jimmy-kimmle

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As you may know last weekend, it was the 68th Emmys started great with the host Jimmy Kimmel he kick things off with a montage that goofed on O.J. Simpson, “Veep,” Jeb Bush and Wham!, before he arrived onstage and acknowledged the night’s big favorites, “Game of Thrones” and “The People v. O.J. Simpson.” “If your show doesn’t have a dragon or a white Bronco, go home now,” he said.

Here are the highlights what happened:

Maggie Smith won the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Emmy tonight. This is the third time Smith has taken the statue for Downton Abbey, and the fifth time she was nominated for what has become an iconic role. This makes it four Emmys overall for the two-time Oscar winner.

Emmy host Jimmy Kimmel took great pains to point out early in the show, however, that this was Smith’s ninth nomination and the ninth time she is not at the ceremony. Calling her “Downton absent,” he wondered, “What is wrong with us? Why do we keep nominating this woman?” He didn’t let up, ribbing, “Lame Maggie Smith, if you want an Emmy, you better hop on a plane right now and get your Dowager Count-ass over here.” When Smith ultimately did win, Kimmel stepped in, grabbed the trophy and said, “If you want this, it will be in the lost and found.” The next day, she claimed her award.

Game of Thrones got 38 Emmys wins which won for Best Writing, Best Directing and Best Drama on Sunday night, first tying Frasier with 37 wins then taking the title with a total of 38. The series won 12 Emmys in total this year. It includes for Best Visual and Best Stunts during the creative arts awards that was broad cast Saturday before the Emmys.

Game of Thrones” and “Veep” repeated as best drama and comedy at the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards. The twin triumphs had been widely predicted, but other winners were more surprising. Tatiana Maslany, the star of the cult favorite “Orphan Black,” on BBC, was named best actress in a drama. She played multiple characters, on the show she is one incredible actress. These are the characters that she played Sarah Manning / Elizabeth Childs / Alison Hendrix / Cosima Niehaus / Helena / Rachel Duncan / Tony Sawicki / Jennifer Fitzsimmons / Katja Obinger / Pupok (Scorpion, voice) / Krystal Goderitch / Veera Suominen (MK). Incredible actress.

Rami Malek won best actor in a drama for “Mr. Robot,” another highly regarded but scantly watched series – one character, I think.

The comedy acting wins were more predictable. Julia Louis-Dreyfus was named best actress in a comedy, for “Veep,” for the fifth time in a row. In her speech she both mocked Donald J. Trump and honored her father, Gérard Louis-Dreyfus, who died Friday before the Emmys.

Jeffrey Tambor won for the second consecutive year for “Transparent.” He waved off the play-off music to urge Hollywood to give more opportunities to transgender actors. “I would not be unhappy were I the last male to play a female transgender on television,” he said. “We have work to do.”

The night’s other big winner was “The People v. O.J. Simpson,” claiming the award for best limited series, in a crowded category. John Travolta produced it and also won awards for lead actress (Sarah Paulson) and actor (Courtney B. Vance), supporting actor (Sterling K. Brown) and writing (D.V. DeVincentis).

“Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” won best variety talk show, a category that has been dominated for years. Matt Damon humiliated Jimmy Kimmel asking him who won while eating an apple.

Additional surprises came in the comedy supporting acting category. Louis Anderson won for “Baskets,” in which he played a version of his mother, if you haven’t seen it, it’s on FX.  Kate McKinnon won for her performance on “Saturday Night Live.” In her acceptance speech, Ms. McKinnon thanked her cast and crew.

Here are the winners:

Drama Series: “Game of Thrones” (HBO)

Comedy Series: “Veep” (HBO)

Mini-Series or Movie: “The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story” (FX)

TV Movie: “Sherlock: The Abominable Bride (Masterpiece)” (PBS)

Variety Talk Series: “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” (HBO)

Variety Sketch Series: “Key & Peele” (Comedy Central)

Actor in a Comedy Series: Jeffrey Tambor, “Transparent”

Actress in a Comedy Series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep”

Actor in a Drama Series: Rami Malek, “Mr. Robot”

Actress in a Drama Series: Tatiana Maslany, “Orphan Black”

Actor in a Mini-Series or Movie: Courtney B. Vance, “The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story”

Actress in a Mini-Series or Movie: Sarah Paulson, “The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story”

Supporting Actor in a Drama: Ben Mendelsohn, “Bloodline”

Supporting Actress in a Drama: Maggie Smith, “Downton Abbey”

Supporting Actor in a Comedy: Louie Anderson, “Baskets”

Supporting Actress in a Comedy: Kate McKinnon, “Saturday Night Live”

Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie: Sterling K. Brown, “The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story”

Supporting Actress in a Mini-Series or Movie: Regina King, “American Crime”

*Reality Host: RuPaul Charles, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (Logo)

Reality Competition Program: “The Voice” (NBC)

Writing for a Comedy Series: Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang, “Master of None” (“Parents”)

Writing for a Drama Series: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, “Game of Thrones” (“Battle of the Bastards”)

Writing for a Mini-Series or Movie: D.V. DeVincentis, “The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story” (“Marcia, Marcia, Marcia”)

*Writing for a Variety Series: “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”

Writing for a Variety Special: Patton Oswalt, “Patton Oswalt: Talking for Clapping”

Directing for a Comedy Series: Jill Soloway, “Transparent” (“Man on the Land”)

Directing for a Drama Series: Miguel Sapochnik, “Game of Thrones” (“Battle of the Bastards”)

Directing for a Mini-Series or Movie: Susanne Bier, “The Night Manager”

*Directing for a Variety Series: Ryan McFaul, “Inside Amy Schumer”

Directing for a Variety Special: Thomas Kail and Alex Rudzinski, “Grease: Live”

*Guest Actor in a Drama Series: Hank Azaria, “Ray Donovan”

*Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Margo Martindale, “The Americans”

*Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Peter Scolari, “Girls”

*Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, “Saturday Night Live”

*Awards presented during the Creative Arts Emmy ceremony Sept. 10-11.