Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty ImagesBilled as the Academy Awards of comedy, let's be clear: The first-ever Comedy Awards were no Oscars.
Because this show was actually entertaining.
Packed into the New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom were comedy stars Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin, and well, that crazy guy from Two and a Half Men.
Find out what happened...
It wasn't all sweetness and light, of course. Jon Stewart, presenting an award, ripped the show for being so new no one knew what exactly what was going on.
"We're gonna say, 'Remember that year that there was that Comedy Awards? Yeah, that was weird," he said.
But weirdness gave way to star power when Bill Murray emerged as the night's first big surprise guest, receiving big standing ovation. Murray was on hand to present "The Johnny Carson Award" to David Letterman, calling him "the most important person in late night." They hung the original multi-colored Tonight Show curtain on stage for this presentation and showed a funny montage of Letterman stunts through the years. (We noticed there was no mention nor appearance by Jay Leno all evening and it appeared to be pretty intentional. Just sayin'.)
Letterman accepted the award, telling the audience, "Giving me this award is the equivalent of NASA giving the Neil Armstrong award to Balloon Boy."
The skit of the evening had to be Andy Samberg and Akon's live version of their SNL digital short song, "I Just Had Sex," featuring a full gospel choir singing backup. There was also fireworks, simulated sex and rapping. And from what we could see, Fey couldn't get enough from her table in the front, laughing and clapping along.
But the very best part of the night was when emcee Andy Richter announced there was a surprise guest in the house—from Two and a Half Men. And That's when Jon Cryer came out of the wings, ran through the audience and hopped on stage to take digs at Charlie Sheen, who had publicly called him "a troll."
"I think it's important for an actor to keep out of the public eye," he deadpanned. He then said he was "recording an album" and broke into a dance with four very scantily clad big-bootied back up dancers surrounding him.
The show will be broadcast April 10 on multiple networks, but if you don't mind spoilers, here's the big fat list of all the winners:
Icon Award
Eddie Murphy
Johnny Carson Award
David Letterman
TV Series
Modern Family
Actor, TV
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Actress, TV
Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live
Actor, Film
Zach Galifianakis, Dinner for Schmucks
Actress, Film
Tina Fey, Date Night
Late-Night TV Series
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Sketch Comedy/Alternative Comedy Series
Children's Hospital
Stand-Up Special
Louis C.K., Hilarious
Film
The Other Guys
Animated Film
Toy Story 3
Animated Series
South Park
Writing, TV
30 Rock
Writing, Film
Hot Tub Time Machine
Directing, TV
Modern Family
Directing, Film
Edgar Wright, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Breakthrough Performer
Daniel Tosh
Viral Original
"Bed Intruder Song," Auto-Tune the News
WATCH NOW! Tina Fey brings the funny at the Comedy Awards