Alec Baldwin, Toni Collette are the best comedians at the Emmy

Tina Fey loses out a second consecutive award in the category

Tina Fey loses out a second consecutive award in the category

Alec Baldwin has won the Emmy Award for lead actor in a comedy series. Baldwin won for the second year in a row for his role as ambitious television executive Jack Donaghy on the NBC sitcom "30 Rock."

He's a three-time nominee for the award that was presented Sunday in Los Angeles.

Earlier in the awards show, Toni Collette, who plays a mother with multiple personalities on Showtime's "United States of Tara," was honored as best actress in a comedy series.

"Wow, this is insanely confronting," said a beaming Collette. She thanked series creator Diablo Cody, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of "Juno."

Winning smile: Alec Baldwin	She walks in beauty: Toni Collette looks gorgeous in purple

Collette's victory deprived Tina Fey of "30 Rock" of winning a second consecutive award in the category. But Fey took the stage a few moments later to acknowledge a guest actor award she received for her Sarah Palin impersonation on "Saturday Night Live."

Kristin Chenoweth of "Pushing Daisies" and Jon Cryer of "Two and a Half Men" won supporting acting Emmy Awards for their comedies and proved that acceptance speeches can be entertaining.

Overheard
Here are some notable quotes, made on the red carpet at the 2009 Emmy Awards.

We're like turtles behind a radiator. There is an enormous convex lens that is just focusing the sun's energy to try to destroy people. We're like ants under a 12-year-old's magnifying glass."
Jon Stewart, on the stifling heat on the red carpet

Fashion Emergency!u00a0My zipper on my gown just all popped & broke on my way 2 Emmys! My stylist is meeting me there but I'm Freaking Out!!!"
Kim Kardashian, on her way to the big night. Let's hope there's a wet bar in the green room