The stars of the Emmys
The Emmys draw huge crowds both at the event in living rooms as people watch from home. Photo courtesy Photopin
By Mitchell Keeran
On the evening of Sunday September 20, the 67th edition of the Emmys aired and awarded or showcased the top shows in prime time television programming. Several records were set at this year’s Emmy’s, including “Game of Thrones” setting a record by winning 12 awards, and Viola Davis was the first African-American woman to win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
However, they also drew a record low for ratings with only 11.9 million viewership. Comedian and former “Saturday Night Live” star Andy Samberg was the host of the event and delivered shots at controversial headlines, the presidential candidates, Samberg giving out the information of his own HBO Now account, and sending farewell’s to successful shows “Mad Men” and “Parks and Recreation.”
Jon Hamm finally won his first Emmy after 16 years of striking out on the ballot. He won for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role on “Mad Men.” He played the show’s main character Don Draper for all seven seasons of the shows critically acclaimed history of the past eight years. Mad Men had their series finale on May 17, 2015.
Viola Davis, as mentioned earlier, won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, and was the first African-American woman to do so. She won the award for her performance as Professor Annalise Keating in “How to Get Away with Murder.” Her role is of a college professor at a University in Philadelphia where she becomes twisted in a murder with five of her students. The show’s very first season began last year on September 25.
Jeffery Tambor won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. He starred as the role of Morton “Maura” Pfefferman on the hit new comedy “Transparent.” The show had its first season last year on February 6. Tambor stars as a transgender, Jewish father-turned-mother of three, which also makes him the first actor/actress to win a prime-time Emmy for portraying a transgender person.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. She portrayed President Selina Meyer on the hit, new political-comedy series “Veep.” The show debuted in April of 2012, and since the show’s beginning Louis-Dreyfus has won the Emmy award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series four consecutive times from 2012 to 2015. Veep also received more success by also winning the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series. Veep had been nominated the previous three years.
“Game of Thrones” won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. Since the series beginning in April of 2011, the show has had mass success with fans and viewers worldwide. The show brought in 12 awards. One major award was Peter Dinklage winning his second Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Tyrion Lannister.
“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Talk Series. Jon Stewart had endured critical success for his time on the show from 1999 until his departure in August. He will be replaced by South African comedian Trevor Noah. Despite being a comedy-based talk show, the series has proven by a study of American Television viewers to be an effective source of factual news.
“Inside’s” Amy Schumar won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Comedy Series. Amy Schumar has had critical success as a comedian since her series started in April of 2013. This was the first major Prime Time Emmy she has won while also being nominated for several writing and directing awards for being the creator of her own show.
Another show that saw great success was “Olive Kitteridge.” The show won both the Outstanding Lead Actor (Richard Jenkins as Henry Kitteridge) and Actress (Frances McDormand as Olive Kitteridge) in a Limited Series or Movie awards. It also won the Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series. The series won eight awards total, and won the most major awards with a total of six. The show debuted in November 2014, and showed all four of their mini-series episodes in two days.