LOS ANGELES — Homeland, which puts the battle against terrorism on American soil, was honored as best drama series at Sunday’s Emmys and earned trophies for stars Claire Danes and Damian Lewis. Modern Family was named best comedy.

The drama Homeland stopped Mad Men in its tracks, denying the show a record-setting fifth trophy, and kept Bryan Cranston from his fourth consecutive best drama award for Breaking Bad and made Mad Men star Jon Hamm an also-ran once more.

The Emmys refused to play it predictably Sunday, with Jon Cryer of Two and a Half Men earning a best actor award and Jimmy Kimmel proving a game but uneven host.

“I’m one of those pesky Brits, I apologize,” said Lewis, who plays an American in the espionage thriller. “I don’t really believe in judging art, but I thought I’d show up just in case.”

Danes, eye-catching in a bright yellow dress that gracefully draped the pregnant actress, was effusive.

“My husband, my love, my life, my baby daddy, this doesn’t mean anything without you,” she said to her spouse, actor Hugh Dancy.

Backstage, Danes said she particularly appreciated one fan: President Barack Obama has said he’s a fan of Homeland, about a Marine and former prisoner of war who’s suspected of working for al-Qaida.

“No pressure,” the actress said. “It’s way cool that he is a fan. It speaks to the relevancy of the show and it’s hugely validating.”

The acting trophies, along with a best writing award for the show, gave Homeland momentum as it headed toward the best drama award.

Aaron Paul won bestsupporting drama actor for Breaking Bad.

“Thank you so much for not killing me off,” Paul said of his drug-dealing character’s lucky survival. “Thank you, Hollywood, for allowing me to be part of your group,” he added, noting he’d moved from Idaho to pursue his dreams.

On the comedy side, Emmy voters decided that Two and a Half Men with Cryer and without Charlie Sheen is really good, as Cryer claimed the best comedy actor trophy.

Among others, he beat out two-time winner Jim Parsons of The Big Bang Theory.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus was honored as best actress in a comedy for Veep.

Andy Griffith topped a segment honoring industry members who died during the previous year. Ron Howard, who played Griffith’s son Opie in The Andy GriffithShow, said he belonged “in the pantheon.”

“Dang if he didn’t make it look powerful easy while he was going about it,” Howard said.

Maggie Smith was honored as best supporting drama actress for her tarttongued dowager in Downton Abbey, unhurt by the program’s move from the miniseries category.

Homeland, the domestic espionage thriller, won the best drama writing award.

Modern Family made it look easy as the comedy won the best directing trophy and Eric Stonestreet and Julie Bowen claimed supporting actor awards. There was at least a minor backlash online as some questioned whether the show had a deserving season.

Among reality competitors, The Amazing Race was honored as best reality series, ninth time in 10 nominations for the award. TomBergeron of Dancing With the Stars won as best host of a reality series.

Julianne Moore’s uncanny take on former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in the TV movie Game Change, about the 2008 presidential campaign, earned her best actress honors.

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

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart proved unstoppable, winning its 10th consecutive best variety show trophy.

Standup comic Louis C.K. won the Emmy for best comedy writing for Louie and for the special Louis C.K. Live at the Beacon Theatre. Said the comedian after his second win: “Thank you to audiences around the country who still go to see live comedy.”

HBO went into the night with a leading 17 creative arts Emmys from a Sept. 15 ceremony honoring technical and other achievements. CBS was second with 13, followed by PBS with 11. Discovery received six awards, NBC got five and ABC and the Cartoon Network won four each. Fox received two trophies.

Emmy has to prove herself a winner with the audience. After rebounding somewhat to 13.5 million viewers in 2010 after an alltime low in 2008 of 12.3 million, last year’s show drew 12.4 million viewers airing on Fox. The ceremony rotates annually among the four major networks.

Information for this article was contributed by Frazier Moore and Beth Harris of The Associated Press.

Front Section, Pages 3 on 09/24/2012