Emmy Awards: HBO, Jon Hamm and Viola Davis win big
At the 67th Emmy Awards, HBO's "Veep" won for best comedy series, and its "Game of Thrones" won for best drama series. HBO's "Olive Kitteridge" also cleaned up with six wins. Jon Hamm has finally won for lead actor in a drama for "Mad Men" after many nominations, and Viola Davis became the first African American woman to win for lead actress in a drama.
The Times was there from start to end, chronicling the preparations, fashions, wins, losses, memorable moments and emotional reactions. Take a look.
- Full list of the nominees and winners
- Our summary of the show
- Photos from the red carpet and show highlights
Serious fandom at the top of the red carpet
How this Emmys made history
Viola Davis made history Sunday as the first African American to win lead actress in a drama. Combined with Uzo Aduba's and Regina King's wins earlier in the evening, the three victories for African American actresses ties a record set in 1991 for most acting Emmys awarded to black women in a single year.
"Game of Thrones" also made some Emmys history. Combined with the Creative Emmys it took home last week, the series won 12 Emmy Awards this year (including its first for drama series), which is the most any series has won in a single year.
Jon Hamm isn't bitter it took this long
'Veep' creator on leaving the series
"Veep" creator Armando Iannucci is leaving the HBO comedy, but he won't be empty-handed. The show celebrated its first Emmy for comedy series, beating out five-time winner "Modern Family."
"It feels like the right time," Iannucci told reporters in the press room after the awards show on Sunday night. "I felt that I've taken the show to where I wanted to take it and I'm pleased to pass it on. ...Every show can benefit from new energy."
All the photos from the Emmys
Check out the photo gallery capturing highlights from the Emmy telecast.
You can also see all of the photos from the red carpet here .
Fashion moment of the evening?
Jon Stewart on his last days on 'The Daily Show'
The final tally: HBO wins huge
HBO snagged 14 wins -- 10 more than the next biggest winner, Comedy Central, which had four wins.
Regina King's disbelief
"Did they get that right? Did they really say that?"
Those were Regina King's first thoughts when they announced she had won the Emmy on Sunday for supporting actress in a limited series or movie for her role as Aliyah Shadeed in "American Crime."
"I'm still kind of digesting it," the actress said in the press room after the ceremony on Sunday.
As far as celebrating goes, King said her plans entail taking off her heels and grabbing a drink.
"I think I'm going to have a martini, two times."
She also plans to send her Emmy "some way, somehow" to Cincinnati, where her mom and grandma live.
"I think that's the best place for her," she said, referring to her statuette.
Amy Schumer's Emmy memories
Ask Amy Schumer about it, and the 2015 Emmy Awards will be a memorable night for two reasons.
1) Her Comedy Central show "Inside Amy Schumer" won an Emmy Sunday night for best sketch comedy series.
2) But a moment that was also a favorite, she says, is presenting with Amy Poehler.
"She's the best," Schumer told reporters backstage, when she wasn't humorously seeming interested in the publications they work for. "That I could stand there and talk ... with her and Tina [Fey] during the commercial break -- my life's a dream right now.
"And this moment," she deadpanned.
So how does the comedian plan to spend her night?
"I think you know how I'll be celebrating tonight ... I'm going to black out."
When one reporter asked if she might make out with anyone famous in that state, like, say, Fey, with whom she locked lips earlier this summer at the Peabody Awards, Schumer didn't limit the possibilities to just Fey.
"Honestly, anyone who's willing," she said. "I brought my own lube. I don't know if that's something that interests anyone. Literally, anyone."
Wait, what's 'Olive Kitteridge'?
The HBO miniseries "Olive Kitteridge" cleaned up tonight with six Emmy wins, including one for Frances McDormand, who brought the project to HBO and played the title character.
Not to oversell it, but here's what Times TV critic Mary McNamara wrote after watching it:
"Literally; when this lovely, ruthless, masterfully restrained two-night, four-hour contemplation of love, marriage, parenthood, mental illness and identity came to an end, I stood up. There was no one physically present to applaud and I felt I had to do something."
Tracy Morgan's triumphant return to the Emmys
Tracy Morgan returned to the Emmys after a devastating car accident in June 2014 nearly took his life. Morgan presented the Emmy for drama series to "Game of Thrones" and cracked several jokes during the presentation, suggesting that he's well on his way to returning to his irreverent ways.
Morgan was nominated for supporting actor in a comedy series in 2009 for his work as Tracy Jordan on "30 Rock."
These women are excited for Viola Davis
Winner: 'Game of Thrones' for drama series
“Game of Thrones” has won the Emmy for drama series, marking the first victory in this category for the HBO hit.
Based on fantasy novels by author George R.R. Martin and created by D.B. Weiss and David Benioff, “Game of Thrones” depicts the violent power struggles between warring factions in the imaginary Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. The intensely bloody and densely plotted epic wrapped its fifth season on HBO in June and has become the network's most-watched series. Its large ensemble cast includes Emmy nominees Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage and Emilia Clarke.
Despite backlash over its frequent depictions of sexual violence, "Game of Thrones" received 24 nominations this year, the most of any series. It also took home eight awards at the Creative Arts Emmys on Sept. 12.
The show's victory in one of Emmy's marquee categories represents a major breakthrough for the fantasy genre, which has long fought for awards recognition. It's also HBO's first win in the drama series category since the final season of "The Sopranos" in 2007.
“Game of Thrones” faced increased competition in the drama series category, which was expanded to seven nominees this year. The other contenders were “House of Cards" (Netflix), "Mad Men" (AMC), "Downton Abbey" (PBS), "Homeland" (Showtime), "Orange Is the New Black" and "Better Call Saul" (AMC).
As has been the case since 2012, the four major commercial broadcast networks were shut out of the category.
Jon Hamm wins Mad Men's first (and only) acting Emmy
After eight lead actor in a drama Emmy nominations for playing Don Draper on "Mad Men", Jon Hamm has finally taken home the prize.
As notable as it is that this is just Hamm's first Emmy for the role, it's even more interesting to realize that his victory is the first, and only, acting Emmy "Mad Men" ever received.
The show went an astonishing one for 37 in acting categories at the Emmys during its eight years on the air.
Winner: 'Veep' for comedy series
HBO's "Veep" has won the Emmy for comedy series, ending the five-year winning streak of ABC's "Modern Family" in the category.
"Veep" began its life in 2012 with Julia Louis-Dreyfus portraying a bumbling, discontented vice president striving to gain more influence with the show's (unseen) president.
This season, the show's fourth, saw Louis-Dreyfus stepping in as U.S. president and struggling to adjust to her newfound power in the White House. Already a critical favorite, the new plot development brought "Veep" even wider acclaim.
Other nominees in the category included "Louie" (FX), "Parks and Recreation” (NBC), "Modern Family" (ABC), "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" (Netflix), "Transparent" (Amazon Studios) and "Silicon Valley" (HBO).
Frances McDormand wants more 'Olive Kitteridge'
Sure, she just won an Emmy, but Frances McDormand would like to start a social media campaign.
She may have given what seemed the shortest acceptance speech in awards show history, but maybe that's because McDormand is not ready to leave the world of "Olive Kitteridge."
The limited series based on short stories from Elizabeth Strout, which chronicled the titular character's 25-year relationship with her husband, Henry, played out over four installments on HBO. That, frankly, was not enough for McDormand.
"I would like you to all start a social media campaign so we can film more of the short stories from 'Olive Kitteridge,'" she said.
The actress said she championed the initial book-to-TV adaptation so strongly because she found the world Strout brought to life to be "infinitely interesting to read." And it wasn't just the character she took on to critical acclaim that piqued her interest.
"I thought that it could be a great town to spend some time in," McDormand said. "Not necessarily the character [Olive], the whole town of Crosby, Maine."
What's the deal with the green ribbons?
Jeffrey Tambor's green ribbon went from his lapel on the red carpet to a spot of honor on his Emmy for lead actor in a comedy series. George R.R. Martin flashed his in the audience. Julia Louis-Dreyfuss reportedly tacked hers to her clutch.
But why?
It's about climate change: The green ribbons are to raise awareness of the Natural Resources Defense Council's efforts to get the Clean Power Plan passed at a federal level.
Not as fun of a mystery as figuring out whether the "Jen" mentioned at the end of Jon Hamm's acceptance speech referred to his longtime partner and recent ex, Jennifer Westfeldt, but hey, at least this mystery is solved.
Winner: Viola Davis for lead drama actress
Making history, Viola Davis became the first African American to win the Emmy for lead actress in a drama. The victory comes as a result of Davis' work as Annalise Keating, a charismatic and conniving law professor on ABC's “How to Get Away With Murder.”
The Emmy is just the latest of Davis' career accolades, which include two Tonys, three SAG wins and two Oscar nominations.
Isabel Sanford is the only other African American woman to have taken home an Emmy in a lead acting category, which she earned in 1981 for her work on “The Jeffersons.”
“How to Get Away With Murder” returns to ABC for its second season Sept. 24.
The other contenders in the category were Claire Danes for “Homeland” (Showtime), Taraji P. Henson for “Empire” (Fox), Tatiana Maslany for “Orphan Black” (BBC America), Elisabeth Moss for “Mad Men” (AMC) and Robin Wright for “House of Cards” (Netflix).
Winner: Jon Hamm for lead drama actor
Finally, it's Jon Hamm's year at the Emmys.
The 44-year-old "Mad Men" star has won the prize for lead actor in a dramatic series after seven consecutive nominations without a win.
On "Mad Men," Hamm played Don Draper, a New York ad man in the 1960s and early '70s who is tortured by personal demons.
"Mad Men" wrapped a seven-season run on AMC in May. Before today, the show collected 15 Emmys in various categories, including four prizes for best drama.
Tony Hale on his family
If given the option, like his fellow winners "Veep" costar Julia Louis-Dreyfus and "Mom's" Allison Janney, Tony Hale would bring his wife, Martel Thompson, to accept his award with him and talk to reporters about it backstage.
"I'd probably bring up my wife because ... I love my wife," the "Veep" actor said. "We've been traveling so much and she really has been a trouper back home. I love my wife."
Hale also said that he's slightly worried about the parallels that might run between his HBO comedy's political story lines and the upcoming presidential election.
"It's funny because I don't feel like the writers are very swayed by [current events] because in past experiences it's been that they've written something and then it's actually happened in the press," he said. "I'm kind of worried about what they're going to write and then it actually happening. That's probably what I'm more worried about. Because it's a satire but then satire turns into life."
Hale also praised his former "Arrested Development" costar for his Emmy win in the ground-breaking Amazon series "Transparent."
"It feels pretty full circle with Jeffrey [Tambor] winning and things," Hale said of "Arrested Development's" resurgence on Sunday. " I was really excited, [producer] Mitch Hurwitz, I was able to say in my speech to thank him because he gave me my first job on 'Arrested Development' and to be able to say that was really special to me and I'm excited about that. And I love Jeffrey Tambor. He's like my TV dad."
In memoriam
Among the Television Academy honorees for this year's "In Memoriam" is Leonard Nimoy, who played the transcendent alien on "Star Trek" and died in February at 83. Other notable members of the television community who died this year are listed on the academy's site.
Uzo Aduba joins Ed Asner in exclusive Emmy club
With her win for supporting actress in a drama, Uzo Aduba joins only Ed Asner in winning a comedy and drama Emmy for playing the same character.
Asner famously pulled off the feat for playing Lou Grant on two shows, sitcom "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," then on the spinoff drama "Lou Grant."
Aduba, conversely, won both of her Emmys for playing Suzanne Warren on "Orange Is the New Black," owing her change in status to the reclassification of the series.
Jeffrey Tambor shares a special moment
Jeffrey Tambor said he often gets approached by people who love the Amazon show "Transparent."
But one moment at the Sundance Film Festival particularly stands out for the actor, who took home the Emmy on Sunday night for lead actor in a comedy series for his role as Maura Pfefferman.
"These parents came up to me and said ... their little son was going to play softball and he came home one day and said to his mom and dad, 'I don't want to go back there.' They said 'Why?' He said, 'I'm not a boy boy.' And that changed their lives," Tambor recalled. "They told me they watch 'Transparent' and that gave them confidence."
The actor said he isn't bashful about the Emmy Award because it "is bigger than me."
"It represents what Amazon has done, what the transgender community is doing and what our show is about," Tambor told reporters. "We are the little engine that could. I hope more people watch and get to experience this revolution."
Winner: Peter Dinklage for drama supporting actor
Peter Dinklage of "Game of Thrones" wins the Emmy for supporting actor in a drama series.
Jill Soloway talks diversity
Winning a directing award for a show that speaks to the transgender experience is an achievement not lost on Jill Soloway.
The creator of Amazon's "Transparent," the most nominated comedy of the night, took her time backstage to talk about the importance of having diversity behind the camera to bring new, more wide-ranging stories to the forefront.
"I thought a lot about this, especially since this is a directing award, so it speaks to how I see the world as a female," Soloway told reporters. "The more I direct, the more I recognize that directing is kind of litigating for the way I see the world. Straight white men have had their hands on protagonism and the camera for far too long."
She continued: "People who have access to the camera need to be able to share that with women, with people of color, with queer people, especially trans people -- people who really need to see work from their point of view."
Soloway said that diversifying the representations that are on television are key because "when you make television, you're helping people to see how you feel in the world. We need more queer people, more trans people, more people of color, more women behind the camera."
Winner: David Nutter for drama series directing
David Nutter of "Game of Thrones" wins the Emmy for directing for a drama series.
Winner: Uzo Aduba for drama supporting actress
Uzo Aduba of "Orange Is the New Black" wins the Emmy for supporting actress in a drama series.
Allison Janney on her seventh Emmy
Supporting actress in a comedy winner Allison Janney had lead actress winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus join her on stage in the press room.
"I just asked Julia to come up with me," said Janney. "I was feeling nervous. That was hard, to be the first award right out of the gate. We had just gone through that carpet; it was hot. I was just overwhelmed it happened and it was just so fast."
"This means a lot to me," said Janney on her win. "It's never bad to win an Emmy. It's extraordinary. I love 'Mom' the show. I love the issues we deal with."
Janney won her seventh Emmy tonight, putting her on a very short list of seven-time Emmy winners.
"I'm calling this one Ed" said Janney. "This Emmy is Ed ... Ed Asner and Mary Tyler Moore and me have won seven Emmys. Never in a million trillion years would I ever thought I would be on a list with them."
For those keeping score
Winner: 'Game of Thrones' for drama series writing
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss of "Game of Thrones" win the Emmy for writing for a drama series.
Colin Hanks freaks us all out
Dang, did Colin Hanks just sound exactly like Tom Hanks or what? We should probably give him a break — he's had a rough day. Maybe he packed his real voice in that missing carry-on? Nice of Dad to help out with a loaner.
Winner: 'Daily Show' for variety talk series
"The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" wins the Emmy for variety talk series.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her win
'Inside Amy Schumer' wins first Emmy for variety sketch series
Thanks to a split enacted this year that separated variety talk series and variety sketch series into two separate Emmy categories, "Inside Amy Schumer" has won the first ever Emmy awarded for variety sketch series.
This is the second Emmy for "Inside Amy Schumer" with the show previously winning the Emmy for original music and lyrics for the song "Girl You Don't Need Makeup" featured in the episode "Cool With It".
Winner: Chuck O'Neil for variety series directing
Chuck O'Neil of "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" wins the Emmy for directing for a variety series. He'd been nominated 12 consecutive times.
In the press room with 'The Voice'
Move over, "The Amazing Race": It's time for "The Voice" to shine. The team behind NBC's singing competition was all smiles in the press room after winning the reality competition category at the Emmys on Sunday.
"'The Voice' managed to reinvent music competitions with a level of kindness and dignity," said Mark Burnett, the show's executive producer, highlighting the coaches who include Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Pharrell and Gwen Stefani.
"The coaches get so personally invested in these people," Burnett said. "The contestants are working with artists they never thought they would meet."
Shelton has "most of them [former contestants] living in his house," host Carson Daly added.
Burnett said "The Voice" is successful because American viewers love tuning in to the 90 episodes per year.
"The American viewing public are super smart," Burnett said. "It's harder and harder to engage them when [a show is] running live. A show like 'The Voice' successfully does that. This is young America's favorite show. People just love it, and we love it. And these guys behind me make it."
Winner: 'Inside Amy Schumer' for variety sketch series
"Inside Amy Schumer" wins the Emmy for variety sketch series.
Winner: 'Daily Show' for variety series writing
Elliott Kalan, Adam Lowitt, Steve Bodow, Jon Stewart, Dan Amira, Travon Free, Hallie Haglund, Matt Koff, Dan McCoy, Jo Miller, Zhubin Parang, Daniel Radosh, Lauren Sarver, Owen Parsons and Delaney Yeager of "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" win the Emmy for writing for a variety series.
Winner: 'Olive Kitteridge' for limited series
HBO's critically lauded “Olive Kitteridge” has won the Emmy for limited series. The show, adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, was a star-studded affair, starring Frances McDormand, Richard Jenkins, Bill Murray and Zoe Kazan, all of whom were Emmy-nominated for their efforts. The series was directed by Emmy-nominated Lisa Cholodenko.
The four part series aired on HBO in November 2014 and garnered 13 Emmy nominations overall.
Other contenders in the category included “American Crime” (ABC), “American Horror Story: Freak Show” (FX), “The Honorable Woman” (SundanceTV) and “Wolf Hall” (PBS).
Breaking news from Emmys: TV shows end
Surely infuriating spoilerphobes everywhere, the Emmys just ran a tribute not to people lost in the past year, but television shows. The montage featured scenes from the conclusions of any number of shows, including "Two and a Half Men", "Parks & Recreation", "Mad Men" and "Boardwalk Empire."
Hope you weren't behind on any of those shows!
Just in from the 'you can't make people laugh' category
In an odd little remote bit, nominee Tatiana Maslany and Emmy winner Tony Hale are "caught" via some sort of surveillance cameras using metal detectors to hunt for treasure out on the abandoned red carpet, finally fighting over a can of beans that Maslany found and started shoving in her face. The gag continues right up until the moment security shoves them out of camera range.
The carpet's not so glamorous after the cameras are gone, Samberg observes.
Funny? Meh. No, not really.
Not really at all. Samberg, you're not going to make metal detectors happen.
Winner: Richard Jenkins for lead actor in a limited series or movie
Richard Jenkins won the Emmy for lead actor in a limited series or movie for his role as Henry, a local pharmacist married to the titular character from HBO's miniseries "Olive Kitteridge."
Based on Elizabeth Strout's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, the series follows Olive, a middle-school math teacher in the fictional small town of Crosby, Maine. The miniseries weaves together parts or wholes of about half the 13 interconnected stories from the novel.
The miniseries adaptation was nominated for a whopping 13 Emmys total, including limited series, lead actor in a limited series (Jenkins), supporting actor in a limited series (Bill Murray) and supporting actress in a limited series (Zoe Kazan). It already took home two creative Emmys for casting for a limited series, movie or a special and single-camera picture editing for a limited series or a movie.
Jenkins was up against David Oyelowo ("Nightingale"), Timothy Hutton ("American Crime"), Mark Rylance ("Wolf Hall"), Ricky Gervais ("Derek: The Final Chapter") and Adrien Brody ("Houdini").
A freebie? It's not TV — it's HBO
Too cheap to pay for HBO? Andy Samberg just did you all a solid, releasing his HBO Now logon to the Emmys viewing audience.
The login: [email protected].
The password: password1
Gotta get the number in the password "to throw 'em off," Samberg says.
The logon works, and yeah, it smells of paid promotional placement just like Ellen DeGeneres' Oscars selfie did — but that one was pretty fun too.
Winner: Frances McDormand for lead actress in a limited series or movie
Frances McDormand won the Emmy for lead actress in a limited series or movie for her role as the unsentimental title character from HBO's miniseries "Olive Kitteridge."
Based on Elizabeth Strout's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, the series follows Kitteridge, a middle-school math teacher in the fictional small-town of Crosby, Maine.
The miniseries adaptation was nominated for a whopping 13 Emmys total, including best limited series, lead actor in a limited series (Richard Jenkins), supporting actor in a limited series (Bill Murray) and supporting actress in a limited series (Zoe Kazan). It already took home two creative Emmys for casting for a limited series, movie or a special and single-camera picture editing for a limited series or a movie.
McDormand was up against Felicity Huffman ("American Crime"), Maggie Gyllenhaal ("The Honorable Woman"), Queen Latifah ("Bessie"), Jessica Lange ("American Horror Story: Freak Show") and Emma Thompson ("Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" Live From Lincoln Center).
Winner: Bill Murray for supporting actor in a limited series or movie
Bill Murray of "Olive Kitteridge" wins the Emmy for supporting actress in a limited series or movie.
Regina King and Emmy history
With her win in supporting actress in a limited series, Regina King becomes the fifth African American actress in history to win the award.
The "American Crime" actress joins an elite group of victors, including Ruby Dee and Cicely Tyson, as well as Esther Rolle and Olivia Cole.
More on Amy Poehler
Although Amy Poehler has been nominated for lead actress in a comedy series Emmy for her role as Leslie Knope in "Parks and Recreation" six times, she has never won.
Winner: Lisa Cholodenko for limited series or movie directing
Lisa Cholodenko of "Olive Kitteridge" wins the Emmy for directing for a limited series, movie or dramatic special.
Winner: Regina King for supporting actress in a limited series or movie
Regina King of "American Crime" wins the Emmy for supporting actress in a limited series or movie.
Winner: 'Olive Kitteridge' for limited series or movie writing
Jane Anderson of "Olive Kitteridge" wins the Emmy for writing for a limited series, movie or dramatic special.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus is queen of the Emmys
Yes, Julia Louis-Dreyfus has won the Emmy for actress in a comedy for the fourth straight year, but did you know that she her dominance stretches far beyond that? The actress has been nominated in the category for nine of the last 10 years.
Louis-Dreyfus took only 2011 off, seeing nominations for all five years that "The New Adventures of Old Christine" ran from 2006-10 and for all four years (so far) of "Veep," beginning in 2012.
Amy Poehler will be OK
Meanwhile in the press room
Winner: 'The Voice' for reality competition series
Make it a duet: NBC's "The Voice" harmonized to its second Emmy as best reality-competition series.
The singing contest previously won the prize in 2013.
Through eight seasons so far, "The Voice" has become a linchpin of NBC's lineup as the network has zoomed from last to first place in the ratings. The show features dozens of aspiring singers vying for the attention of celebrity judges and coaches, including Blake Shelton, Adam Levine and Pharrell Williams.
Since the reality-competition prize was first bestowed in 2003, the category has been dominated by CBS' "The Amazing Race," which has won 10 times. Bravo's "Top Chef" and "The Voice" are the only other shows to have won.
Who's TV's best boss? It's up for debate
With so many nominees this year having worked for "Saturday Night Live" honcho Lorne Michaels along the way, Andy Samberg and Seth Meyers felt compelled to present him with a World's Best Boss mug. And a fine mug it was.
Alas, when it came to their World's Best Boss award , um, they gave that one to Shonda Rhimes.
At least Michaels got his gift hand-delivered to him in the audience.
Winner: Julia Louis-Dreyfus for lead comedy actress
Four more years! Julia Louis-Dreyfus has won her fourth consecutive Emmy for lead actress in a comedy for her portrayal of foul-mouthed leader of the free world Selina Meyer on HBO's “Veep.” Only Helen Hunt on “Mad About You” has matched Louis-Dreyfus' feat of four acting wins in a row.
Louis-Dreyfus previously won Emmys for supporting actress in a comedy for “Seinfeld” and for lead actress in a comedy for “The New Adventures of Old Christine.”
“Veep” has been renewed for a fifth season by HBO.
Other contenders in the category included Edie Falco for “Nurse Jackie” (Showtime), Lisa Kudrow for “The Comeback” (HBO), Amy Poehler for “Parks and Recreation” (NBC), Amy Schumer for “Inside Amy Schumer” (Comedy Central) and Lily Tomlin for “Grace and Frankie” (Netflix).
Jill Soloway just the third woman to win the Emmy for comedy directing
Jill Soloway won the Emmy for directing in a comedy series tonight for "Transparent" becoming just the third woman in history to do so.
Previous winners are Gail Mancuso for "Modern Family" (twice) and Betty Thomas for "Dream On."
Winner: Jeffrey Tambor for lead comedy actor
Jeffrey Tambor has won the Emmy Award for lead actor in a comedy series for "Transparent," scoring a victory over several veteran performers.
Tambor has been heavily applauded for his role as transgender Maura Pfefferman in the Netflix series. He has been nominated twice before for an Emmy for playing George Bluth Jr. in "Arrested Development."
The actor for years has been one of Hollywood's busiest actors, jumping between films ("Meet Joe Black"), TV ("The Larry Sanders Show") and stage ("Glengarry Glen Ross"). He has also provided voices for several animated films, including "Monsters vs. Aliens" and "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie."
The other contenders for the award were Anthony Anderson ("black-ish"), Don Cheadle ("House of Lies"), Matt LeBlanc ("Episodes"), Louis C.K. ("Louie"), Will Forte ("The Last Man on Earth") and William H. Macy ("Shameless").
Winner: Jill Soloway for comedy directing
Jill Soloway of "Transparent" wins the Emmy for directing for a comedy series.
Winner: Tony Hale for comedy supporting actor
Tony Hale of "Veep" wins the Emmy for supporting actor in a comedy series.
Allison Janney's Emmy prowess
Allison Janney won her seventh Emmy tonight, this time for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy for CBS' "Mom."
The actress has been nominated nine times total, but perhaps most impressive is the fact that she's won Emmys in four acting categories. In addition to supporting actress in a comedy, Janney has conquered supporting actress in a drama; lead actress in a drama, both for "The West Wing"; and guest actress in a drama for "Masters of Sex."
From inside the Microsoft Theater
Winner: 'Veep' for comedy series writing
Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci and Tony Roche of "Veep" win the Emmy for writing for a comedy series.
Andy Samberg confirms Amy Schumer is funny
Samberg had a a solid opening monologue, but few jokes were as good as his quip about Amy Schumer, in which he mused that Amy was funny "for a person," tweaking all those individuals who love saying that women aren't funny.
Winner: Allison Janney for supporting actress in a comedy
Allison Janney wins the Emmy for supporting actress in a comedy series for her role on "Mom." It's her seventh Emmy.
Donald Trump is everywhere
You knew there'd be a joke about Donald Trump, and it came early on.
"Well, Donald Trump seems racist ...," Samberg said in his opening monologue.
And, um, that was pretty much the whole joke. People laughed.
Andy Samberg talks about some changes in this year's Emmy classifications: "Orange Is the New Black" has gone from comedy to drama, while "Louie" is now jazz.
People who watch the first show nod. Those who watch the second one laugh.
Samberg's opening musical number
It looks like Andy Samberg is weighing in on the concept of "Peak TV" with the Emmys opening ceremony, singing a song about how it's impossible to keep up with all of the best show's on television.
It's shades of Samberg's digital shorts with Lonely Island on "SNL" and a great encapsulation of how difficult it is to be a TV fan. All in all, one of the best award show opening numbers in recent memory.
Final touches for Andy Samberg
As the host's prerecorded introduction number kicks off the Emmys, the man himself gets ready to go on.
OK, here are Glenn Whipp's predictions
He, for one, is calling it for Jon Hamm (sort of: "No member of 'Mad Men's' impeccable ensemble has ever won an Emmy. And the show's final season generated more think pieces than viewers. So if, say, Kevin Spacey's name is read, don't be shocked. (Be angry. But don't be shocked.) And "Game of Thrones."
Armisen pays homage to Wes Craven on red carpet
Though Wes Craven died on Aug. 30, he's not forgotten at tonight's 67th Emmy red carpet. Actor and comedian Fred Armisen appeared tonight wearing both a Freddy Krueger-inspired tie and coordinating bladed glove. Krueger is Craven's most famous creation, star of the "Nightmare on Elm Street" series.
If nothing else, it should keep fellow Emmy attendees on their toes, as no one will want to be caught napping with the threat of Freddy lurking.
Selfie sticks prohibited
Ricky Gervais takes a selfie the only way a person can take a selfie at the Emmys: with his arm outstretched. Selfie sticks are banned at the event "due to safety concerns."
Emmys red carpet trends
Claire Danes in Prada
From the Oscars to the Emmys.
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