One of the Emmy Awards' winning lead actresses got her trophy, beauty pageant style, and rightfully so.

In a move that was conceptualized by Amy Poehler, each nominee for the lead actress in a comedy series category came up on stage once their name was called and all together, they held hands before the name of the winner was announced. Melissa McCarthy, played her part well, amused all along, until her name was called.

Joking that it was her first and best pageant ever, McCarthy was genuinely stunned to win the lead actress in a comedy series title at the Emmy's Sunday night.

"I'm from Plainfield, Illinois, and I'm standing here, and it's kind of amazing," McCarthy says.

Half of the lead roles in CBS' Mike & Molly kept crying out "Holy smokes!" throughout her acceptance speech. She thanked her family and her "Molly" team, with tears freely streaming down her face.

Mike & Molly is only on its second season when the regular primetime shows come back from hiatus next week.

The former "Gilmore Girls" co-star has been well-praised for her role as teacher Molly Flynn on the hit CBS comedy about her character's 'supersize' love story with a police officer. Yet it apparently did not occur to McCarthy that she could beat her fellow nominees, who happen to be comedy giants such as Parks & Recreations' Amy Poehler and 30 Rock's Tina Fey.

Backstage, McCarthy reveals that it was Poehler's idea that they all go up together like pageant finalists for some Emmy fun.

McCarthy garnered raves for her summer 'Bridesmaids' performance, with some critics saying that the film may have increased her chances at bagging this year's Emmy.

McCarthy played Sookie St. James on the The WB television series Gilmore Girls. She was Dena from 2007 to 2009 on the ABC sitcom Samantha Who.

Meanwhile, Charlie Sheen was at the Emmy's to present the award for best lead actor in a comedy series, which he called "my old category." The Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons won the award.

The biggest award for a comedy show went Modern Family, which has claimed the prize for the second time in a row. Its third season is expected to continue the Pritchett fun.