Even if your favorite nominee got snubbed, Sunday's Emmycast could have been the most satisfying in memory.

It was funny, bright and skillfully hosted by "Glee" star Jane Lynch.

It moved at a brisk clip, free of the usual stumbles and lulls, and, even better, it flowed almost seamlessly, a next-to-impossible feat for any awards show.

Production values at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles were eye-popping, from the setting - an omega-shaped arch through which presenters made their entrance - to a tour-de-force comic musical number spearheaded by Andy Samberg and fellow "Saturday Night Live" performers that might have had some viewers scratching their heads in bewilderment, but had to leave them dazzled nonetheless.

Yes, "Modern Family" cleaned up - winning five Emmys (including best comedy, supporting acting trophies for TV parents Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell, and best writing and direction).

But Mark Burnett, the pasha of reality TV, was the night's behind-the-scenes winner. Taking over for the first time as executive producer of the Emmys, he gave it a rare measure of class and pizzazz.

The night's first two presenters, the late-night Jimmys Fallon and Kimmel, made light of the fact that, for eight years running, "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" has seized the Emmy for variety, music or comedy series - a category for which "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" was also nominated.

Fallon conceded he had no expectation of winning and had no acceptance speech ready. But, feigning doubt, Kimmel leaped on him and, after a mock scuffle, produced Fallon's speech from his jacket. (In truth, Fallon would have no need for any such speech - Stewart would win for a ninth year.)

The ceremony, aired by Fox, opened with a pre-taped comedy sketch that generated controversy because Alec Baldwin's part was cut after he included a joke about the News Corp. phone hacking scandal. Fox is a unit of News Corp.

Baldwin tweeted that Fox killed the joke about the hacking scandal in Britain involving the now-closed News of the World tabloid. Fox said it believed the joke was inappropriate in making light of an issue being taken very seriously by the company.

Leonard Nimoy stepped in as "Mr. President of TV" and the bit was retaped. It featured Lynch celebrating television in a musical routine, singing about TV as "a vast wonderland, a kingdom of joy in a box" as she moved from one TV show (and its cast members) to another.

"Try doing that in triple Spanx," Lynch cracked when the dance number was over.