Photo/HBO

It came as little surprise that HBO’s epic mini-series “John Adams” and the NBC comedy “30 Rock” dominated their categories during Sunday’s telecast of the “Golden Globe Awards.” What was a surprise, however, is that a couple television newcomers made HBO the channel to beat.

“John Adams,” the spectacular mini-series produced by Tom Hanks for HBO, made a clean sweep. It took home the top honor of Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television as well as Best Actor and Actress in the category for Paul Giamatti’s portrayal as the second president and Laura Linney for her role as his wife Abigail. Tom Wilkinson, who portrayed Benjamin Franklin in the mini-series, also took home a Golden Globe for Supporting Actor in the category.

Meanwhile, “30 Rock” continued to dominate the Globes being named Best Television Series Comedy or Musical with acting trophies also being awarded to Alec Baldwin and creator, writer and star Tina Fey.

AMC’s critical darling “Mad Men” was named Best Television Series, Drama for a second straight year. The series star John Hamm, in one of the few surprises on the night, did not take home top actor in the category. Instead the award went to Gabriel Byrne for his role as a troubled psychotherapist in HBO’s “InTreatment.”

Another television newcomer, Anna Paquin, took home the award for Best Actress in a Television Series, Drama for her portrayal of Sookie Stackhouse in HBO’s freshmen series “True Blood,” and Laura Dern was awarded the Golden Globe in the Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or TV Movie category for yet another HBO project, “Recount.”

– JDB