Surprise guest Rupert Murdoch honored Simon Cowell while Jimmy Fallon and Alex Baldwin feted Lorne Michaels at a 38th annual International Emmy Awards ceremony that was, as usual, dominated by British winners.
Taking the stage with an understated, "Good evening everyone. I’m Rupert Murdoch," the NewsCorp. boss said he was there to praise Cowell "not just because of his enormous cultural contributions, but because no one has done more in the past decade to build the fortunes of Fox Broadcasting than Simon Cowell."
He added: "For that reason alone, Simon, I salute you."
Cowell said the "American Idol" producer has "helped make Fox Broadcasting No. 1 season after season" and predicted his success would continue with the U.S. version of "X-Factor" in the fall.
Cowell received the International Emmy Founders Award, and Michaels was given the Directorate Award.
British actors won in the actor and actress categories: Bob Hoskins for his performance in "The Street" and Helena Bonham Carter for "Enid." Other British winners included "Shaun the Sheep" in the Children & Young People category, "The Street" for dramatic series, and "Small Island" for TV Movie/Mini-Series.
Argentina won it's first-ever International Emmy for the telenovela "My Love."
The ceremony, held in New York City, was hosted by Jason Priestley.
The U.K. has often won more than half the awards, but this year they were split between the U.K. and the other countries in competition.
Presented by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and made up of media and entertainment figures from more than 50 countries, the International Emmy Awards recognize excellence in television from outside the United States.
Though Michaels is best known for creating "Saturday Night Live," the International Emmys show noted the stong international presence of the show, which airs in about 130 countries. The native of Canada also executive produced the classic Candian series "The Kids in the Hall."
The British Cowell developed "Britain's Got Talent" and "X Factor," both of which have spawned international franchises.
The winners, as described by the International Emmy Awards:
Arts Programming
"The World According to Ion B."
HBO Romania / Alexander Nanau Production
Romania
Ion B is a 62-year-old homeless man living in Bucharest who had dreamed of becoming a film director as a young man. In the 1970s he started creating collages, which he refers to as “my films.” In 2008, a young gallery owner heard about Ion and his work, a collection of old suitcases filled with almost 1,000 collages he had made between the 70’s and the 90’s. Now, one year later, Ion lives in his own home and has become one of the most important contemporary Romanian artists. "The World According to Ion B." is the story of a genuine artist living on the edge of society, creating art in its purest form; for himself.
Best Performance by an Actor
Bob Hoskins
"The Street"
ITV Studios for BBC
United Kingdom
Bob Hoskins stars as local hero, Paddy Gargan, who has run a local community pub with his wife for 20 years.
