Los Angeles: Netflix's The Crown and The Queen's Gambit combined with Apple TV+'s Ted Lasso to win top series honors at the Sunday's Emmy Awards, a first for streaming services that cemented their rise to prominence in the television industry.
"I'm at a loss for words," said Peter Morgan, the creator and writer of the British royal saga The Crown, which collected acting, writing and directing awards in addition to four acting honors. His comment may also apply to the premium cable channels that once dominated the Emmy Awards and to the broadcast networks — including Sunday's host, CBS — that have long grown accustomed to being largely also-rans.
The ceremony also proved disappointing to those scrutinizing diversity in Hollywood. The record number of nominees of color yielded only only two Black winners, including RuPaul for RuPaul's Drag Race and Michaela Coel for I May Destroy You.
The Crown stars Olivia Colman and Josh O'Connor won the top drama acting honors Sunday, with Jason Sudeikis, star of the warm-hearted Ted Lasso, and Jean Smart of the generation-gap story Hacks, winners on the comedy side.
Colman and O'Connor were a winning fictional mother-son duo: She plays Queen Elizabeth II, with O'Connor as Prince Charles in the British royal family saga that combines gravitas and soap opera.
"I'd have put money on that not happening," Colman said of the award, calling it "a lovely end to the most extraordinary journey" with the show's cast and creators. She cut her remarks short, explaining why she was growing tearful. "I lost my daddy during COVID, and he would have loved all of this." she said.
O'Connor gave a shoutout to Emma Corwin, who played opposite him as Princess Diana and was also a nominee Sunday, as a "force of nature." He also offered thanks to his grandparents, including his grandmother who died a few months ago, and his grandfather, Peter O'Connor, for the "greatest gifts" of kindness and loyalty."
Sudeikis, who also produces the series that many viewers found a balm for tough pandemic times, gave a speech that evoked the chipper, upbeat character he plays in the series about a U.K. soccer team and its unlikely American coach.
READ | Emmys 2021: The Crown, Ted Lasso frontrunners for top series honors
"This show's about families and mentors and teammates, and I wouldn't be here without those things in my life," said Sudeikis. He also thanked his fellow castmates, saying "I'm only as good as you guys make me look."
Smart, who received a standing ovation, began her acceptance speech on a somber note: Her husband actor, Richard Gilliland, died six months ago. "I would not be here without him" and his willingness to put her career first, said Smart. She also praised their two children as "courageous individuals in their own right."
Earlier in the evening, ebullient Ted Lasso castmate Hannah Waddingham, winner of the best supporting actress award for a comedy, said Sudeikis "changed my life with this, and more importantly my baby girl's."
The show's Brett Goldstein, who won the counterpart award for supporting actor, said he had promised not to swear and either mimed or was muted for a few seconds, then called the show the "privilege and pleasure" of his life.
Gillian Anderson and Tobias Menzies of British royal drama The Crown were honored for their supporting performances. Anderson, who played British political leader Margaret Thatcher, used her acceptance speech to thank her manager of 20 years for her mentorship and believing in her talent before she did.
Menzies who plays Prince Philip, didn't attend the ceremony, which included a London gathering for The Crown nominees.
Before announcing the winner in his category, presenter Kerry Washington saluted another nominee, Michael K. Williams of Lovecraft County. Williams died Sept. 6 at age 54. "Michael was a brilliantly talented actor and a generous human being who has left us far too soon," Washington said.
Another lost star was remembered by John Oliver of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. "No one was funnier in the last 20 years than Norm Macdonald on late-night comedy," Oliver said in accepting the Emmy for best variety talk show, suggesting people spend time checking out clips of Macdonald, as he did after Macdonald died Sept. 14 at age 61.
Kate Winslet, who played the title character in Mare of Easttown, and Ewan McGregor, who starred in the fashion biopic Halston, were honored as top actors for a limited series.
AP
