Update: 5:05PM Fantasy drama Game of Thrones and Washington political comedy Veep won the top prizes at the Emmy Awards on Monday (Fiji time), toppling old favourites Mad Men and Modern Family.
Jon Hamm finally snared an Emmy for his lead role as Don Draper in AMC’s 1960s advertising drama Mad Men, winning a standing ovation from the audience.
But Mad Men, a long-time Emmy favourite, failed to get a farewell hug after closing its final season earlier this year.
Viola Davis became the first African-American to win a drama lead actress Emmy for her role as a tough criminal defence lawyer in ABC’s How to Get Away With Murder.
“The only thing that separates women of colour from anyone else is opportunity,” Davis said. “You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.”
It was the first best drama series Emmy for Game of Thrones in its five years on the air. The show also won awards for writing, directing and for supporting actor Peter Dinklage.
“Thank you HBO for believing in dragons,” co-creator David Benioff said.
In the first Emmys for Amazon.com’s foray into original content, Transparent brought a lead actor Emmy for Jeffrey Tambor. It also won for directing.
HBO’s Veep ended the five-year Emmy reign of ABC’s Modern Family as best comedy series.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus won best comedy actress for the fourth time for playing the egotistical Selina Meyer on Veep, while Tony Hale, who plays her bag man, was again named comedy supporting actor. Veep also clinched the comedy writing statuette.
AT A GLANCE
Following is a list of winners in key categories for the Emmys, which are awarded by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
BEST DRAMA SERIES
Game of Thrones
BEST COMEDY SERIES
Veep
ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Viola Davis, How To Get Away With Murder
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black
ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent
ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Tony Hale, Veep
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Allison Janney, Mom
VARIETY TALK SERIES
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
VARIETY SKETCH SERIES
Inside Amy Schumer
REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM
The Voice
LIMITED SERIES
Olive Kitteridge
ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE
Richard Jenkins, Olive Kitteridge
ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge
