Emmys 2019: ‘Game of Thrones’ takes crown, despite divisive finale

Game of Thrones took the top Emmy for best drama Sunday but dark British comedy Fleabag was the surprise big winner of television’s glitziest night, dominating the comedy prizes at a star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles.

Thrones, the most decorated fictional show in the history of the Emmys – television’s Oscars – finished with 12 awards overall for its final season.

“Thank you to the hardest working crews in show business - the dragons who shot for 70 nights straight in freezing Belfast rain, the wolves who shot all around the world - you are amazing, all of you,” said showrunner Dan Weiss.

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“And it is amazing that all of you are still alive.”

Peter Dinklage won his fourth best supporting actor statuette for his portrayal of sharp-tongued dwarf Tyrion Lannister.

But the blood-soaked fantasy epic’s hopes of going out with a record for a single season were dashed after it failed to convert nominations in directing, writing, and the other acting categories.

The divisive final run of Thrones enraged many fans – more than a million signed a petition for HBO to redo its conclusion.

But the 10 nominated cast members of the cast of Thrones received a standing ovation as they gathered on stage.

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Thrones had already bagged 10 Emmys in lesser categories at last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys, including for the show’s special effects and elaborate costumes.

It ends its eight-season run with 59 Emmys, a record for a drama or comedy. Only variety sketch show Saturday Night Live has more.

In the night’s biggest shock, Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge bested eight-time acting winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep) before the show itself won for best comedy series.

The BBC show – which has grown into a phenomenon on both sides of the Atlantic after being acquired by Amazon – also scooped awards for best comedy writing and directing.

“It’s just really wonderful to know and reassuring that a dirty, pervy, angry, messed-up woman can make it to the Emmys,” said Waller-Bridge, referring to her character.

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“This is just getting ridiculous,” she said on adding the comedy series prize.

“The journey has been absolutely mental.”

Fleabag was totally shunned by Emmy voters last year, failing to bag a single nomination. But the Television Academy’s 24,000-plus voters changed their tune for its second season.

Waller-Bridge has ruled out a third season, saying the irreverent series about a self-absorbed young Londoner has come “to a natural end”.

Billy Porter made history as the first openly gay black man to win the best drama actor prize for FX show Pose, which explores New York’s underground ballroom culture in the 1980s.

Jason Bateman was the surprise winner for directing Netflix’s dark crime thriller Ozark. Co-star Julia Garner won best supporting actress.

Sandra Oh failed in her bid to become the first Asian-American actress to win the leading actress in a drama category, beaten by her co-star Jodie Comer in BBC spy thriller Killing Eve.

Chernobyl -HBO’s drama about the 1986 nuclear catastrophe – won the Emmy for best limited series.

Bill Hader won for best actor for HBO’s hitman comedy Barry. The network pulled off another victory for Succession, with Jesse Armstrong a surprise winner for drama writing.