LOS ANGELES: Fantasy epic “Game of Thrones” made television history at the 68th Emmy Awards on Sunday, becoming the most decorated fictional show since the awards began nearly seven decades ago.

The HBO series picked up 12 total Emmys this season — nine awards in technical categories and three top prizes at the glitzy ceremony in downtown Los Angeles — television’s equivalent of the Oscars.

The blood-spattered, sex-filled saga about noble families vying for control of the Iron Throne took home the most coveted prize of the night, the best drama Emmy — along with statuettes for writing and directing.

That gives it a total haul over the years of 38 — more than any other narrative series since the first Television Academy prize-giving in 1949, overtaking the haul of 37 won by long-running comedy “Frasier.”

But it went down to the wire, as “Thrones” drew a blank in the acting categories, despite being a hot favorite and having multiple nominees, and only set the record with the last prize of the night.

Three of its stars — Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke and Maisie Williams — dominated the betting in the supporting actress category, but the statuette went to Maggie Smith of “Downton Abbey.”

Peter Dinklage missed out on a supporting actor trophy, as did co-star Kit Harington, the category’s favorite, with Ben Mendelsohn picking up the prize for “Bloodline.”

“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” also glittered, picking up a total of nine awards this season, including the prize for best limited series.

“If your show doesn’t have a dragon or a white Bronco in it, go home right now,” host Jimmy Kimmel joked at the start of the three-hour broadcast, a reference to “Thrones” and the infamous car Simpson was in when he went on a wild ride through Los Angeles before his arrest.

The all-time Emmy list of winners — which includes nonfiction — is topped by NBC comedy sketch show “Saturday Night Live,” with 45 awards, one of them handed out Sunday to Kate McKinnon for best supporting actress.

It was a night of recognition for old hands in the comedy categories, while the drama awards went to relative newcomers.

In the best actress in a comedy category, Julia Louis-Dreyfus won a fifth consecutive Emmy for her role as the hapless acting president on HBO’s “Veep.”

“I would like to dedicate this to my father who passed away on Friday, and I’m so glad that he liked ‘Veep’ because his opinion was the one that really mattered,” she said in an emotional tribute, her voice breaking.

“Veep” later picked up the Emmy for outstanding comedy series.

The award for best actor in a comedy went for the second year in a row to Jeffrey Tambor for “Transparent,” who pleaded with producers and directors to give transgender talent a chance in television.

In the tightest race of the night, lead actress in a drama, Tatiana Maslany won for “Orphan Black,” pipping favorite Robin Wright (“House of Cards”) and last year’s victor Viola Davis (“How to Get Away with Murder”).

Kevin Spacey, who has never won an Emmy, missed out again in for outstanding actor in a drama, which went to Rami Malek, the start of cyberspace security thriller “Mr. Robot.”

Ex-presidential hopeful Jeb Bush made a surprise appearance as a limo driver in a televised opening joke sequence, asking host Jimmy Kimmel what it’s like to be nominated.

Several stars took aim at divisive Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump, either in prepared jokes or in acceptance speeches.

“I want everyone to know that after careful consideration, I decided I’m going with Trump — which is why I’m saying we should get rid of all Hispanic and Muslim actors,” said award-winning comedian and writer Aziz Ansari.

The win for FX’s “The People v. O.J. Simpson” for best limited series was the most widely predicted victory of the night, and the show — a scripted drama recounting the American football star’s shocking fall from grace — swept up acting prizes.

Sarah Paulson and Courtney B. Vance were rewarded in the lead acting categories for their acclaimed portrayals of sparring attorneys Marcia Clark and Johnnie Cochran.

Sterling K. Brown took home a statuette for his supporting actor role, while D.V. DeVincentis was recognized for the show’s writing.

 “Playing a real person, you want to get it right for them,” said Paulson.

“And the more I learned about Marcia Clark, who dedicated herself to righting an unconscionable wrong, I’m glad to be able to stand here today in front of everyone and tell you, I’m sorry,” she said, apologizing for having initially misjudged the prosecutor.

In the battle of the networks, perennial leader HBO finished top with 22 Emmys — six on Sunday to add to its 16 from the Creative Arts Emmys ceremony last weekend.

FX, which scored the most nominations in history for a basic cable network, ended the night on 18 in total — twice as many as third-placed Netflix. – AFP </s> LOS ANGELES: Blood and guts fantasy epic “Game of Thrones” is tipped to triumph on Sunday as the most successful show ever at the coveted Emmy Awards, television’s equivalent of the Oscars.

The HBO series already has nine statuettes from last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys, which mainly reward behind-the-scenes personnel, giving it a total haul over the years of 35 — more than any other drama series.

When Emmys in top categories are handed out at a glitzy evening ceremony in downtown Los Angeles, experts predict the show will pass the 37 won by long-running sitcom “Frasier.”

HBO’s saga about noble families vying for control of the Iron Throne is the odds-on favorite in the coveted best drama category according to Gold Derby, a website pooling experts’ awards predictions.

It is also ahead in the supporting actor, supporting actress and directing categories, and is running a close second in drama writing behind cyber-security thriller “Mr Robot.”

If the prize-giving goes as expected, “Game of Thrones” would be the most-awarded narrative series since the first Television Academy prize-giving in 1949.

“I think ‘Game of Thrones’ will be a big winner on Emmy night,” Debra Birnbaum, executive editor for TV at entertainment industry magazine Variety, told AFP.

“With all the nominations it has in those five categories, it’s going to take home at least three trophies, and break the record.”

The all-time Emmy list of winners — which includes non-fiction — is topped by NBC comedy sketch show “Saturday Night Live,” with 44 awards.

FX’s hotly-tipped “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” has 13 nominations — more than any other show — in multiple categories on Sunday, having already won four technical Emmys.

Its victory for best limited series is seen as the surest thing of the night while Sarah Paulson and Courtney B. Vance are expected to be rewarded for their acclaimed portrayals of sparring attorneys Marcia Clark and Johnnie Cochran.

Sterling K. Brown is odds on for his supporting actor role while Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszeski lead a writing category in which three of the six episodes nominated are from “The People v. O.J. Simpson.”

“We gave the script to a few people. Our producing partners and the studio were responding really positively so we said, ‘Oh that’s cool,'” Alexander told AFP.

“But you never know if something is going to be a hit. Anyone who says that is a liar.”

FX’s acclaimed spy drama “The Americans” could pull some surprises at Sunday’s ceremony, hosted by funnyman Jimmy Kimmel, with Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell seen as popular outside bets for best actor and actress in a drama.

Russell is running third in the betting for tightest race of the night, with Robin Wright (“House of Cards”) expected to just about pip last year’s victor Viola Davis (“How to Get Away with Murder”).

“There is almost as much drama in the race for best drama actor,” said Gold Derby editor Tom O’Neil.

“Like Robin Wright, her co-star Kevin Spacey has never won an Emmy, but now he has decent odds to break through — 7/2. However, ‘Mr. Robot’ star Rami Malek leads with 8/11 odds.”

In the battle of the networks, perennial favorite HBO leads the nominations, though with a reduced tally from last year.

But the biggest early success story has been Fox’s FX subsidiary, which got 56 nominations, a new record for a basic cable company.

ABC’s four-hour telecast begins with “Countdown to the Emmy Awards: Red Carpet Live” at 4:00 pm (2300 GMT), with the ceremony due to begin about an hour later. – AFP </s> LOS ANGELES: Blood and guts fantasy epic “Game of Thrones” is tipped to triumph on Sunday as the most successful show ever at the coveted Emmy Awards, television’s equivalent of the Oscars.

The HBO series already has nine statuettes from last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys, which mainly reward behind-the-scenes personnel, giving it a total haul over the years of 35 — more than any other drama series.

When Emmys in top categories are handed out at a glitzy evening ceremony in downtown Los Angeles, experts predict the show will pass the 37 won by long-running sitcom “Frasier.”

HBO’s saga about noble families vying for control of the Iron Throne is the odds-on favorite in the coveted best drama category according to Gold Derby, a website pooling experts’ awards predictions.

It is also ahead in the supporting actor, supporting actress and directing categories, and is running a close second in drama writing behind cyber-security thriller “Mr. Robot.”

If the prize-giving goes as expected, “Game of Thrones” would be the most-awarded narrative series since the first Television Academy prize-giving in 1949.

“I think ‘Game of Thrones’ will be a big winner on Emmy night,” Debra Birnbaum, executive editor for TV at entertainment industry magazine Variety, told Agence France-Presse.

“With all the nominations it has in those five categories, it’s going to take home at least three trophies, and break the record.”

The all-time Emmy list of winners — which includes nonfiction — is topped by NBC comedy sketch show “Saturday Night Live,” with 44 awards.

FX’s hotly tipped “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” has 13 nominations — more than any other show — in multiple categories on Sunday, having already won four technical Emmys.

Its victory for best limited series is seen as the surest thing of the night while Sarah Paulson and Courtney B. Vance are expected to be rewarded for their acclaimed portrayals of sparring attorneys Marcia Clark and Johnnie Cochran.

Sterling K. Brown is odds-on for his supporting actor role while Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski lead a writing category in which three of the six episodes nominated are from “The People v. O.J. Simpson.”

“We gave the script to a few people. Our producing partners and the studio were responding really positively, so we said, ‘Oh, that’s cool,'” Alexander told AFP.

“But you never know if something is going to be a hit. Anyone who says that is a liar.”

FX’s acclaimed spy drama “The Americans” could pull some surprises at Sunday’s ceremony, with Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell seen as popular outside bets for best actor and actress in a drama.

“They are geniuses. They are unbelievable, incredible together,” show creator Joe Weisberg said at a discussion panel for Emmy-nominated writers in Beverly Hills on Thursday.

“We are always talking about the fact that no matter what we write for them, they do something with it that we hadn’t expected.”

Russell is running third in the betting for tightest race of the night, with Robin Wright (“House of Cards”) expected possibly to squeak past last year’s victor Viola Davis (“How to Get Away with Murder”).

“There is almost as much drama in the race for best drama actor,” said Gold Derby editor Tom O’Neil.

“Like Robin Wright, her co-star Kevin Spacey has never won an Emmy, but now he has decent odds to break through — 7/2. However, ‘Mr. Robot’ star Rami Malek leads with 8/11 odds.”

And in the best actress in a comedy category, Julia Louis-Dreyfus is going for her fifth consecutive Emmy for her role as the hapless acting president on HBO’s “Veep.”

In the battle of the networks, perennial favorite HBO leads the nominations, though with a reduced tally from last year.

But the biggest early success story has been Fox’s FX subsidiary, which got 56 nominations, a new record for a basic cable company.

The festivities will begin in the late afternoon — under clear, sunny skies — with the usual red-carpet parade by the stars.

The ceremony, hosted by funnyman Jimmy Kimmel, starts roughly at 5:00 pm (0000 GMT Monday). AFP </s> The 69th Primetime Emmy Awards were presented Sunday night in Los Angeles at the Microsoft Theater. See highlights of the awards ceremony.

By The Associated Press

Host Stephen Colbert performs at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Partial list of winners of the annual Emmy Awards, announced Sunday by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Copyright © 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed. </s> Emmys: Game of Thrones becomes the most-awarded narrative series of all time

Updated

Game of Thrones has become the most successful narrative series ever at television's night of nights, the Emmy Awards.

Key points: Game of Thrones has won 38 Emmy Awards, surpassing Frasier

HBO series won this year in three categories

The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story won five awards, nominated in 13 categories

The show broke the record after winning Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series, Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Drama Series.

The HBO series already had nine statuettes from last weekend's Creative Arts Emmys, which mainly reward behind-the-scenes personnel, giving it a total haul over the years of 35 heading into the 2016 ceremony — more than any other drama series.

Before the 2016 Emmy Awards, the record for the most-awarded narrative series belonged to long-running sitcom Frasier, which won 37 Emmys.

The all-time Emmy list of winners — which includes non-fiction — is topped by NBC comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live, with 44 awards.

Game of Thrones is now the most-awarded narrative series since the first Television Academy prize-giving in 1949.

Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn won Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role in Bloodline.

The most nominated show of 2016, The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story, picked up five wins to add to its four technical Emmys.

Actors Sarah Paulson and Courtney B Vance were rewarded for their acclaimed portrayals of sparring attorneys Marcia Clark and Johnnie Cochran.

Sterling K Brown took home a statuette for his supporting actor role, while DV DeVincentis was recognised for the show's writing.

"Playing a real person, you want to get it right for them," Paulson said.

"The more I learned about Marcia Clark ... the more I had to recognise that I, along with the rest of the world, had been superficial and careless in my judgment [of her]."

Wins for Orphan Black, Mr Robot and Veep

Tatiana Maslany won Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Orphan Black, and Rami Malek won Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role in Mr Robot.

Veep took home the most Outstanding Comedy Series award and its star Julia Louis-Dreyfus claimed the Lead Actress in a Comedy award.

Louis-Dreyfus, who plays Veep's acting US president Selina Meyer, apologised during her acceptance speech for what she called "the current political climate".

"I think that Veep has torn down the wall between comedy and politics. Our show started out as a political satire but it now feels like a sobering documentary," she said.

Jeffrey Tambor won Lead Actor in a Comedy for his role in Transparent.

During his speech, Tambor urged producers and directors to give transgender talent a chance in television.

AFP/Reuters

Topics: television, arts-and-entertainment, popular-culture, united-states

First posted </s> Blood and guts fantasy epic "Game of Thrones" is tipped to triumph on Sunday as the most successful show ever at the coveted Emmy Awards, television's equivalent of the Oscars.

The HBO series already has nine statuettes from last weekend's Creative Arts Emmys, which mainly reward behind-the-scenes personnel, giving it a total haul over the years of 35 -- more than any other drama series.

When Emmys in top categories are handed out at a glitzy evening ceremony in downtown Los Angeles, experts predict the show will pass the 37 won by long-running sitcom "Frasier."

HBO's saga about noble families vying for control of the Iron Throne is the odds-on favorite in the coveted best drama category according to Gold Derby, a website pooling experts' awards predictions.

It is also ahead in the supporting actor, supporting actress and directing categories, and is running a close second in drama writing behind cyber-security thriller "Mr Robot."

If the prize-giving goes as expected, "Game of Thrones" would be the most-awarded narrative series since the first Television Academy prize-giving in 1949.

"I think 'Game of Thrones' will be a big winner on Emmy night," Debra Birnbaum, executive editor for TV at entertainment industry magazine Variety, told AFP.

"With all the nominations it has in those five categories, it's going to take home at least three trophies, and break the record."

The all-time Emmy list of winners -- which includes non-fiction -- is topped by NBC comedy sketch show "Saturday Night Live," with 44 awards.

FX's hotly-tipped "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story" has 13 nominations -- more than any other show -- in multiple categories on Sunday, having already won four technical Emmys.

Its victory for best limited series is seen as the surest thing of the night while Sarah Paulson and Courtney B. Vance are expected to be rewarded for their acclaimed portrayals of sparring attorneys Marcia Clark and Johnnie Cochran.

Sterling K. Brown is odds on for his supporting actor role while Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszeski lead a writing category in which three of the six episodes nominated are from "The People v. O.J. Simpson."

"We gave the script to a few people. Our producing partners and the studio were responding really positively so we said, 'Oh that's cool,'" Alexander told AFP.

"But you never know if something is going to be a hit. Anyone who says that is a liar."

FX's acclaimed spy drama "The Americans" could pull some surprises at Sunday's ceremony, hosted by funnyman Jimmy Kimmel, with Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell seen as popular outside bets for best actor and actress in a drama.

Russell is running third in the betting for tightest race of the night, with Robin Wright ("House of Cards") expected to just about pip last year's victor Viola Davis ("How to Get Away with Murder").

"There is almost as much drama in the race for best drama actor," said Gold Derby editor Tom O'Neil.

"Like Robin Wright, her co-star Kevin Spacey has never won an Emmy, but now he has decent odds to break through -- 7/2. However, 'Mr. Robot' star Rami Malek leads with 8/11 odds."

In the battle of the networks, perennial favorite HBO leads the nominations, though with a reduced tally from last year.

But the biggest early success story has been Fox's FX subsidiary, which got 56 nominations, a new record for a basic cable company.

ABC's four-hour telecast begins with "Countdown to the Emmy Awards: Red Carpet Live" at 4:00 pm (2300 GMT), with the ceremony due to begin about an hour later. </s> Following its Creative Arts Emmy wins for outstanding casting for a comedy series and outstanding cinematography for a single-camera series (half-hour), Veep took home the award for outstanding comedy series at Sunday’s 69th annual gathering.

The cast and crew of the show boarded the stage to accept the award just minutes after Julia Louis-Dreyfus won her sixth-consecutive Emmy for her starring role on the HBO series.

Veep earned its sixth nomination in the category this year, with its win marking the third time the show has taken home the trophy in the outstanding comedy series category.

Watch the full episode of PEOPLE & Entertainment Weekly Red Carpet Live, streaming now on PeopleTV. Go to People.com/peopletv, or download the app on your favorite streaming device.

Furthermore, the 2017 win is the show’s third consecutive win in the category.

Veep beat out fellow nominees Silicon Valley, Master of None, Modern Family, Atlanta, black-ish and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

The 69th Primetime Emmy Awards, hosted by Stephen Colbert, are airing live on CBS from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. </s> LOS ANGELES, Sept 17 (Reuters) - The 2017 Primetime Emmy Awards, the highest honors in television, were handed out on Sunday at a ceremony in Los Angeles hosted by Stephen Colbert.

Following is a list of nominations in key categories: BEST DRAMA SERIES "The Handmaid's Tale" Hulu BEST COMEDY SERIES "Veep" HBO BEST LIMITED SERIES "Big Little Lies" HBO BEST ACTOR, DRAMA Sterling K. Brown "This is Us" BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA Elisabeth Moss "The Handmaid's Tale" BEST ACTOR, COMEDY Donald Glover "Atlanta" BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY Julia Louis-Dreyfus "Veep" BEST ACTOR, LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE Riz Ahmed "The Night Of" BEST ACTRESS, LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE Nicole Kidman "Big Little Lies" VARIETY TALK SERIES "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver"

"Saturday Night Live" REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM "The Voice" (Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Mary Milliken) </s> The sixth season of the amazingly successful HBO series ‘Game Of Thrones’ killed all before it at the 2016 Awards, becoming the most awarded tv show in the Emmys history!

They were up for 24 total awards and walked away with 12 at Sunday night’s 2016 Emmy awards in Los Angeles for a total of 38 now, breaking a record set by the also very past successful sitcom Frasier with a total haul of 37 Emmys.

The Battle of the Bastards episode was singled out for praise, and won awards for best drama writing (David Benihoff and DB Weiss) and directing (Miguel Sapotchnik). This was the episode that had one of the highest ratings for the show ever, and in our opinion was one of the best episodes of anything we have ever seen.

The series already became the most-honored drama series after picking up nine Emmys at the Creative Arts ceremony last weekend, surpassing longtime title holders Hill Street Blues and The West Wing. By scoring another three awards Sunday, Thrones becomes the only prime-time scripted series to ever have won this many awards.

There has been a ton of controversy most recently about the series, but hopefully everything will work out and we will see GOT only get bigger. Is that even possible? lol

Below is talk about the Battle Of The Bastards episode that had people watching, gasping for air:
The 68th Primetime Emmy Awards is held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles with Game of Thrones winning the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, Veep winning the Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series and The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story winning the Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series.