Nellie Andreeva

Modern Family co-creator Steve Levitan looked like a single dad tonight, accepting alone the show’s awards for Best Comedy Series and Best Writing for a Comedy Series. Where was fellow co-creator Christopher Lloyd, the executive producer who co-wrote the pilot that won the writing award? ”He has an aversion to crowds and public speaking, but he supports the show and we will celebrate at the Governors Ball,” Levitan said backstage. UPDATE: Lloyd indeed was on the party circuit. I caught up with him at the Fox and FX’s shindig in Downtown. “I just don’t like going to awards shows,” he said in explaining why he’d skipped the ceremony. Levitan gave a shoutout to 30 Rock, which Modern Family dethroned this year. Noting that instead of female celebrities like Paris Hilton, “you need a role model make Tina (Fey). It’s still a damn funny show, and we feel lucky to be here.” There are no hard feelings between Levitan and Glee creator Ryan Murphy, either. “I saw Ryan afterwords, and we hugged,” Levitan said. “I really admire the fact that Glee has broken the mold. My daughter went to a Glee concert, and I think there is room for both shows.”

Asked why Modern Family has so clicked with audiences, Levitan said: “The show has embraced emotion. I think emotion in comedy has gone out of vogue, and maybe people were hungry for it a little bit. They wanted to laugh but they also wanted to feel something.”

TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.