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VIDEO: BԪַThrones,BԪַ BԪַFleabagBԪַ top Emmys

Billy Porter makes history as first openly gay black man to win best drama-series acting Emmy

BԪַGame of ThronesBԪַ resurrected the Iron Throne at SundayBԪַs Emmy ceremony, ruling as top drama on a night of surprises in which BԪַPoseBԪַ star Billy Porter made history and the comedy series BԪַFleabagBԪַ led a British invasion that overturned expectations.

BԪַThis all started in the demented mind of George R.R. Martin,BԪַ said BԪַGame of ThronesBԪַ producer David Benioff, thanking the author whose novels were the basis of HBOBԪַs 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 acting Emmy .

BԪַGod bless you all. The category is love, you all, love. IBԪַm so overjoyed and so overwhelmed to have lived to see this day,BԪַ said an exuberant Porter, resplendent in a sparkling suit and swooping hat.

AmazonBԪַs BԪַFleabag,BԪַ 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.

BԪַThis is getting ridiculous,BԪַ Waller-Bridge said in her third trip to the stage to collect the top trophy.

Her acting win blocked BԪַVeepBԪַ star Julia Louis-Dreyfus from setting a record as the most-honoured performer in Emmy history.

In accepting the writing award earlier, Waller-Bridge called the Emmy recognition proof that BԪַa dirty, pervy, messed-up woman can make it to the Emmys.BԪַ

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.

BԪַI have the right, you have the right, we all have the right,BԪַ he said.

English actress Jodie Comer was honoured as best drama actress for BԪַKilling Eve.BԪַ She competed with co-star Sandra Oh, who received a Golden Globe for her role and would have been the first actress of Asian descent to win an Emmy in the category.

BԪַMy mum and dad are in Liverpool (England) and I didnBԪַt invite them because I didnBԪַt think this was going to be my time. One, IBԪַm sorry, two I love you,BԪַ Comer said after saluting Oh.

Bill Hader won his second consecutive best comedy actor award for the hit man comedy BԪַBarry.BԪַ

Peter Dinklage, named best supporting actor for BԪַGame of Thrones,BԪַ set a record for most wins for the same role, four, breaking a tie with Aaron Paul of BԪַBreaking Bad.BԪַ

BԪַOzarkBԪַ star Julia Garner won the best supporting drama actress trophy against a field including four actresses from BԪַGame of Thrones.BԪַ

The auditorium erupted in cheers when Jharrel Jerome of BԪַWhen They See Us,BԪַ about the Central Park Five case , won the best actor award for a limited series movie.

BԪַMost important, this is for the men that we know as the Exonerated Five,BԪַ said Jerome, naming the five wrongly convicted men who were in the audience. They stood and saluted the actor as the crowd applauded them.

The ceremony was brisk but, without a host, was overly reliant on the hit-and-miss jokes of presenters. It was ultimately the surprising wins such as ComerBԪַs and the meaningful selections of Porter and Jerome that made the show.

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HBO retained its durable front-runner status with the help of BԪַGame of ThronesBԪַBԪַ record-tying 12 wins. The channel had a total of 34 awards from Sunday and last weekendBԪַs creative arts ceremony.

But streaming hit new Emmy heights, powered by Amazon Prime winners BԪַFleabag,BԪַ BԪַThe Marvelous Mrs. MaiselBԪַ and BԪַA Very English Scandal,BԪַ and NetflixBԪַs BԪַBandersnatch (Black Mirror),BԪַ honoured as best movie.

Netflix collected 27 awards and Amazon nabbed 15.

The Associated Press

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Billy Porter accepts the award for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for BԪַPoseBԪַ at the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)




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