'Game of Thrones' wins big at Emmys 2018

Here's a list of winners in key categories

LOS ANGELES:

HBO's record-breaking fantasy epic Game of Thrones stormed back onto the Emmys stage on Monday, winning the coveted best drama series prize on a night full of surprises, including an on-air marriage proposal that stunned the audience.

The other big story of the gala, television's answer to the Oscars, was the huge success of eight Emmys overall for best comedy series The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, Amazon's story of a 1950s housewife-turned-stand up comic.

PHOTO: AFP

The Handmaid's Tale - last year's best drama and an early favorite for more hardware - went home empty-handed from the event at the Microsoft Theater, having won three minor awards handed out a week ago.

The ceremony hosted by Saturday Night Live regulars Colin Jost and Michael Che took on a decidedly political hue, with a barrage of edgy jokes on hot-button issues such as diversity in Hollywood, #MeToo and President Donald Trump.

PHOTO: AFP

The gala also saw a handful of sentimental favorites take home their first Emmys.

Peter Dinklage took home the best supporting actor prize for his portrayal of Tyrion Lannister.

"Writing for these actors behind us is the honor of a lifetime," said series co-creator David Benioff. "But we didn't invent these characters. That was George R R Martin. The show could not be without the mad genius of George."

PHOTO: AFP

It won nine Emmys this year, meaning the blood-spattered tale of the battle for the Iron Throne - which returns in 2019 for an abbreviated eighth and final season - now has 47 awards overall.

That breaks the program's own record as the most decorated fictional show since the Television Academy first handed out prizes in 1949.

Here is a list of the winners in key categories for the 70th Emmy Awards, which were handed out in Los Angeles:

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES: Game of Thrones

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES: The Marvelous Mrs Maisel

BEST LEAD ACTOR, DRAMA: Matthew Rhys, The Americans

BEST LEAD ACTRESS, DRAMA: Claire Foy, The Crown

BEST LEAD ACTOR, COMEDY: Bill Hader, Barry

BEST LEAD ACTRESS, COMEDY: Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA: Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA: Thandie Newton, Westworld

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY: Henry Winkler, Barry

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY: Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel

OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES: The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

BEST LEAD ACTOR, LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE: Darren Criss, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

BEST LEAD ACTRESS, LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE: Regina King, Seven Seconds

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