EmmyWinners

Many Emmy pundits create lists of "should win" and "will win" picks every year.

This year, it felt like many of the "should wins" did win. It made for -- and I can't believe I'm saying this -- a rather delightful Emmy broadcast.

Sunday's Emmy broadcast rewarded so many truly deserving and excited winners from shows like 'Justified,' 'Friday Night Lights,' 'Game of Thrones' and 'Downton Abbey' that it's hard to find much to complain about.

There were a few repeat winners this year, but there was also a lot of fresh blood and well-deserved recognition. When I think back on the broadcast, I won't think about the occasional dead spots, I'll think about Melissa McCarthy's surprise win, Margo Martindale's tears for her 'Justified' Emmy and Kyle Chandler's stunned speech after he won for his great work on 'Friday Night Lights.'

This Emmy broadcast gave some lovely recognition to people who truly deserved it, and Jane Lynch wasn't a bad host, either. All in all, what's usually a three-hour slogfest passed by relatively quickly and mostly painlessly this time around (the most painful part was that In Memoriam section, but more on that later).

It's a tough day for Daytime Emmy-winning divas. It's the last episode of Guiding Light, which means Kim Zimmer and her four Emmys are available for a new gig. And now the news comes out that Sarah Brown is leaving General Hospital. Sarah Tweeted her exit yesterday, saying, "It's been nice being back at GH, but it's time for the character to come to an end, at least for me."

Actually, Sarah -- a three-time Emmy winner -- had a tough go-round this time on General Hospital. She returned to a familiar setting, but instead of resuming the role she originated, Carly Corinthos, she was playing Mafia princess Claudia Zacchara. (Laura Wright is the current Carly.)