In what was seen as a tight race for lead comedy actress, Julia Louis-Dreyfus beat "Girls" star Lena Dunham, Amy Poehler, "New Girl" Zooey Deschanel and Tina Fey with her turn as a frustrated US vice president in the wickedly satirical HBO political show "Veep."

Julia Louis-Dreyfus holds the award for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for her role in "Veep" at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles September 23, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

"It's a bit mystifying to me because people say this show is a comedy, but I don't see anything funny about me being vice president of the United States," the former "Seinfeld" star quipped.

POLITICAL JOKES

With the presidential elections less than two months away, Emmy show host Jimmy Kimmel got the festivities off to a biting and topical start in an opening monologue.

Kimmel joked that US television was "the only American product the Chinese haven't figured out how to make."

As for the sprawling grandeur of "Downton Abbey," which is set in an aristocratic country house at the beginning of the 20th century, Kimmel quipped, "It really gives you a sense of what it must have been like to grow up in (US Republican presidential candidate) Mitt Romney's house."

"Two and A Half Men's" Jon Cryer was the surprise winner in the comedy actor category, beating fellow CBS nominee and double Emmy winner Jim Parsons of geeky show "The Big Bang Theory."

Jon Cryer receives the Emmy from presenter Mindy Kaling as he accepts the award for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series for his role in "Two and a Half Men" at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, September 23, 2012.[Photo/Agencies]

Stand-up comedian Louis C.K. went home with his first two Emmys - one for writing for his FX show "Louie", in which he also stars as a divorced dad, and another for directing his own TV stand-up special.