Bryan Cranston Ended the McConaissance

It was the toughest Emmy race this year, but someone had to win it — and that person is Bryan Cranston, who received the Best Lead Actor in a Drama award for his role in Breaking Bad. Up against True Detective's Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, House of Cards' Kevin Spacey, The Newsroom's Jeff Daniels, and Mad Men's Jon Hamm, Cranston took home one of the biggest prizes of Monday night's show, capping off Bad's several Emmy wins and epic final year.

Cranston's win comes as somewhat of a surprise, as most critics had predicted that McConaughey would take home the trophy. Yet the Breaking Bad actor's win is certainly deserved, and even the True Detective star seemed genuinely thrilled for Cranston to take home the prize, although neither actor probably saw it coming.

"Even I thought about voting for Matthew," Cranston joked onstage.

Later in his speech, the actor thanked his co-stars, shouting out to Aaron Paul for his friendship and making Anna Gunn blush by mentioning their sex scenes. He ended his time, though, on a more serious note, mentioning his childhood nickname — "Sneaky Pete" — and reaching out to young viewers just like him.

"I'd like to dedicate this award to all the Sneaky Petes of the world who thought that maybe settling for mediocrity was a good idea, because it was safe," Cranston said. "Don't do it. Take a chance, take a risk, find that passion."

Clearly, Cranston did — and now, he has yet another Emmy Award to prove it.