Gold Standard: Why ‘Game of Thrones’ won and how I did with my other Emmy picks
The “Game of Thrones” gang celebrates their drama series Emmy backstage at Microsoft Theater in L.A.
As I speculated before the Emmys, this year’s rule changes turned the awards into more of a popularity contest that rewarded brand names and even produced a series win for “Game of Thrones,” a triumph that should have fans waving their swords and canceling their annual dragon-themed pity parties.
“If we can expand the voting and enable our younger members to participate in greater numbers, that’s a positive,” Television Academy Chairman Bruce Rosenblum told me earlier this spring.
That youth-targeted expansion surely helped “Thrones,” which is why I gave it the edge over the other, more traditional dramas nominated.
How’d I do with the rest of my picks? Let’s go through the roll call ...
COMEDY SERIES
The pick: “Veep”
The winner: “Veep”
Analysis: When HBO’s “Veep” won the comedy writing Emmy and Tony Hale took supporting actor, the writing was on the wall that “Modern Family’s” five-year win streak would be history. “Veep” just enjoyed its best season, and voters were more than happy to finally go in a different direction and reward it.
LEAD ACTOR COMEDY
The pick: Jeffrey Tambor, “Transparent”
The winner: Tambor
Analysis: He’s one of the most beloved actors in the business. There was little doubt that voters would honor him for the most challenging work he has done in a stellar career.
LEAD ACTRESS COMEDY
The pick: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep”
The winner: Louis-Dreyfus
Analysis: That’s four in a row. You can’t begrudge her and yet ... yawn. Amy Poehler should have won for the last season of “Parks and Recreation.” Not that it looks like she’s broken up about the loss.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS COMEDY
The pick: Allison Janney.
The winner: Janney.
Analysis: You never pick against Janney. Ever. That’s her seventh win, two for comedy, five for drama. The only actor who has won more? Cloris Leachman with eight.
SUPPORTING ACTOR COMEDY
The pick: Tituss Burgess, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”
The winner: Tony Hale, “Veep”
Analysis: Hale becomes the first back-to-back winner in this category since Jeremy Piven’s three-peat for “Entourage” in 2006-08. Burgess had a much showier role, but Hale powered through on the evening’s “Veep” sweep.
DRAMA SERIES
The pick: “Game of Thrones”
The winner: “Game of Thrones”
Analysis: “They said you could win with dragons,” “Thrones” co-creator D.B. Weiss said backstage. Yes. Once “Breaking Bad” went off the air and “Mad Men” wore out its welcome and the Television Academy changed its voting rules, it most certainly could win -- even with dragons.
DRAMA LEAD ACTOR
The pick: Jon Hamm, “Mad Men”
The winner: Hamm.
Analysis: The only “Mad Men” acting Emmy. Ever. Criminally overdue, but at least voters finally got it right. Hamm not winning would be like failing to give James Gandolfini an Emmy for “The Sopranos.” Hamm sweated blood to give us Don Draper. OK. Maybe not blood. But he did sweat. A lot.
DRAMA LEAD ACTRESS
The pick: Viola Davis, “How to Get Away With Murder”
The winner: Davis.
Analysis: That speech. Becoming the first black actress to win this category, Davis recognized the historical moment and then delivered words that took that moment and turned it into something truly special. Bravo.
DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTOR
The pick: Jonathan Banks, “Better Call Saul”
The winner: Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones.”
Analysis: As Dinklage noted from the stage, he wasn’t prepared for this. “Jonathan Banks ... ooooh. And the rest.” That about sums it up. Banks should have won.
DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTRESS
The pick: Lena Headey, “Game of Thrones”
The winner: Uzo Aduba, “Orange Is the New Black”
Analysis: I did not see this one coming. But when you think of all the great women on that show, any one of whom who could have won this trophy, this is a pretty great choice.
Twitter: @glennwhipp
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