It was a night of fashion and prize giving at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards, with some of US television’s biggest stars sizzling down the red carpet in glamourous gowns and suits to collect their awards.

Australian Toni Collette, who nabbed an Emmy for a best actress in a comedy for her role in ‘United States of Tara’, wore a hot pink strapless ruffled gown. Many television actresses wore red, including Debra Messing in a Michael Kors gown, Blake Lively in a plunging red Versace and ‘House’ star Jennifer Morrison.

A very pregnant Heidi Klum, sporting a black Marchesa gown, was among the stars who wore their hair up, as were Christina Applegate, nominated for best actress in a comedy for ‘Samantha Who?’, and Olivia Wilde from ‘House’, who wore an embroidered tulle gown.

Even some men chose to punctuate their suits with a dash of colour. Actor Alec Baldwin, who won best actor in a comedy for his performance in
‘30 Rock’, sported a lavender tie, while actor Terry O’Quinn, of ‘Lost’ wore a yellow tie to match wife Lori O’Quinn’s yellow gown.

“Black and white is pretty boring these days,” said O’Quinn.

“I think we’re evolving sartorially.”

Meanwhile, when it came to handing out the awards, period drama ‘Mad Men’ and network comedy ‘30 Rock’ scooped top honours.

Stylish AMC cable drama ‘Mad Men’ - set in the politically incorrect world of a New York advertising firm in the early 1960s - took the outstanding drama prize for the second year running at the famous Nokia Theatre.

“We all want to thank the voting members of the academy for recognising our show again,” said ‘Mad Men’ creator Matthew Weiner. “We work very hard to not have it stink the second year, and we’re very proud to be here... Everybody works so hard and I’m glad that the show got its recognition.”

NBC television’s ‘30 Rock’, about the inner workings of a fictional television sketch show, also won in the outstanding comedy series category for the third straight year.

In total five of the six top awards at the extravaganza were repeat victories, with the only upset coming in the best comedy actress category, where Australian star Toni Collette stunned favourite Tina Fey of ‘30 Rock’.

Collette, who has appeared in a series of hit movies including ‘The Sixth Sense’ and ‘Little Miss Sunshine’, won for her portrayal of a woman with a multiple personality disorder in ‘United States of Tara’.

“This is insane,” Collette said as she accepted her award.

‘The Daily Show with Jon Stewart’, which hit comedy gold last year with its coverage of the 2008 presidential election, won in the best variety, music or comedy series category - its seventh trophy in a row.

Veteran Glenn Close won the third Emmy of her career in the best drama actress for her performance as ruthless New York lawyer Patty Hewes in the hit cable show ‘Damages’.

“I’ve been sitting here and I just think it is such a huge privilege to be in the community that we’re all a part of,” Close said.

As expected ‘30 Rock’ star Alec Baldwin took the best actor in a comedy series award for his portrayal of a slippery television network executive.

In other awards, Irish actor Brendan Gleeson scooped the best actor in a miniseries or television movie category for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in HBO’s acclaimed war-time drama ‘Into the Storm’.