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Britain’s phenomenom, Fleabag, takes the a ention away from Game of Thrones at Emmys
Game of Thrones took the top Emmy for best drama yesterday but dark British comedy
Fleabag was the surprise big winner of television’s glitziest night, dominating the comedy prizes at a star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles.
Thrones, the most decorated fictional show in the history of the Emmys, television’s equivalent of the Oscars, finished with 12 awards overall for its final season.
“Thank you to the hardest working crews in show business, the dragons who shot for 70 nights straight in freezing Belfast rain, the wolves who shot all around the world.
“You are amazing, all of you,” said producer Dan Weiss.
Peter Dinklage won his fourth best supporting actor statuette for his portrayal of sharp-tongued dwarf, Tyrion Lannister. But the blood-soaked fantasy epic’s hopes of going out with a new record numbers of Emmys for a single season were dashed after it failed to convert nominations to wins in directing, writing and the other acting categories.
The divisive final run of
Thrones enraged many fans and more than a million signed a petition for HBO to redo its conclusion.
The cast of Game of Thrones appeared to present an Emmy because the show is the most successful drama series in Emmys history. And the 10 nominated cast members received a standing ovation as they gathered on stage.
“I think all of us agree how amazing the entire last season was for us,” said Sophie Turner, who played Sansa Stark.
Thrones had already bagged 10 Emmys in lesser categories at last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys, including for special effects and costumes.
It ends its eight-season run with 59 Emmys, a record for a drama or comedy. Only variety sketch show Saturday Night
Live has more.
In the night’s biggest shock,
Fleabag star Phoebe WallerBridge, pictured, bested eight-time acting winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep) before the show itself won for best comedy series.
The BBC show, which has grown into a phenomenon on both sides of the Atlantic after being acquired by Amazon, also scooped awards for best comedy, writing and directing.
“It’s just really wonderful to know and reassuring that a dirty, pervy, angry, messed-up woman can make it to the Emmys,” said Waller-Bridge.
Waller-Bridge has ruled out a third season, saying the irreverent series about a self-absorbed young Londoner has come “to a natural end”.
US actor Billy Porter accepted the Emmy for lead actor in a drama series for Pose, becoming the first openly gay black man to win the honour.
Pose explores New York’s underground ballroom culture in the 1980s.
Jason Bateman was the surprise
winner for directing Netflix’s dark crime thriller Ozark. Co-star Julia Garner won best supporting actress.
Sandra Oh failed in her bid to become the first woman of Asian descent to win the leading actress in a drama category, being beaten by her co-star Jodie Comer in BBC spy thriller Killing Eve.
Chernobyl, HBO’s drama about the 1986 nuclear catastrophe, won the Emmy for best limited series.
Jharrel Jerome got the Emmy for best actor in a limited series or movie award for When They
See Us, about the Central Park jogger case and the teenagers falsely accused of rape.
Bill Hader won for best actor for HBO’s hitman comedy
Barry. The network pulled off another victory for Succession, with Jesse Armstrong taking the prize for drama writing.
In the battle of traditional networks versus new platforms, HBO had 34 wins to Netflix’s 27. – AFP