2019 Emmys: ‘Fleabag,’ ‘Chernobyl’ win big; Billy Porter, Jharrel Jerome make history
HBO, Amazon lead all networks; winners make pleas for equality in speeches
Game of Thrones entered tonight’s Emmys with 32 nominations, the most for any show in a single year in Emmy history. They had already won 10 thanks to the Creative Arts Emmy Awards last weekend on their way to breaking the all-time record for most wins in a single season (12), but fell just short. The hugely successful series ended its run with 12 wins once again. With 10 acting nominations, the show only managed one win; the 4th for Peter Dinklage in Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. They also lost writing (to Succession) and in a shocker, lost the directing Emmy (for that month’s long shoot “The Long Night”) to actor-turned-director Jason Bateman for his show Ozark.
Billy Porter (Pose) made Emmy history as the first openly gay African-American to win Lead Actor in a Drama Series and the groundswell of support for his win could be felt in the audience response. In his speech Porter quoted James Baldwin, saying “It took many years of vomiting up all the filth I’d been taught about myself, and half-believed, before I was able to walk on the earth as though I had a right to be here,’” Porter recited from his notes before turning to the audience. “I have the right, you have the right, we all have the right.” Porter’s win also solidifies an Emmy trend in this category where the last nine winners in a row came from actors in the first or last seasons of their shows.
Julia Garner bested four women from Game of Thrones to win Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Ozark and became one of the youngest winners in her category. A visibly shocked Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) surprised with a win for Lead Actress in a Drama Series, beating out her co-star and favorite to win, Sandra Oh.
In Comedy, the big winner of the night was Amazon’s Fleabag, which added to its two Creative Arts wins Comedy Series, Comedy Directing, Comedy Writing and Lead Actress in a Comedy for show creator and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge. She stopped Veep’s Julia Louis-Dreyfus from setting a record of her own, most acting wins by any individual. But The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, last year’s big comedy winner, still came away with the most wins for a comedy with 8 thanks to its six wins at the Creative Arts Emmys. It picked up the two supporting wins, for Alex Borstein (who repeated) and Tony Shalhoub. Veep closed out its final season going 0/9.
Jharrel Jerome (When They See Us) made Emmy history as the first actor to win a lead acting Emmy for Netflix, as the first Afro-Latinx actor to win and, at 21, the youngest winner in his category ever. The last one is a bit fuzzy as the Television Academy’s definition and description of this category has changed over the years. In the 1973, for example, there categories for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Drama/Comedy – Limited Episodes) as well as Outstanding Single Performance by and Actor in a Leading Role. The latter went to Anthony Murphy for Tom Brown’s Schoolboys. He was 17 at the time of his win. The very next year the categories switched up again, further blurring the lines of definition. In the era of the Miniseries and Limited Series as we know it, the Moonlight actor is the youngest actor to win and continues a trend for young actors to win here that includes Darren Criss and Riz Ahmed.
Chernobyl bested When They See Us and Fosse/Verdon in all other top categories for Limited Series or TV Movie including writing, directing and the top award, for a total of 10 overall, shutting out Ava DuVernay from making Emmy history of her own.
Limited Series actress winners Patricia Arquette (The Act) and Michelle Williams (Fosse/Verdon) used their speeches for advocation of equality. For Arquette it was to eulogize her trans sister Alexis, who died in 2016. She pushed for trans rights in employment. Williams spoke of the huge pay disparity between women of color and white men in her industry and others saying, “The next time a woman, and especially a woman of color, because she stands to make 52 cents on the dollar compared to her white male counterparts, tells you what she needs in order to do her job, listen to her, believe her.”
Including the Creative Arts wins last weekend, HBO led all networks with 34 total wins, Netflix was next with 27, Amazon with 15, National Geographic won 8, NBC earned 7, CNN picked up 5 and FX Networks with 5.
The 71st annual Primetime Emmy Awards took place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. The host-free show, despite enough interludes to count as hosting, aired on FOX.
Here is the complete list of winners in all 27 categories from tonight’s Primetime Emmy Awards.
Drama Series
Better Call Saul (AMC)
Bodyguard (Netflix)
Game of Thrones (HBO) – WINNER
Killing Eve (BBC America)
Ozark (Netflix)
Pose (FX)
Succession (HBO)
This Is Us (NBC)
Comedy Series
Barry (HBO)
Fleabag (Amazon Prime) – WINNER
The Good Place (NBC)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime)
Russian Doll (Netflix)
Schitt’s Creek (Pop)
Veep (HBO)
Limited Series
Chernobyl (HBO) – WINNER
Escape at Dannemora (Showtime)
Fosse/Verdon (FX)
Sharp Objects (HBO)
When They See Us (Netflix)
Television Movie
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (Netflix) – WINNER
Brexit (HBO)
Deadwood: The Movie (HBO)
King Lear (Amazon Prime)
My Dinner with Hervé (HBO)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Jason Bateman, Ozark (Netflix) – “Reparations”
Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us (NBC) – “R&B”
Kit Harington, Game of Thrones (HBO) – “The Iron Throne”
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul (AMC) – “Winner”
Billy Porter, Pose (FX) – “Love is the Message” – WINNER
Milo Ventimiglia, This Is Us (NBC) – “Sometimes”
Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones (HBO) – “The Last of the Starks”
Jodie Comer, Killing Eve (BBC) – “I Hope You Like Missionary” – WINNER
Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder (ABC) – “He Betrayed Us Both”
Laura Linney, Ozark (Netflix) – “One Way Out”
Mandy Moore, This Is Us (NBC) – “The Graduates”
Sandra Oh, Killing Eve (BBC) – “You’re Mine”
Robin Wright, House of Cards (Netflix) – “Chapter 70”
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Gwendoline Christie, Game of Thrones (HBO) – “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”
Julia Garner, Ozark (Netflix) – “Gold Coast” – WINNER
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones (HBO) – “The Bells”
Fiona Shaw, Killing Eve (BBC) – “Nice and Neat”
Sophie Turner, Game of Thrones (HBO) – “Winterfell”
Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones (HBO) – “The Long Night”
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Alfie Allen, Game of Thrones (HBO) – “The Long Night”
Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul (AMC) – “Winner”
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Game of Thrones (HBO) – “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones (HBO) – “The Iron Throne” – WINNER
Giancarlo Esposito, Better Call Saul (AMC) – “Piñata”
Michael Kelly, House of Cards (Netflix) – “Chapter 73”
Chris Sullivan, This Is Us (NBC) – “Toby”
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson, black-ish (ABC) – “Purple Rain”
Don Cheadle, Black Monday (TBS) – “365 – Pilot”
Ted Danson, The Good Place (NBC) – “The Worst Possible Use of Free Will”
Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method (Netflix) – “An Actor Avoids”
Bill Hader, Barry (HBO) – “The Truth Has a Ring to It” – WINNER
Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek (POP) – “Rock On!”
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Christina Applegate, Dead to Me (Netflix) – “I’ve Got to Get Away”
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon) – “Midnight at the Concord”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep (HBO) – “Veep”
Natasha Lyonne, Russian Doll (Netflix) – “Nothing in This World Is Easy”
Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek (POP) – “The Crowening”
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag (Amazon) – “Episode 2.1” – WINNER
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon) – “Vote for Kennedy, Vote for Kennedy” – WINNER
Anna Chlumsky, Veep (HBO) – “Pledge”
Sian Clifford, Fleabag (Amazon) – “Episode 2.3”
Olivia Colman, Fleabag (Amazon) – “Episode 2.4”
Betty Gilpin, GLOW (Netflix) – “Mother of All Matches”
Sarah Goldberg, Barry (HBO) – “The Audition”
Marin Hinkle, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon) – “Simone”
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live (NBC) – “Host: Liev Schreiber”
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Alan Arkin, The Kominsky Method (Netflix) – “An Agent Grieves”
Anthony Carrigan, Barry (HBO) – “Past = Present x Future Over Yesterday”
Tony Hale, Veep (HBO) – “Veep”
Stephen Root, Barry (HBO) – “berkman > block”
Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon) – “We’re Going to the Catskills” – WINNER
Henry Winkler, Barry (HBO) – “What?!”
Lead Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie
Mahershala Ali, True Detective (HBO)
Benicio Del Toro, Escape at Dannemora (Showtime)
Hugh Grant, A Very English Scandal (Amazon)
Jared Harris, Chernobyl (HBO)
Jharrel Jerome, When They See Us (Netflix) – WINNER
Sam Rockwell, Fosse/Verdon (FX)
Lead Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie
Amy Adams, Sharp Objects (HBO)
Patricia Arquette, Escape at Dannemora (Showtime)
Aunjanue Ellis, When They See Us (Netflix)
Joey King, The Act (Hulu)
Niecy Nash, When They See Us (Netflix)
Michelle Williams, Fosse/Verdon (FX) – WINNER
Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie
Asante Blackk, When They See Us (Netflix) – “Part One”
Paul Dano, Escape at Dannemora (Showtime) – “Part 7”
John Leguizamo, When They See Us (Netflix) – “Part Three”
Stellan Skarsgard, Chernobyl (HBO) – “Please Remain Calm”
Ben Whishaw, A Very English Scandal (Amazon) – “Episode 3” – WINNER
Michael Kenneth Williams, When They See Us (Netflix) – “Part One”
Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie
Patricia Arquette, The Act (Hulu) – “The Teeth – Part 2” – WINNER
Marsha Stephanie Blake, When They See Us (Netflix) – “Part Three”
Patricia Clarkson, Sharp Objects (HBO) – “Closer – Part 5”
Vera Farmiga, When They See Us (Netflix) – “Part Two”
Margaret Qualley, Fosse/Verdon (FX) – “Where Am I Going? – Part 5”
Emily Watson, Chernobyl (HBO) – “Open Wide, O Earth – Part 3”
Reality Competition Series
The Amazing Race (CBS)
American Ninja Warrior (NBC)
Nailed It (Netflix)
RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1) – WINNER
Top Chef (Bravo)
The Voice (NBC)
Variety Sketch Series
At Home with Amy Sedaris (TruTV)
Documentary Now! (IFC)
Drunk History (Comedy Central)
I Love You, America with Sarah Silverman (Hulu)
Saturday Night Live (NBC) – WINNER
Who Is America? (Showtime)
Variety Talk Series
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS)
Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
Late Late Show with James Corden (CBS)
Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
Directing for a Drama Series
Game of Thrones, “The Iron Throne” (David Benioff, 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)
Killing Eve, “Desperate Times” (Lisa Brühlmann)
Ozark, “Reparations” (Jason Bateman) – WINNER
Succession, “Celebration” (Adam McKay)
Directing for a Comedy Series
Barry, “The Audition” (Alec Berg)
Barry, “ronny/lily” (Bill Hader)
Fleabag, “Episode 1” (Harry Bradbeer) – WINNER
The Big Bang Theory, “The Stockholm Syndrome” (Mark Cendrowski)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, “We’re Going to the Catskills! (Daniel Palladino)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, “All Alone” (Amy Sherman-Palladino)
Directing for a Limited Series, Television Movie or Dramatic Special
Chernobyl (Johan Renck) – WINNER
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)
Directing for a Variety Series
Documentary Now!, “Waiting for The Artist”
Drunk History, “Are You Afraid of the Drunk?”
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, “Psychics”
Saturday Night Live, “Host: Adam Sandler” – WINNER
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, “Live Midterm Election Show”
Who Is America?, “Episode 102”
Writing for a Drama Series
Better Call Saul, “Winner” (Peter Gould, Thomas Schauz)
Bodyguard, “Episode 1” (Jed Mercurio)
Game of Thrones, “The Iron Throne” (David Benioff, D.B. Weiss)
The Handmaid’s Tale, “Holly” (Bruce Miller, Kira Snyder)
Killing Eve, “Nice and Neat” (Emerald Fennell)
Succession, “Nobody is Ever Missing” (Jesse Armstrong) – WINNER
Writing for a Comedy Series
Barry, “ronny/lily” (Alec Berg, Bill Hader)
Fleabag, “Episode 1” (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) – WINNER
The Good Place, “Janet(s) (Josh Siegel, Dylan Morgan)
PEN15, “Anna Ishii-Peters” (Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle, Stacy Osei-Kuffour)
Russian Doll, “Nothing in This World is Easy” (Leslye Headland, Natasha Lyonne, Amy Poehler)
Russian Doll, “A Warm Body” (Allison Silverman)
Veep, “Veep” (David Mandel)
Writing for a Limited Series, Television Movie or Dramatic Special
Chernobyl (Craig Mazin) – WINNER
Escape at Dannemora, “Episode 6” (Brett Johnson, Michael Tolkien, Jerry Stahl)
Escape at Dannemora, “Episode 7” (Brett Johnson, Michael Tolkien)
Fosse/Verdon, “Providence” (Steven Levenson, Joel Fields)
A Very English Scandal (Russell T. Davies)
When They See Us, “Part Four” (Ava DuVernay, Michael Starrbury)
Writing for a Variety Series
Documentary Now! (IFC)
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) – WINNER
Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
He is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, accredited by the Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and more, is a member of the International Cinephile Society (ICS), The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA), Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) and the International Press Academy. Among his many achieved goals with AwardsWatch, he has given a platform to underrepresented writers and critics and supplied them with access to film festivals and the industry and calls the Bay Area his home where he lives with his husband and son.
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