At the 67th annual primetime Emmy Awards, HBO came out on top. The cable network won multiple awards for “Game of Thrones” and “Veep,” including the night’s top honors: Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Comedy Series.
The night was filled with sarcastic quips from host Andy Samberg as well as many poignant speeches. Emmy winners Jeffrey Tambor and “Transparent” creator Jill Soloway both used their time on stage to discuss transgender rights and Viola Davisused her Emmy acceptance speech to talk about diversity and roles available.
After five seasons HBO’s epic “Game of Thrones” won its first best-drama award, besting the final season of four-time winner “Mad Men” in a mild upset. The sprawling medieval fantasy show also won Emmys for writing, directing and for supporting actor Peter Dinklage.
After eight tries, Jon Hamm finally won his first Emmy for his now-iconic role as the hard-drinking, womanizing Don Draper on “Mad Men,”
“There’s been a mistake, clearly,” Hamm said, giving credit to his fellow nominees. “It’s impossible to be named with all of those extraordinary gentlemen.”
Moments earlier, Viola Davis made history by becoming the first African American woman to win an Emmy for best actress in a drama series when she was honored for her work as a high-powered defense attorney in ABC’s “How to Get Away with Murder.”
In an emotional acceptance speech, Davis quoted African-American abolitionist Harriet Tubman and alluded to the dearth of strong roles for minority actresses on TV and movies.
“The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity,” she said. “You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.”
Two other female actors of colour also won awards: Uzo Adubo for Orange is the New Black and Regina King for American Crime, which lost out to Olive Kitteridge in the other awards for which it was nominated.
But the night’s biggest winner may have been “Olive Kittredge,” the acclaimed HBO miniseries about 25 years in the life of an acerbic, retired schoolteacher in a seemingly placid Maine town.
The Television Academy announced new rules this year that allows all 15,000 academy members, not just smaller groups, to vote for awards — a change some observers believe benefited shows with large fan bases, such as “Game of Thrones.”
Winners
Winners from the 67th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, which were hosted by Andy Samberg.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Allison Janney, Mom
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
Veep, “Election Night,” Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, and Tony Roche
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Tony Hale, Veep
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
Transparent, “Best New Girl,” Jill Soloway
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Outstanding Reality Competition Program
The Voice
Writing For A Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special
Jane Anderson or “Olive Kitteridge”
Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or a Dramatic Special
Olive Kitteridge, Lisa Cholodenko
Outstanding Actress in a Mini-series or Movie
Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge
Outstanding Actor in a Mini-series or Movie
Richard Jenkins, Olive Kitteridge
Supporting Actress, Limited Series or Movie
Regina King, American Crime
Supporting Actor, Limited Series or Movie
Bill Murray, Olive Kitteridge
Limited Series
Olive Kitteridge
Outstanding Variety Sketch Series
Inside Amy Schumer
Directing For a Variety Series
Chuck O’Neil for The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, “Show 20103”
Outstanding Variety Series
The Daily Show
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Reg E. Cathey, House of Cards
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Margo Martindale, The Americans
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
Game of Thrones, “Mother’s Mercy,” David Benioff and D.B. Weiss
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
Game of Thrones, “Mother’s Mercy,” David Nutter
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder
Outstanding Comedy Series
Veep
Outstanding Drama Series
Game of Thrones
