HBO series “Game of Thrones”, the fantasy saga based on George RR Martin’s novels, made Emmy history, pushing its lifetime total number of awards to 38 ¿ one more than “Frasier”, the previous all-time record holder. Among them is “How to Get Away with Murder” star Viola Davis, who a year ago became the first woman of colour to be honoured as best drama series actress. “Transparent” director Jill Soloway was honoured for his direction to the comedy series. Netflix and Amazon were also well represented (with 3 and 2 awards, respectively), and even BBC America snuck in, as Orphan Black’s Tatiana Maslany, who read her acceptance speech via smartphone, was a surprise pick for best actress in a drama series. All of her characters are clones with distinct personalities and lives. Maggie Smith was named Best Supporting Actress for Downton Abbey with Ben Mendelsohn Best Supporting Actor for Bloodline.
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“Please tell me you’re seeing this, too”, said Emmy victor Rami Malek, who plays a computer hacker on USA’s “Mr. Robot”.
“#The Americans” did not win the best drama award at the Emmy’s 2016 and while fans all seem to agree that there is nothing all that wrong with “#Game of Thrones”, lots of them took to social media to complain the series was “robbed of the best drama award”.
Early on in the show Kimmel announced the Maggie Smith rule that any victor not in attendance would not be receiving their Emmy statue.
Writer/producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss (both center-left, at microphone) with production crew accept Outstanding Drama Series for “Game of Thrones” onstage during the 68th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 18, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.
Vance won for his portrayal of late defense attorney Johnny Cochran, who led a legal “Dream Team” in the successful defense of National Football League great O.J. Simpson on double murder charges.
Actress Courtney B Vance won the Best Actor in Limited Series or Movie while Sarah Paulson bagged won best actress.
Brown, who played Christopher Darden in the “O.J.” series, earned a BA degree in drama at Stanford University and gave a shout out to his “extended family” on the Farm.
Paulson, who played prosecutor Marcia Clark, brought her as a guest and singled her out from the stage.
Louis-Dreyfus then turned serious, visibly shaking and tearing up as she dedicated the award to her father, William Louis-Dreyfus, who died last Friday.
As the USA presidential election draws near, television’s stars didn’t hold back on their opinions at Sunday’s Emmy awards, some taking jabs at Republican nominee Donald Trump while others voiced support for Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton.
“I would like to take this opportunity to personally apologize for the current political climate”, she said during her speech.
He then tried to catch a ride from “Veep” star Julia-Louis Dreyfus, but her chauffeur, played by a surprisingly amusing Jeb Bush, wouldn’t help him out. “Our show started out as a political satire but it now feels like a sobering documentary”, she quipped, in an oblique reference to the presidential campaign. If Trump wins the United States presidency, she promised “to rebuild that wall and make Mexico pay for it”.
“Mom, we did it!” Anderson said, giving credit to his late mother for inspiring his approach to the part.
The broadcast network winners included NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” cast member Kate McKinnon, for supporting actress in a comedy, and “The Voice“, which won for the third straight year in the reality competition program category.
If only she knew a world-famous detective… And when it comes to prestige drama, you can’t get more popular than Game of Thrones.
The ceremony started out with an political edge.
Host Jimmy Kimmel opened Sunday’s show with a string of jokes about Republican presidential contender and former “Celebrity Apprentice” host Donald Trump. “Did you know you can make $12 an hour driving for Uber?’ he said to Kimmel”.
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“There are more shows and roles than ever before and more diversity. here in Hollywood the only thing we value more than diversity is congratulating ourselves on how much we value diversity”, he said.
