And now our watch has truly ended. Television closed the book on the last year of content, and Game of Thrones and Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Fleabag were among the big winners at the 71st annual Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday night.
Game of Thrones won multiple 2019 Emmys for its divisive final season, including the biggest honor of all: best drama series. The HBO hit, based on the novel series by George R.R. Martin and created for television by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, won 12 total awards from the Television Academy in 2019, including 10 trophies during the Creative Arts Emmys awards on Sept. 14 and Sept. 15. On Sunday night, Thrones added two more statuettes to its mantle: the drama series win and a best supporting actor award for Peter Dinklage.
Dinklage’s win broke an Emmys record for the most victories in the supporting actor in a drama category, while the Thrones series win, its fourth, tied an Emmys record. It was a fitting result for Thrones, which despite a Season 8 that was heavily criticized by a large portion of the series’ fan base, set an Emmys record for the most nominations overall with 32.
Emmys 2019: Complete Coverage of the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards
But those gaudy statistics excepted, Thrones was far from a dominant force during the actual Emmys 2019 broadcast. The fantasy series lost in key technical categories, such as episodic writing (to Succession) and directing (to Jason Bateman for Ozark). Similarly, only Dinklage was awarded from the show’s sprawling and oft-nominated cast: Best actor in a drama went to Billy Porter for Pose, making Porter the first openly gay man to win the award; best actress in a drama was awarded to Jodie Comer for Killing Eve, and best supporting actress in a drama was given to Julia Garner for Ozark.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
On the comedy side, what started out as a night dedicated to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, which won acting awards in the supporting categories for Tony Shaloub and Alex Borstein, was overrun by Waller-Bridge’s now-legendary second and final season of Fleabag. Waller-Bridge herself won three Emmys: best actress in a comedy (upsetting Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who was nominated for the final season of Veep and had previously dominated in the category), best writing for a comedy series, and best comedy series.
The only other comedy to break through the Maisel–Fleabag stronghold on Sunday night was HBO’s Barry: Bill Hader, the show’s star and co-creator, won best actor.
In the limited series categories, Chernobyl won top honors, besting shows such as When They See Us and Fosse/Verdon — but both of those series earned major awards as well: Jharrel Jerome won best actor for When They See Us, while Michelle Williams earned best actress for Fosse/Verdon.
The brisk show, which ended just after 11 p.m. on the East Coast and featured a number of winners that had social media buzzing, faced an uphill battle from a ratings perspective. Last year’s ceremony, co-hosted by Colin Jost and Michael Che, recorded the lowest viewership totals in Emmys history. In a twist borrowed from the 2019 Oscars, this year’s show went off without a host. But unlike the Academy Awards — which started with a performance by Queen featuring Adam Lambert before transitioning into scripted comedy patter from Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Maya Rudolph — the Emmys broadcast began with a thud: the opening segment focused on the history of television (including a shout out to the moon landing, which celebrated its 50th anniversary earlier this year) with accompaniment from the dulcet tones of Bryan Cranston. Compared to the energy provided later by winners such as Waller-Bridge, Porter, and Comer, it felt more like something that might play before a museum exhibit rather than a celebration of television’s biggest night.
See the full list of Emmys 2019 nominees and winners below:
Outstanding Drama Series
Better Call Saul
Bodyguard
WINNER: Game of Thrones
Killing Eve
Ozark
Pose
Succession
This Is Us
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Jason Bateman, Ozark
Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
Kit Harington, Game of Thrones
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
WINNER: Billy Porter, Pose
Milo Ventimiglia, This Is Us
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
WINNER: Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder
Laura Linney, Ozark
Mandy Moore, This Is Us
Sandra Oh, Killing Eve
Robin Wright, House of Cards
Outstanding Comedy Series
Barry
WINNER: Fleabag
The Good Place
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Russian Doll
Schitt’s Creek
Veep
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson, black-ish
Don Cheadle, Black Monday
Ted Danson, The Good Place
Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
WINNER: Bill Hader, Barry
Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Christina Applegate, Dead to Me
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Natasha Lyonne, Russian Doll
Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek
WINNER: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag
Outstanding Limited Series
WINNER: Chernobyl
Escape at Dannemora
Fosse/Verdon
Sharp Objects
When They See Us
Outstanding Television Movie
WINNER: Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
Brexit
Deadwood
King Lear
My Dinner with Herve
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Mahershala Ali, True Detective
Benicio del Toro, Escape at Dannemora
Hugh Grant, A Very English Scandal
Jared Harris, Chernobyl
WINNER: Jharrel Jerome, When They See Us
Sam Rockwell, Fosse/Verdon
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Amy Adams, Sharp Objects
Patricia Arquette, Escape at Dannemora
Aunjanue Ellis, When They See Us
Joey King, The Act
Niecy Nash, When They See Us
WINNER: Michelle Williams, Fosse/Verdon
Outstanding Competition Program
American Ninja Warrior
Nailed It!
WINNER: RuPaul’s Drag Race
The Amazing Race
The Voice
Top Chef
Outstanding Variety Sketch Series
At Home with Amy Sedaris
Documentary Now!
Drunk History
I Love You, America with Sarah Silverman
WINNER: Saturday Night Live
Who Is America?
Outstanding Variety Talk Series
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Jimmy Kimmel Live
WINNER: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
The Late Late Show with James Corden
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
Alfie Allen, Game of Thrones
WINNER: Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Chris Sullivan, This Is Us
Giancarlo Esposito, Better Call Saul
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Game of Thrones
Michael Kelly, House of Cards
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Gwendoline Christie, Game of Thrones
Sophie Turner, Game of Thrones
Fiona Shaw, Killing Eve
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones
WINNER: Julia Garner, Ozark
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Henry Winkler, Barry
Stephen Root, Barry
WINNER: Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Anthony Carrigan, Barry
Alan Arkin, The Kominsky Method
Tony Hale, Veep
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Sarah Goldberg, Barry
Olivia Colman, Fleabag
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
WINNER: Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Sian Clifford, Fleabag
Betty Gilpin, GLOW
Marin Hinkle, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Anna Chlumsky, Veep
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
WINNER: Ben Whishaw, A Very English Scandal
Paul Dano, Escape at Dannemora
Michael K. Williams, When They See Us
Stellan Skarsgard, Chernobyl
John Leguizamo, When They See Us
Asante Blackk, When They See Us
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Emily Watson, Chernobyl
Patricia Clarkson, Sharp Objects
Marsha Stephanie Blake, When They See Us
Margaret Qualley, Fosse/Verdon
WINNER: Patricia Arquette, The Act
Vera Farmiga, When They See Us
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
Game of Thrones – “The Iron Throne,” David Benioff and D.B. Weiss
Game of Thrones – “The Last of the Starks,” David Nutter
Game of Thrones – “The Long Night,” Miguel Sapochnik
The Handmaid’s Tale – “Holly,” Daina Reid
WINNER: Ozark – “Reparations,” Jason Bateman
Succession – “Celebration,” Adam McKay
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
Barry – “The Audition,” Alec Berg
Barry – “ronny/lily,” Bill Hader
The Big Bang Theory – “The Stockholm Syndrome,” Mark Cendrowski
WINNER: Fleabag – “Episode 1,” Harry Bradbeer
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – “All Alone,” Amy Sherman-Palladino
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – “We’re Going to the Catskills!” Daniel Palladino
Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special
WINNER: Chernobyl – Johan Renck
Escape at Dannemora – Ben Stiller
Fosse/Verdon – “Glory,” Jessica Yu
Fosse/Verdon – “Who’s Got the Pain,” Thomas Kail
A Very English Scandal – Stephen Frears
When They See Us – Ava DuVernay
Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series
Documentary Now! – “Waiting for the Artist,” Alex Buono and Rhys Thomas
Drunk History – “Are You Afraid of the Drunk?” Derek Waters
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver – “Psychics,” Paul Pennolino
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – “Live Midterm Election Show,” Jim Hoskinson
WINNER: Saturday Night Live – “Host: Adam Sandler,” Don Roy King
Who is America? – “Episode 102,” Sacha Baron Cohen, Nathan Fielder, Daniel Gray Longino, and Dan Mazer
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
Barry – “ronny/lily,” Alec Berg and Bill Hader
WINNER: Fleabag – “Episode 1,” Phoebe Waller-Bridge
The Good Place – “Janet(s),” Josh Siegal and Dylan Morgan
Pen15 – “Anna Ishii-Peters,” Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle, and Stacy Osei-Kuffour
Russian Doll – “Nothing in this World Is Easy,” Natasha Lyonne, Leslye Headland, and Amy Poehler
Veep – “Veep,” David Mandel
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
Better Call Saul – “Winner,” Peter Gould and Thomas Schnauz
Bodyguard – “Episode 1,” Jed Mercurio
Game of Thrones – “The Iron Throne,” David Benioff and D.B. Weiss
The Handmaid’s Tale – “Holly,” Bruce Miller and Kira Snyder
Killing Eve – “Nice and Neat,” Emerald Fennell
WINNER: Succession – “Nobody Is Ever Missing,” Jesse Armstrong
Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special
WINNER: Chernobyl – Craig Mazin
Escape at Dannemora – “Part 6,” Brett Johnson, Michael Tolkin, and Jerry Stahl
Escape at Dannemora – “Part 7,” Brett Johnson and Michael Tolkin
Fosse/Verdon – “Providence,” Steven Levenson
A Very English Scandal – Russell T. Davies
When They See Us – “Part Four,” Ava DuVernay and Michael STarrbury
Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series
Documentary Now!
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
WINNER: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Late Night with Seth Meyers
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Saturday Night Live
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
WINNER: Bradley Whitford, The Handmaid’s Tale
Michael McKean, Better Call Saul
Michael Angarano, This Is Us
Glynn Turman, How to Get Away with Murder
Kumail Nanjiani, The Twilight Zone
Ron Cephas Jones, This Is Us
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
WINNER: Cherry Jones, The Handmaid’s Tale
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Apocalypse
Cicely Tyson, How to Get Away with Murder
Carice van Houten, Game of Thrones
Laverne Cox, Orange Is the New Black
Phylicia Rashad, This Is Us
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
WINNER: Luke Kirby, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Robert De Niro, Saturday Night Live
Adam Sandler, Saturday Night Live
Peter MacNichol, Veep
John Mulaney, Saturday Night Live
Matt Damon, Saturday Night Live
Rufus Sewell, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
WINNER: Jane Lynch, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Fiona Shaw, Fleabag
Emma Thompson, Saturday Night Live
Maya Rudolph, The Good Place
Kristin Scott Thomas, Fleabag
Sandra Oh, Saturday Night Live
Outstanding Structured Reality Program
WINNER: Queer Eye
Antiques Roadshow
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Shark Tank
Tidying Up with Marie Kondo
Who Do You Think You Are?
Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program
WINNER: United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell
Born This Way
Deadliest Catch
Life Below Zero
RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked
Somebody Feed Phil
Outstanding Animated Program
WINNER: The Simpsons
Big Mouth
Bob’s Burgers
BoJack Horseman
Come Along with Me (Adventure Time)
Check out the full list of winners at the Creative Arts Emmys here.
