The Winners of the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards, 2016

Considered the television equivalent of the Academy Awards, the Emmys are awarded to the best shows and achievers from the TV industry within the United States of America annually since 1949. The 68^th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony was held at the Microsoft Theatre in California on Sunday, 18^th September, honouring all the shows and talent that stood out during the year starting from June 1, 2015 and ending with May 31, 2016.

The event was hosted by veteran comedian and talk-show host, Jimmy Kimmel while the awards were presented by stars including Tom Hiddleston, Bryan Cranston, Tina Fey, Abigail Spencer, and the like. There was also an In Memoriam session introduced by Henry Winkler and featuring a performance from Tori Kelly that paid tribute to celebrities like David Bowie, Prince, and Muhammad Ali. Game of Thrones once again led the race with 23 nominations, closely followed by American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson with 22 nominations while The Americans scored its first much deserved nomination in the Outstanding Drama category along with Mr. Robot which, unsurprisingly, came off with nominations in a bunch of categories.

HBO repeated its victory as Game of Thrones and Veep won the Outstanding Drama and Comedy series categories once again. Game of Thrones also took the prize for the best writing in the drama category as well. With a total of 38 Emmy since its beginning, Game of Thrones has set the record for the show with the most number of Emmys in its lifetime. The People v. O.J. Simpson was selected as the best limited series while Sherlock: The Abominable Bride bagged the prize for best TV movie. Rami Malek won the Outstanding Actor award in Drama category for his breakthrough performance in Mr. Robot and Susan Bier was chosen as the best director for a limited series for her work on The Night Manager.

Here is the list of nominees and winners of various major categories at the Primetime Emmy Awards, 2016:

Outstanding Drama Series

The Americans

Better Call Saul

Downton Abbey

Game Of Thrones

Homeland

House Of Cards

Mr. Robot

Winner: Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones won the Outstanding Drama category once again and set the record for the show with the most number of Emmys in its lifetime

Outstanding Comedy Series

Black-ish

Master Of None

Modern Family

Silicon Valley

Transparent

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Veep

Winner – Veep

Outstanding Limited Series

American Crime

Fargo

The Night Manager

American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson

Roots

Winner: American Crime Story: The People v. O.J.Simpson

The People v. O.J. Simpson got 22 nominations and won the best limited series category

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

Michael Englr, Downton Abbey

Migeul Sapochnik, Game of Thrones

Jack Bender, Game of Thrones

Leslie Linka Glatter, Homeland

Steven Soderbergh, The Knick

David Hollander, Ray Donovan

Winner: Miguel Sapochnik, Game of Thrones

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

Aziz Ansari, Master of None

Alec Berg, Silicon Valley

Mike Judge, Silicon Valley

Jill Soloway, Transparent

David Mandel, Veep

Chris Addison, Veep

Dale Stern, Veep

Winner: Jill Soloway, Transparent

Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series/ TV Movie/ Dramatic Special

Jay Roach, All The Way

Noah Hawley, Fargo

Susanne Bier, The Night Manager

Ryan Murphy, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

Anthony Hemingway, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

John Singleton, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

Winner: Susan Bier, The Night Manager

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Matthew Rhys, The Americans

Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul

Kyle Chandler, Bloodline

Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

Rami Malek, Mr. Robot

Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan

Winner: Rami Malek, Mr. Robot

Rami Malek – Winner of Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Keri Russell, The Americans

Taraji P. Henson, Empire

Claire Danes, Homeland

Robin Wright, House of Cards

Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder

Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black

Winner: Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson, Black-ish

Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth

Aziz Ansari, Master of None

William H. Macy, Shameless

Thomas Middleditch, Silicon Valley

Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Winner: Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish

Laurie Metcalf, Getting On

Lily Tomlin, Frankie

Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer

Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Winner: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series/ TV Movie

Bryan Cranston, All the Way

Idris Elba, Luther

Tom Hiddleston, The Night Manager

Courtney B. Vance, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson

Cuba Gooding, Jr., American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson

Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: The Abominable Bride

Winner: Courtney B. Vance, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson

Outstanding Lead Actress in a LimitedSeries/ TV Movie

Felicity Huffman, American Crime

Lili Taylor, American Crime

Kerry Washington, Confirmation

Kirsten Dunst, Fargo

Audra McDonald, Lady Dat at Emerson’s Bar & Grill

Sarah Paulson, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson

Winner:  Sarah Paulson, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson

Sarah Paulson in American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul

Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline

Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones

Kit Harington, Game of Thrones

Michael Kelly, House of Cards

Jon Voight, Ray Donovan

Winner: Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Maura Tierney, The Affair

Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey

Lena Headey, Game of Thrones

Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones

Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones

Constance Zimmer, UnReal

Winner: Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey

Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Louie Anderson, Baskets

Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Keegan-Michael Key, Key & Peele

Ty Burrell, Modern Family

Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Tony Hale, Veep

Matt Walsh, Veep

Winner: Louie Anderson, Baskets

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Niecy Nash, Getting On

Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live

Judith Light, Transparent

Gaby Hoffmann, Transparent

Anna Chlumsky, Veep

Allison Janney, Mom

Winner:  Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series/TV Movie

Sterling K. Brown, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson

Hugh Laurie, The Night Manager

Jesse Plemons, Fargo

David Schwimmer,  American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson

John Travolta, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson

Bokeem Woodbine, Fargo

Winner: Sterling K. Brown, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series/ TV Movie

Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Hotel

Olivia Colman, The Night Manager

Regina King, American Crime

Melissa Leo, All The Way

Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Hotel

Jean Smart, Fargo

Winner: Regina King, American Crime

• About the Author

About Nisanth Suresh

I’m a Commerce student hailing from a small town in Ernakulam, Kerala. I am something of a cinephile, enjoy reading comics and fictional novels in my free time. I fell in love with TV shows after discovering the classic sitcom F.R.I.E.N.D.S when I was 13 years old. Over several years and a load of other shows, I discovered the strength of television as a medium for long-term, compelling story-telling. What started out as a leisure time hobby is now a passion and I’m always in search of great new shows to watch. I never miss out on opportunities to discuss about the shows that I love and hate and now utilize my position at SpectralHues to share my views with the rest of you.