Mad Men, the drama set in a 1960s New York advertising agency, has dominated the annual awards ceremony organised by the US Television Critics Association.
It was named programme of the year and outstanding new show, and also won the prize for outstanding drama.
Comedy series 30 Rock - centred on a fictional entertainment show - took two awards, including a comedy prize for its star and creator, Tina Fey.
Hard-hitting drama The Wire received the critics' heritage award.
This is given to shows with a "lasting cultural or social impact".
There were also two honours for mini-series John Adams, which told the story of the second US president and was based on a biography by historian David McCullough.
It took the category for best film, mini-series or special, and Paul Giamatti - who took the title role - won the award for outstanding actor in a drama.
Lorne Michaels, one of the creators of long-running show Saturday Night Live, received a lifetime achievement prize.
And public broadcasting channel PBS collected two awards, for news and children's programming.
The victory for Mad Men was a landmark for cable channel AMC, which had never before won awards from the Television Critics Association.
The programme - seen on BBC Two and BBC Four in the UK - has been praised for its script, its set and its wardrobe.
A second series begins in the US next Sunday.
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