Dubbed the Oscars of television, the Emmy Awards are an annual highlight in cable network calendars in the US. They validate networks and series with their nod of approval, which is widely touted as the most prestigious night of television. A nod from the Emmy Academy is proud accolade for any actor, director or member of the entertainment fraternity.
Game of Thrones received a total of 12 awards this year. With a haul of 38 Emmys, GoT has broken the record set by sitcom Frasier.
AWARDSEASON
Tatiana Maslany and Rami Malek pick up top prize for acting.
Dubbed the Oscars of television, the Emmy Awards are an annual highlight in cable network calendars in the US. They validate networks and series with their nod of approval, which is widely touted as the most prestigious night of television. A nod from the Emmy Academy is proud accolade for any actor, director or member of the entertainment fraternity.
The 2016 edition of the awards was accompanied by the usual fanfare and some predictable wins. HBO’s bloody, beloved Game of Thrones won big, breaking records for the number of awards it picked up. It swept three major categories: Outstanding Drama Series, Writing and Direction for its penultimate episode, The Battle of The Bastards. This is GoT’s second consecutive win in the Outstanding Drama Category, sealing its position as a globally acclaimed show.
The other big winner of the night turned out be Julia Louis-Dreyfus starrer Veep, the show won her best comedy lead alongside a nod for the series itself. Dreyfus, with this win, has broken her tie with Helen Hunt for the honour of the leading award holder.
With both shows by HBO winning big, the TV giant emerged in a strong position as a network with a finger on the pulse of global entertainment. Other winners included The People V. OJ Simpson, which won five times in the miniseries category, a segment that is slowly gaining popularity for the value miniseries can add to quality entertainment.
Beating formidable names like Kevin Spacey, Matthew Rhys, Kyle Chandler, Bob Odenkirk and Liev Schreiber, Rami Malek won the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his eerie and edgy performance in USA's dark and chilling production, Mr. Robot.
In a last nod to the show and a befitting goodbye to a much loved character, Dame Maggie Smith won her final award for reprising her role as Dowager Countess in Downton Abbey. It’s safe to say no one was taken by surprise with the name called out as Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Needless to say, the Dowager and her sharp wit will be missed on air.
Turning to red carpet, Claire Danes seemed to have knocked it out of the park with her shimmery, gold Schiaparelli outfit, which comes on the heels of her fairy-like appearance at the Met Gala in a technologically mesmerizing Zac Posen gown. Danes is having a great year in terms of style and whoever is behind it certainly needs a raise and a pat on the back.
Tatiana Maslany, the 30-year-old star of Orphan Black, picked up her first ever Emmy award in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her work on Orphan Black. In the critically acclaimed series, Maslany plays at least six characters regularly.
Michelle Dockery also looks predictably good in an Oscar de la Renta gown while Kristen Bell channeled flirty fun in a printed Zuhair Murad number and Sansa Stark aka Sophie Turner is nearly unrecognizable as a blonde in a black lacy, boudoir dress. Lilly Aldridge works her navy gown but then when does the sultry model not look unbearably sexy? And in a bevy of blonde Hollywood celebrities, Priyanka Copra stands out in her billowy red gown.
The rest of carpet is passé. Emilia Clark plays it safe in nude and Modern Family’s Ariel Winters and GoT’s Maisie Williams seem to fulfill the lack of Kardashian presence on the red carpet with Winters reprising an outfit out of Kylie Jenner’s wardrobe, complete with the flat palm on the thigh pose while baby faced Williams goes for a look inspired by elder sister Kendal Jenner’s night out with fake bangs. Neither look worked.
