclaimed chain-smoking, fedora clad “Mad Men” won six Emmys and made history by becoming the first show on basic cable to win Outstanding Drama Series, beating out the people’s favorite, ABC’s “House.”

Also not to be forgotten is the critics’ favorite from Fox, “Damages,” which brought in two Emmys of its own, one for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, newcomer Zeljko Ivanek, and one for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, actress Glenn Close.

One of the most surprising wins of the night, however, was insult-comic Don Rickles’ defeat over David Letterman, Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart and Tina Fey in the Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program category. Rickles, 82, appeared to be softened by the award at first, but then quickly turned his acceptance speech into a stand-up routine, telling everyone the only thanks he ever received was “an ashtray from the New York Friars Club.” Rickles won for his HBO series “Mr. Warmth: the Don Rickles Project.”

Other variety or music programs categories were taken by Comedy Central’s fake news programs “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report.” They won the awards for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Program and Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program. ABC slipped in at the last minute and won Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy program for last spring’s 80th Annual Academy Awards.

However, while cable prevailed in almost every other aspect, the regular networks still stood strong in the category for comedy series, thanks to NBC’s “30 Rock.” In addition to claiming the award for Outstanding Comedy Series, Alec Baldwin won Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series, and Tina Fey won both Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. ABC’s “Pushing Daisies” made a showing with two Emmys, while CBS only had one program to win an Emmy all night. “The Amazing Race” took the award.

HBO cleaned up in the mini-series categories, with “John Adams,” based on the hit biography by David McCullough, winning five awards, including Outstanding Mini Series, Outstanding Actor and Outstanding Actress. Paul Giamatti, who won for his role as President Adams, concluded his speech by saying, “I’m living proof that anyone can play the role of president. Anyone.”

Political awareness played a large role throughout the night’s acts and acceptance speeches. While giving the award for Outstanding Mini Series, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert compared the Republican Party to a bag of prunes. Stewart announced that “we’ve had prunes for eight years,” while Colbert argued, “Yes Jon, and I need them. Need them.” While some of the usual left-wing Hollywood lobbying occurred, most participants tried to keep it non-partisan. One winner encouraged viewers to vote during his acceptance speech, while Stewart told the audience, “I’m just looking forward to the next presidential administration, and I have nothing to add to that.”