The Winners of the 71st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
The 71st Annual Primetime Emmys have just concluded, with plenty of surprises throughtout the night as usual. However, what wasn't a surprise at all was seeing "Game of Thrones" come out the big winner of the evening by claiming its fourth straight Outstanding Drama Series title. The series also received Supporting Actor in a Drama for Peter Dinklage's brilliant performance. Combining these two with the ten it won at the Creative Arts Emmys last week, it once again ties the record for twelve wins for a single season, bringing its final haul to 59 Emmy wins for the entire series.
As for the surprises/upsets, there were plenty to be had in the Drama categories alone, including "Succession" somehow beating out "Game of Thrones" for Writing, Julia Garner beating four "Game of Thrones" nominees for "Ozark," and Jodie Comer beating her co-star Sandra Oh for her turn in "Killing Eve." The biggest shock, and certainly the largest disappointment of the evening, came when Miguel Sapochnik was defeated for his brilliant work on "The Long Night" episode of "Game of Thrones" by Jason Bateman for Ozark. It was an extremely questionable result, for Sapochnik's direction was clearly without equal this year, so as to how the Television Academy made such an embarrassing mistake is anyone's guess (Vote splitting among the three "Thrones" nominees was the most likely culprit).
As for Comedy.... well, the only thing that can really be said is that it was something of a disaster, resulting in the mediocre "Fleabag" winning several top awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series, Directing, and Writing, all over better choices like "Barry" and "Veep." Phoebe Waller-Bridge also walked away with Best Actress in a Comedy, but given that she was the best part of the show, her win was an interesting, though shocking, surprise.
Over in Limited Series, things went very smoothly, with HBO's outstanding "Chernobyl" winning the top awards there: Outstanding Limited Series, Directing, and Writing, bringing its grand total to a very impressive ten wins. Meanwhile, the acting awards were very split up, including winners like Michelle Williams for "Fosse/Verdon" and Patricia Arquette for "The Act."
Overall, it was a very mixed night, but at least there was a lot of good to be found. Seeing "Game of Thrones" and "Chernobyl" take their big awards was quite exciting, and really makes you wonder what's going to fill that gap next year when the former is no longer in play. With "Stranger Things," "The Crown," and "Westworld" re-entering the playing field, perhaps it will be one of them? We'll just have to wait and see as the television year goes on.
In the meantime, please see below for a complete list of tonight's winners:
Outstanding Drama Series: Game of Thrones Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series: Jason Batemen, Ozark Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: Jesse Armstrong, "Nobody is Ever Missing," Succession Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Billy Porter, Pose Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Jodie Comer, Killing Eve Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Julia Garner, Ozark
Outstanding Comedy Series: Fleabag Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: Harry Bradbeer, Episode 201, Fleabag Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Episode 201, Fleabag Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Bill Hader, Barry Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Outstanding Limited Series: Chernobyl
Outstanding Television Movie: Black Mirror: Bandersnatch Outstanding Direction for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special: Johan Renck, Chernobyl Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special: Craig Mazin, Chernobyl Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie: Jharrel Jerome, When They See Us Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie: Michelle Williams, Fosse/Verdon Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie: Ben Whishaw, A Very English Scandal Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie: Patricia Arquette, The Act
Outstanding Variety Talk Series: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: Saturday Night Live Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special: Don Roy King, Host: Adam Sandler, Saturday Night Live Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Outstanding Reality Competition Program: RuPaul's Drag Race
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