Emmy recognition can help bring in bigger audiences, and more advertising dollars, at networks like FX that run commercials.
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Other trophies were sprinkled among USA, BBC America, AMC and Comedy Central – a stark illustration of the changing nature of television.
Indian-American Aziz Ansari shared a writing Emmy with Asian-American Alan Yang for their comedy series “Master of None”, while black actress Regina King won for her role in “American Crime” and African-American comedians Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele were honored for their sketch series “Key & Peele”. Give them auditions. Give them their story. The fantasy saga could break the record it set in 2015 for most wins by a series in a single year, 12: It already earned nine creative arts honors last weekend and is up for five more trophies Sunday. That makes 38 total in the series’ history, passing “Frasier” as the most-honored prime-time series ever.
Actor, Comedy Series: Jeffrey Tambor, “Transparent“.
Tatiana Maslany of BBC America’s “Orphan Black” won the best actress in drama award, beating favorites Claire Danes and last year’s victor Viola Davis.
On stage, Sarah said described Marcia as a “complicated, whip smart, giant-hearted mother of two” who dedicated herself to “righting an unconscionable wrong”.
In another revision, this one implemented previous year, voting was expanded from blue-ribbon panels to – depending on the award – giving substantially more or all of the academy’s 20,000-plus members the chance to vote for finalists. In a video bit, Jimmy Kimmel was shown trying to get to the ceremony and encountering former GOP presidential contender Jeb Bush as a limo driver. “I’d like to dedicate this to my father, William Louis-Dreyfus, who passed away on Friday”, she said. “I’m so glad that he liked Veep, because his opinion was the one that really mattered”, she said, choking up.
“I think that “Veep” has torn down the wall between comedy and politics”, she said as she accepted her award. “Our show started out as political satire, but it now feels more like sobering documentary”.
The presidential campaign was foremost in many minds.
Beginning a theme that would continue on and off throughout the evening, Kimmel aimed a zinger at Donald Trump.
Burnett cast Mr Trump in The Apprentice, the hit series which gave him the catchphrase “you’re fired” and a larger public profile.
Louie Anderson, victor for best supporting actor for comedy Baskets, credited FX with worrying less than others about initial ratings.
Overall, television’s biggest night of the year proved to be an eventful one yet again. After Smith’s win, Kimmel said her Emmy would not be mailed to her but would be kept in the Microsoft Theater’s Lost and Found until she shows up to claim it. “I wonder if he’s having a viewing party with the guys”.
“If your show doesn’t have a dragon or a white Bronco in it, go home right now”, host Jimmy Kimmel joked at the start of the three-hour broadcast, a reference to “Thrones” and the infamous auto Simpson was in when he went on a wild ride through Los Angeles before his arrest. Acting victor Vance, who sweetly thanked his wife onstage, said he’s ready to hand over his trophy to her. “Oh, my God. Please tell me you’re seeing this too”, he said.
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Backstage, actress Regina King took note of the Simpson series after winning a supporting award for “American Crime”, the only victor from a scripted series that aired on one of the commercial broadcast networks.
