Further underscoring the prominence of streaming services in the TV landscape were the top series winners at Sunday’s Emmy Awards with best drama distinction going to The Crown (Netflix), outstanding comedy to Ted Lasso (Apple TV+) and the marquee limited series honor bestowed upon The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix).
The leading actor winners also came from shows that have streamed their way to success–with dramatic series performance Emmys presented to Olivia Colman (as Queen Elizabeth II) and Josh O’Conner (as Prince Charles) for The Crown, Jason Sudeikis in the Ted Lasso title role garnering the comedy series kudo, and Jean Smart scoring as outstanding comedic actress for her portrayal of Las Vegas stand-up comic diva Deborah Vance in Hacks (HBO Max).
In accepting his comedy series lead actor Emmy, Sudeikis said about Ted Lasso, “This show’s about families and mentors and teammates, and I wouldn’t be here without those things in my life.”
Smart received a standing ovation when she came on stage to accept her Emmy. She thanked her husband actor, Richard Gilliland who passed away six months ago, for his unwavering support and sacrifice, freeing her to pursue career opportunities. “I would not be here without him,” said Smart who also praised their two children, Connor and Forrest, as “courageous individuals in their own right.”
Hacks, The Crown, Ted Lasso and The Queen’s Gambit also scored other significant wins. Gillian Anderson (for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher) and Tobias Menzies (Prince Philip) of The Crown were honored for their supporting actor performances. The series also picked up writing and directing honors. Jessica Hobbs won the Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series Emmy for the “War” episode of The Crown. In her acceptance remarks, Hobbs noted, “Not a lot of women have won this award,” adding that she “stands on their shoulders.” Hobbs said she is also hoisted up by her mom who at the age of 77 is still directing.
Hannah Waddingham and Brett Goldstein took supporting actor performance Emmys for Ted Lasso. Named best director of a limited series was Scott Frank for The Queen’s Gambit. And Hacks scored Emmys for comedy writing and directing. Sharing in the writing honor as a co-creator and winning the directing Emmy was Lucia Aniello.
Mare of Easttown (HBO) also came up big. Kate Winslet, who played the title character, was named best actress for a limited series. Julianne Nicholson and Evan Peters took best supporting actor honors for Mare of Easttown. In their acceptance remarks, both Nicholson and Peters acknowledged the leadership and contributions of Winslet–not just as an actor but a producer as well. Nicholson said of Winslet, “Man, you’re good at acting. But turns out you’re good at caring for a whole production.”
Winning the best writing for a limited series Emmy was Michaela Coel on the strength of her work as creator of I May Destroy You (HBO) which centers on a woman who seeks to rebuild her life after a sexual assault. In accepting the Emmy, Coel offered some advice to fellow writers: “Write the tale that scares you, that makes you feel uncertain, that isn’t comfortable. I dare you. In a world that entices us to browse through the lives of others to help us better determine how we feel about ourselves and to, in turn, feel the need to be constantly visible. For visibility these days seems to somehow equate to success. Do not be afraid to disappear from it, from us for a while and see what comes to you in the silence.” Coel concluded by dedicating the I May Destroy You story “to every single survivor of sexual assault.”
Debbie Allen received the Governors Award for her ongoing career as an actor, dancer, director, choreographer and activist, Among her vast body of work, Allen has choreographed for artists such as Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, James Earl Jones, Phylicia Rashad, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Gwen Verdon, Carmen de Lavallade, Diane Carroll, Lena Horne, Sammy Davis Jr., Dolly Parton and Savion Glover. Her directing and producing credits include television shows such as Fame, Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, How to Get Away With Murder, Jane the Virgin, Empire, Insecure, A Different World, Everybody Hates Chris, Stompin’ at the Savoy, Polly, That’s So Raven, Cool Women, Quantum Leap, The Fantasia Barrino Story and Christmas on the Square.
In 2000, Allen opened the Debbie Allen Dance Academy to expand the reach of dance and theater arts to marginalized students in Los Angeles and around the world through a comprehensive dance curriculum spanning numerous dance styles. Under Allen’s direction, the nonprofit school today provides services on-site to over 3,000 participants annually; grants extensive scholarships to students; and invests in classes specially designed for cancer patients, seniors, and women and children who have experienced domestic abuse. During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Allen is expanding her curriculum with the Debbie Allen Dance Academy Virtual Dance World, a series of custom and on-demand classes available through Zoom for a small donation.
In accepting the Governor’s Award, Allen said, “I am trembling with gratitude and grace and trying not to cry.” She shared that her career has been “many years in the making, taken a lot of courage to be the only woman in the room most of the time. Courage and creative and fight and faith to believe I could keep going, and I have.”
Cedric the Entertainer emceed the awards ceremony which was televised on CBS. Topping the overall Emmy tally this year–combining last weekeend’s Creative Arts Emmy results with today’s primetime proceedings was Netflix with 44 awards. Here’s a full rundown of this evening’s winners:
Outstanding Comedy Series
Ted Lasso • Apple TV+ • Apple / Doozer Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television
Outstanding Drama Series
The Crown • Netflix • Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television for Netflix
Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series
The Queen’s Gambit • Netflix • Netflix
Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series
Hacks • There Is No Line (Pilot) • HBO Max • Universal Television in association with Paulilu, First Thought Productions, Fremulon Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment Lucia Aniello, Directed by
Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series
The Crown • War • Netflix • Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television for Netflix Jessica Hobbs, Directed by
Outstanding Directing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie
The Queen’s Gambit • Netflix • Netflix Scott Frank, Directed by
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
Ted Lasso • Apple TV+ • Apple / Doozer Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television
Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
The Crown • Netflix • Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television for Netflix
Josh O’Connor as Prince Charles
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie
Halston • Netflix • A Netflix Original Series
Ewan McGregor as Halston
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
Hacks • HBO Max • Universal Television in association with Paulilu, First Thought Productions, Fremulon Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment
Jean Smart as Deborah Vance
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
The Crown • Netflix • Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television for Netflix
Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie
Mare Of Easttown • HBO • HBO in association with wiip Studios, The Low Dweller Productions, Juggle Productions, Mayhem and Zobot Projects
Kate Winslet as Mare Sheehan
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Ted Lasso • Apple TV+ • Apple / Doozer Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television
Brett Goldstein as Roy Kent
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
The Crown • Netflix • Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television for Netflix
Tobias Menzies as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie
Mare Of Easttown • HBO • HBO in association with wiip Studios, The Low Dweller Productions, Juggle Productions, Mayhem and Zobot Projects
Evan Peters as Detective Colin Zabel
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Ted Lasso • Apple TV+ • Apple / Doozer Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television
Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca Welton
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
The Crown • Netflix • Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television for Netflix
Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie
Mare Of Easttown • HBO • HBO in association with wiip Studios, The Low Dweller Productions, Juggle Productions, Mayhem and Zobot Projects
Julianne Nicholson as Lori Ross
Outstanding Variety Talk Series
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver • HBO • HBO in association with Sixteen String Jack Productions and Avalon Television
John Oliver, Christopher Werner, Kate Mullaney, Marian Wang
Outstanding Variety Sketch Series
Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Lorne Michaels, Erin Doyle, Caroline Maroney, Erik Kenward
Outstanding Variety Special (Live)
Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020: Democracy’s Last Stand Building Back America Great Again Better 2020 • Showtime • SHOWTIME Presents a CBS Studios Production
Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
Hamilton • Disney+ • Lin-Manuel Miranda and Nevis Productions LLC, Old 320 Sycamore, and RadicalMedia
Outstanding Competition Program
RuPaul’s Drag Race • VH1 • World of Wonder
Fenton Bailey, Executive Producer
Randy Barbato, Executive Producer
Tom Campbell, Executive Producer
RuPaul Charles, Executive Producer
Steven Corfe, Executive Producer
Mandy Salangsang, Executive Producer
Michele Mills, Executive Producer
Tim Palazzola, Executive Producer
Thairin Smothers, Senior Producer
John Polly, Co-Executive Producer
Zoe Jackson, Co-Executive Producer
Lisa Steele, Co-Executive Producer
Camilo Valdes, Co-Executive Producer
Michelle Visage, Producer
Alicia Gargaro-Magana, Producer
Jen Passovoy, Supervising Producer
Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series
Hacks • There Is No Line (Pilot) • HBO Max • Universal Television in association with Paulilu, First Thought Productions, Fremulon Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment
Lucia Aniello, Written by
Paul W. Downs, Written by
Jen Statsky, Written by
Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series
The Crown • War • Netflix • Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television for Netflix
Peter Morgan, Written by
Outstanding Writing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie
I May Destroy You • HBO • HBO in association with BBC, Various Artists Limited, FALKNA
Michaela Coel, Written by
Outstanding Writing For A Variety Series
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver • HBO • HBO in association with Sixteen String Jack Productions and Avalon Television
Johnathan Appel, Writer
Ali Barthwell, Writer
Tim Carvell, Writer
Liz Hynes, Writer
Greg Iwinski, Writer
Mark Kramer, Writer
Daniel O’Brien, Writer
John Oliver, Writer
Owen Parsons, Writer
Charlie Redd, Writer
Joanna Rothkopf, Writer
Chrissy Shackelford, Writer
Ben Silva, Writer
Seena Vali, Writer
GOVERNORS AWARD
Debbie Allen
