While GoT and Fleabag ruled as the top shows and Billy Porter became the first gay man to win a best drama series, the online industry stood the tallest at the awards
The searing TV series on the plight of the Central Park Five created a memorable Emmy moment when the five exonerated men stood and were honoured at the awards show. The four-part Netflix series explores the true story of five black and Latino teenagers from Harlem who were coerced into confessing to a rape they didn’t commit in 1989 and follows them over the course of 25 years to their eventual exoneration.
Show creator Ava DuVernay lost in the directing and writing categories but Jharrel Jerome won for best lead actor in a limited series. “I feel like I should just be in the Bronx right now, just chilling, waiting for my mom’s cooking. But I am here in front of my inspirations,” said Jerome, a New Yorker whose mother told him about this ugly chapter in city history. He then acknowledged the Central Park Five — Yusef Salaam, Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise.
“This is for Raymond, Yusef, Antron, Kevin, and King Korey Wise. Thank you so much, it’s an honour. It’s a blessing,” said Jerome. Some of the men raised fists in the air, while others, including Wise, had tears in their eyes. Jerome played Wise in the series. The case of the Central Park Five cut the city along racial lines from the outset, with the victim being a young white woman. It drew worldwide attention. It took years for the five to be exonerated, and they spent most of their youth in prison. Another man later confessed to the attack.
Thrones, Fleabag top Emmys, Billy Porter makes history
Game of Thrones resurrected the Iron Throne at the ceremony, ruling as top drama on a night of surprises in which Pose star Billy Porter made history and the comedy series Fleabag led a British invasion that overturned expectations. “This all started in the demented mind of George RR Martin,” said Game of Thrones producer David Benioff, thanking the author whose novels were the basis of HBO’s fantasy saga. Porter, who stars in the FX drama set in the LGBTQ ball scene of the late 20th century, became the first openly gay man to win a best drama series.
“God bless you all. The category is love, you all, love. I’m so overjoyed and so overwhelmed to have lived to see this day,” said an exuberant Porter, resplendent in a sparkling suit and swooping hat.
Amazon’s Fleabag, a dark comedy about a dysfunctional woman, was honoured as best comedy and earned writing and top acting honours for its British creator and star, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, as well as a best director trophy. “This is getting ridiculous,” Waller-Bridge said in her third trip to the stage to collect the top trophy. Her acting win blocked Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfus from setting a record as the most-honoured performer in Emmy history. “Nooooo!” a shocked-looking Waller-Bridge said as Louis-Dreyfus smiled for the cameras. “Oh, my God, no. Thank you. I find acting really hard and painful. But it’s all about this,” she said, her acting trophy firmly in hand.
Porter, a Tony and Grammy Award winning performer, relished his groundbreaking moment. Quoting the late writer James Baldwin, he said it took him many years to believe he has the right to exist. English actress Jodie Comer was honoured as best drama actress for Killing Eve. “My mum and dad are in Liverpool (England) and I didn’t invite them because I didn’t think this was going to be my time. One, I’m sorry, two I love you,” Comer said after saluting Oh.
Peter Dinklage, named best supporting actor for Game of Thrones, set a record for most wins for the same role, four, breaking a tie with Aaron Paul of Breaking Bad. “I count myself so fortunate to be a member of a community that is about nothing but tolerance and diversity, because in no other place I could be standing on a stage like this,” said Dinklage, who is a dwarf.
Ozark star Julia Garner won the best supporting drama actress trophy against a field including four actresses from Game of Thrones.
It was the only honour for the acclaimed Netflix series of the evening; Chernobyl won the best limited series honour. Amazon Prime winners, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and A Very English Scandal, and Netflix’s Bandersnatch (Black Mirror), honored as best film.
HBO retained its durable front-runner status with the help of Game of Thrones record-tying 12 wins. Netflix collected 27 awards and Amazon nabbed 15.
Dual-tone gowns of pink and red ruled the Emmys carpet
Did someone send a memo? Taraji P Henson, Zoe Kazan, Susan Kelechi Watson, Mandy Moore and Marisa Tomei all showed up to the Emmys in two-tone looks of pink and red that stood out on the awards’ purple carpet. The dual tones were the strongest trend among the women, where outfits from Zendaya, Gwendoline Christie and current red carpet darling Billy Porter also turned heads.
While it’s common to see many stars wearing a certain colour, the combination of pink and red was particularly eye popping on the purple carpet. “With many also showcasing 80s hints of bold shoulders, it shows an emerging optimism on the red carpet and a willingness to have a little fun with fashion,” said Kerry Pieri, the fashion and features director for HarpersBazaar.
Henson’s French tulle gown with a sheer red cape was custom Vera Wang Collection. Kazan’s black, magenta and pink silk gown with bow detail was Gucci. Badgley Mischka created Kelechi Watson’s version, in ruby crepe with blush pink sleeves that fell off the shoulder. Moore wore Brandon Maxwell, a pink twill gazar blouse with a red crepe cummerbund skirt.
Corsets, too, had a wow moment. Indya Moore wore white Louis Vuitton and Zendaya rocked Vera Wang in green with a daring top. “Both also had slits up to there, making this the current approach to something sexy. Maybe it means we’re all finally ready to move on from the naked dress,” Pieri said. Pieri considered Christie’s intensely Game of Thrones Bordeaux cape look a near miss. While costume-y, she said, “celebrating the end of a major epic fantasy drama sometimes calls for gilded robes.”
Christie was Brienne of Tarth on the popular, defunct HBO series, which won top honours for best drama at the ceremony. Marielle Bobo, fashion director for Essence, said seafoam was another shade du jour — on Regina King, Brittany Snow, Jameela Jamil and Padma Lakshmi. “They stunned in the soft pastel hue which complements a variety of skin tones,” Bobo said, also noting the red and pink parade that made for an “unexpected yet refreshing combination.”
There were some classic Hollywood metallic moments as well, including Julia Louis-Dreyfus in sequined gold and Rachel Brosnahan in navy blue, the latter offering a “modern take on Hollywood glam with architectural accents,” Bobo said.
Laura Linney, Chrissy Metz, Niecy Nash, Dominique Jackson and Patricia Clarkson embraced heavily sequined looks.
Kerry Washington, Angela Bassett and Amy Poehler all opted for pants, while Porter, who has made headlines with his red-carpet gowns, chose sparkling stripe trousers from Michael Kors and a huge statement hat with a towering brim on one side by Stephen Jones. Porter ended up making history later as the first openly gay man to win an Emmy for best actor in a drama series for his role of Pray Tell on FX’s Pose.
