It’s the end of an era for a couple of iconic television shows in this so-called “Platinum Age,” with Game of Thrones in particular getting a glitzy send-off. But while tonight’s Primetime Emmy Awards paid tribute to some long-running shows, they also served as a showcase for some rising programs and lesser-watched gems. Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag, which ran for two seasons, ended up taking four trophies, the most of the night.
Waller-Bridge won Emmys as both the creator, writer, and lead actress of the show, with the Prime Video program also scoring a trophy for directing. The highly-acclaimed Chernobyl was close behind, taking three awards for Outstanding Limited Series, directing, and writing. Game of Thrones, which had the most nominations at 14, took Outstanding Drama Series over a large number of contenders, and an Emmy for directing, with co-creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss winning for directing the series finale.
Also winning two trophies each were Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Ozark, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Saturday Night Live. Many television viewers likely had their favorite shows represented in one way or another, but I imagine that the highly-controversial and criticized final season of Game of Thrones will be lambasted for taking the top prize. As poor and illogical as the writing may have been, it is difficult to argue against the production at large being impressive and large-scale.
This hostless ceremony (much like this year’s Oscars) will probably spur me to finally watch Fleabag; I’m not familiar with Waller-Bridge’s acting work, but I’ve long been enamored with her other show Killing Eve; co-star Jodie Comer won her first Emmy for acting tonight as well. One of my favorite performers of the year, Billy Porter, became the first black queer performer to win Outstanding Lead Actor, winning for Pose. Additionally, Jharrel Jerome became the first Latinx actor to win Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, winning for When They See Us.
I’m also happy to see two of my favorite recent shows, Barry and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, snag some trophies. Still no gold for my number one favorite, Better Call Saul, just yet. Check out the full list of winners and nominees below (winners are bolded).
Outstanding Drama Series
- Game of Thrones
- Better Call Saul
- Bodyguard
- Killing Eve
- Ozark
- Pose
- Succession
- This Is Us
Outstanding Comedy Series
- Fleabag
- Barry
- The Good Place
- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
- Russian Doll
- Schitt’s Creek
- Veep
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
- Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
- Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
- Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder
- Laura Linney, Ozark
- Mandy Moore, This Is Us
- Sandra Oh, Killing Eve
- Robin Wright, House of Cards
Directing for a Drama Series
- Jason Bateman, Ozark
- Lisa Brühlmann, Killing Eve
- David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, Game of Thrones (“The Iron Throne”)
- Adam McKay, Succession
- David Nutter, Game of Thrones (The Last of the Starks”)
- Daina Reid, The Handmaid’s Tale
- Miguel Sapochnik, Game of Thrones (“The Long Night”)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
- Billy Porter, Pose
- Jason Bateman, Ozark
- Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
- Kit Harington, Game of Thrones
- Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
- Milo Ventimiglia, This Is Us
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
- Julia Garner, Ozark
- Gwendoline Christie, Game of Thrones
- Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
- Fiona Shaw, Killing Eve
- Sophie Turner, Game of Thrones
- Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones
Writing for a Drama Series
- Jesse Armstrong, Succession
- David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, Game of Thrones
- Emerald Fennell, Killing Eve
- Peter Gould and Thomas Schnauz, Better Call Saul
- Jed Mercurio, Bodyguard
- Bruce Miller and Kira Snyder, The Handmaid’s Tale
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
- Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
- Alfie Allen, Game of Thrones
- Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
- Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Game of Thrones
- Giancarlo Esposito, Better Call Saul
- Michael Kelly, House of Cards
- Chris Sullivan, This Is Us
Outstanding Variety Talk Series
- Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
- The Daily Show With Trevor Noah
- Full Frontal With Samantha Bee
- Jimmy Kimmel Live
- The Late Late Show With James Corden
- The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Director for a Variety Series
- Don Roy King, Saturday Night Live
- Alex Buono and Rhys Thomas, Documentary Now!
- Derek Waters, Drunk History
- Paul Pennolino, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
- Jim Hoskinson, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
- Sacha Baron Cohen, Nathan Fielder, Daniel Gray Longino and Dan Mazer, Who Is America?
Outstanding Variety Sketch Series
- Saturday Night Live
- At Home With Amy Sedaris
- Documentary Now
- Drunk History
- I Love You, America
- Who Is America?
Writing for a Variety Series
- Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
- Documentary Now!
- Full Frontal With Samantha Bee
- Late Night With Seth Meyers
- The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
- Saturday Night Live
Outstanding Limited Series
- Chernobyl
- Escape at Dannemora
- Fosse/Verdon
- Sharp Objects
- When They See Us
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie
- Michelle Williams, Fosse/Verdon
- Amy Adams, Sharp Objects
- Patricia Arquette, Escape at Dannemora
- Aunjanue Ellis, When They See Us
- Joey King, The Act
- Niecy Nash, When They See Us
Outstanding Television Movie
- Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
- Brexit
- Deadwood: The Movie
- King Lear
- My Dinner With Herve
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie
- Jharrel Jerome, When They See Us
- Mahershala Ali, True Detective
- Benicio Del Toro, Escape at Dannemora
- Hugh Grant, A Very English Scandal
- Jared Harris, Chernobyl
- Sam Rockwell, Fosse/Verdon
Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Drama
- Craig Mazin, Chernobyl
- Russell T Davies, A Very English Scandal
- Ava DuVernay and Michael Starrbury, When They See Us
- Brett Johnson and Michael Tolkin, Escape at Dannemora (“Episode 7”)
- Brett Johnson, Michael Tolkin and Jerry Stahl, Escape at Dannemora (“Episode 6”)
- Steven Levenson and Joel Fields, Fosse/Verdon
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie
- Ben Whishaw, A Very English Scandal
- Asante Blackk, When They See Us
- Paul Dano, Escape at Dannemora
- John Leguizamo, When They See Us
- Stellan Skarsgard, Chernobyl
- Michael K. Williams, When They See Us
Directing for a Limited Series
- Johan Renck, Chernobyl
- Ava DuVernay, When They See Us
- Thomas Kail, Fosse/Verdon (“Who’s Got the Pain”)
- Stephen Frears, A Very English Scandal
- Ben Stiller, Escape at Dannemora
- Jessica Yu, Fosse/Verdon (“Glory”)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie
- Patricia Arquette, The Act
- Marsha Stephanie Blake, When They See Us
- Patricia Clarkson, Sharp Objects
- Vera Farmiga, When They See Us
- Margaret Qualley, Fosse/Verdon
- Emily Watson, Chernobyl
Outstanding Competition Program
- RuPaul’s Drag Race
- The Amazing Race
- American Ninja Warrior
- Nailed It!
- Top Chef
- The Voice
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
- Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag
- Christina Applegate, Dead to Me
- Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
- Natasha Lyonne, Russian Doll
- Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
- Bill Hader, Barry
- Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
- Don Cheadle, Black Monday
- Ted Danson, The Good Place
- Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
- Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek
Director for a Comedy Series
- Harry Bradbeer, Fleabag
- Alec Berg, Barry (“The Audition”)
- Mark Cendrowski, The Big Bang Theory
- Bill Hader, Barry (“ronny/lily”)
- Daniel Palladino, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (“We’re Going to the Catskills!”)
- Amy Sherman-Palladino, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (“All Alone”)
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
- Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag
- Alec Berg and Bill Hader, Barry
- Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle and Stacy Osei-Kuffour, Pen15
- Leslye Headland, Natasha Lyonne and Amy Poehler, Russian Doll (“Nothing in This World Is Easy”)
- David Mandel, Veep
- Josh Siegal and Dylan Morgan, The Good Place
- Allison Silverman, Russian Doll (“A Warm Body”)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
- Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
- Anna Chlumsky, Veep
- Sian Clifford, Fleabag
- Olivia Colman, Fleabag
- Betty Gilpin, GLOW
- Sarah Goldberg, Barry
- Marin Hinkle, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
- Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
- Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
- Alan Arkin, The Kominsky Method
- Anthony Carrigan, Barry
- Tony Hale, Veep
- Stephen Root, Barry
- Henry Winkler, Barry
