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Agence France-Presse

Fantasy epic Game of Thrones made television history at the 68th Emmy Awards, 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 on Sunday, television’s equivalent of the Oscars.
Watch: ‘Game of Thrones’ tipped to make Emmys history
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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.
Winter is coming: Game of Thrones confirmed to end after its eighth season
Peter Dinklage missed out on a supporting actor trophy, as did co-star Kit Harington, the category’s favorite, with little-heralded Australian 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.
Sophie Turner on the Game of Thrones finale and Sansa’s big evolution
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 favourite 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 recognised 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.


‘Game of Thrones’ is crowned the most successful scripted TV show in  Emmy history

Executive producers David Benioff, center left, and DB Weiss accept the Emmy award for Oustanding Drama Series for Game of Thrones with their cast and crew in Los Angeles on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

Show host Jimmy Kimmel hands out sandwiches to the audience at the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., September 18, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Blake

epa05547460 John Travolta (L), winner of the Best Limited Series Award and Sterling K. Brown, winner of the Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Television Movie Award, both for 'The People v. O.J. Simpson', pose in the press room during the 68th annual Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, USA, 18 September 2016. The Primetime Emmy Awards celebrate excellence in national primetime television programming. EPA/MIKE NELSON

epa05547409 Julia Louis-Dreyfus, winner of the Best Actress in a Comedy Series Award and Outstanding Comedy Series Award for 'Veep', poses in the press room during the 68th annual Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, USA, 18 September 2016. The Primetime Emmy Awards celebrate excellence in national primetime television programming. EPA/MIKE NELSON

Emilia Clarke and Peter Dinklage in "Game of Thrones." (Helen Sloan/HBO)

Rory McCann, from left, Conleth Hill, Iwan Rheon, Hannah Murray, Gwendoline Christie, Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Maisie Williams, Emilia Clarke, Sophie Turner, and Kit Harington winners of the award for outstanding drama series for “Game of Thrones” pose in the press room at the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Actress Tatiana Maslany holds her award for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series for "Orphan Black" as she mingles at the Governors Ball after the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California U.S., September 18, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

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