As the countdown to the 2013 Emmy Awards draws near, Enstars is celebrating the history of the grand television awards ceremony with some of the best acceptance speeches over the years.

1. Meryl Streep (2004)

Streep on for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries/Movie for playing multiple roles -- Hannah Pitt, Ethel Rosenberg, the Rabbi, and the Angel Australia, in Angels in America.

"There are some days when I myself think I am overrated...but not today," she laughed.

She went on to speak about her fellow nominees, Glenn Close, Helen Mirren, Judy Davis, and Emma Thompson:

"I'm sorry, I know Glenn is my friend, she'll forgive me, and Helen Mirren is an acting God, nobody has put a performance on film better than Judy Davis in The Judy Garland Story, and the only one of the group is Emma Thompson, who will hold a grudge for the rest of her life."

She also thanked director Mike Nichols and co-star Al Pacino but reserved very special words for writer Tony Kushner, "The bravest thing in the world is that writer who sits alone in a room and works out his grief, his rage, his imagination and his deep desire to make people laugh, and he makes a piece of work that then transforms the world with the truth."

2. Tina Fey (2008)

Fey won  for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for  playing Liz Lemon in 30 Rock.

"It's such an honor to be in the same category as these beautiful talented women," Fey said of her contenders, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Christina Applegate, Mary Louise-Parker, and America Ferrera.

"Sometimes on 30 Rock when I am not quite sure of how to play a scene, my husband will just remind me, he'll say 'Just try to act like Julia Louis-Dreyfus." she said. " So, thank you Julia that's really working out for me."

She went on to thank Alec Baldwin and the cast for "making her look better than" she was.

The biggest thanks went to her parents: "I want to thank my parents for somehow raising me to have confidence that is disproportionate with my looks and abilities."

3. Ricky Gervais (2008)

He won for Outstanding Lead Actor in Comedy Series for playing Andy Millman in Extras.

This one was kept short and simple. Stewart and Colbert, who were presenting the award, announced that Gervais won but because he was not in the audience they would give the award to their "friend" Carrell instead.


Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert & Steve Carell: Emmys by walking_alone88

4. Julia Louis-Dreyfus (2012)

She won for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for playing Selina Meyer in Veep.

Dreyfus started her speech, all choked-up and fumbling, reading off of a crumpled sheet of paper which listed her thank yous. As she blindly read them out -- thanking NBC, Parks and Rec, and her boys Archie and Abel -- she stopped and realized something was off. In the staged comedic moment, fellow nominee Amy Poehler, ran to the stage to give Dreyfus her original acceptance speech, as their speeches had been accidentally swapped when Poehler hugged her on her way up to the stage.

After she reads her original speech, toward the end she hesitantly says, "Isn't it a shame that Amy Poehler didn't win." To which Poehler nods in the audience, twirling a pencil in her hand.

5. Aaron Paul (2010)

He won for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad.

Paul was very overwhelmed on stage, emphatically thanking Vince Gilligan and the makers of the hit show. But he almost brought co-star Bryan Cranston to tears when he thanked him, "Bryan Cranston to work with you every single day is a dream, I love you brother! You have no idea!"

6. Larry David (1993)

He won for Outstanding Comedy Series for his show Curb Your Enthusiasm.

David needed only one line to nail his acceptance speech: "This is all very well and good, but I am still bald."

7. Sally Field (2007)

Field won for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Norah Walker in Brothers and Sisters.

After quickly getting the customary thank yous -- to her cast, crew and family -- out of the way, Field got to the heart of her speech, sending out an anti-war message.

Speaking about her character being a mother she veered the speech. "Surely this belongs to all the mothers of the world...to especially the mothers who stand with an open heart and wait, wait for their children to come home, from danger, from harm's way, and from war," she said. "Let's face it if all the mothers ruled the world, there would be no war in the first place."

8. Sarah Jessica Parker (2004)

SJP won for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her portrayal of Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City.

An emotional Parker emphatically thanked everyone from the cast and crew to passersby who wished well for her, and most importantly "New York City that told the greatest story of all in the last few years."