’Game of Thrones’ takes top prize at surprising Emmys
LOS ANGELES: HBO’s recordbreaking fantasy epic Game of Thrones stormed back onto the Emmys stage, winning the coveted best drama series prize on a night full of surprises, including an on-air marriage proposal that stunned the audience.
The other big story of the Hollywood gala, television’s answer to the Oscars, was the huge success of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, Amazon’s story of a 1950s housewife-turned-stand up comic, which took home eight Emmys overall, including the best comedy award.
The ceremony hosted by Saturday Night Live regulars Colin Jost and Michael Che took on a decidedly political hue at the start, with a barrage of edgy jokes on hot-button issues from diversity in Hollywood to #MeToo and Donald Trump.
The gala also saw several sentimental favourites take home their first Emmys.
Matthew Rhys won for best drama actor for spy thriller The Americans, Claire Foy was named best drama actress for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown and Henry Winkler triumphed for supporting comedy acting on Barry.
But the coveted drama prize went to Game of Thrones, which was ineligible for last year’s Emmys, and series star Peter Dinklage took home the best supporting actor prize for his portrayal of Tyrion Lannister.
“Writing for these actors behind us is the honour of a lifetime,” said the show’s co-creator David Benioff.
“But we didn’t invent these characters. That was George R.R. Martin. The show could not be without the mad genius of George.”
GoT won nine Emmys this year, meaning the blood-spattered cinematic tale of noble families vying for the Iron Throne – which returns in 2019 for an abbreviated eighth and final season – now has 47 awards overall.
The Emmys opened with a daring song-and-dance number poking fun at myriad controversies including the problem of ensuring diversity in Hollywood productions.
“We solved it!” crooned SNL nominees Kate McKinnon and Kenan Thompson, with back-up from pop stars John Legend and Ricky Martin – and even RuPaul.
They then yielded the stage to Jost and Che -- who let the zingers fly.
“This year, the audience is allowed to drink in their seats. Hope you’re excited about that – because the one thing Hollywood needs right now is a bunch of people losing their inhibitions at a work function,” Jost said, in a reference to #MeToo.
Looking to boost audience ratings, Emmys organisers said they were hoping to shake up the broadcast – and indeed they did, intentionally and unintentionally.
A surprise marriage proposal from Emmy-winning director Glenn Weiss won over the audience – and the internet.
As Weiss accepted his award for directing the Oscars, he asked Jan Svendsen, who was sitting in the audience, to marry him.
“You wonder why I don’t like to call you my girlfriend? Because I want to call you my wife,” he added.
The moment was especially poignant as Weiss revealed his mother had recently passed away – and offered Svendsen the ring his father had given his mum.