Entertainment

Emmys Awards: Game of Thrones battles Handmaid’s Tale

Published

6 years ago

September 17, 2018

Hollywood ’ s top television stars will strut their stuff on the red carpet Monday at the glittering 70 th Emmys Awards — a duel between record – breaker “ Game of Thrones ” and last year ’ s big winner “ The Handmaid ’ s Tale . ”Both shows have already picked up some Emmys hardware: HBO ’ s blood – spattered smash hit won seven statuettes in technical categories at the Creative Arts Emmys a week ago , while Hulu ’ s “ Handmaid ” scooped up three .

And both are likely to add to that haul at the Primetime Emmys , television ’ s answer to the Oscars , at the Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles .

But will “ GoT ” — which was ineligible last year — reclaim the best drama series throne , or will “ Handmaid ” — the first streaming series to take the coveted prize — be a repeat winner ?

For Tim Gray, the awards editor and senior vice president of top entertainment news outlet Variety , “ Handmaid ” — a bleak portrait of a future dystopian America where women are brutally oppressed — has the edge .

“ I just feel like ‘ Handmaid ’ s Tale ’ is , kind of, of the moment as it addresses a lot of concerns that people have now , ” Gray told AFP . “ I just think it ’ s their year. ”

The show , based on Margaret Atwood’ s 1985 novel , seems especially timely in the age of # MeToo , a movement that erupted shortly after last year ’ s Emmys.

Others in the best drama race include dark horse pick “ The Americans ” — the gripping FX thriller about Soviet sleeper agents in the United States that has been a favourite of critics and fans , but not the 22 , 000 – plus Emmy voters , for years .
HBO ’ s futuristic western “ Westworld , ” Netflix favourites “ The Crown ” and retro sci- fi mystery “ Stranger Things, ” and NBC family saga “ This is Us ” round out the field .

On the comedy side , FX ’ s “ Atlanta ” — a quirky look at the rap scene in the Georgia capital — is squaring off with Amazon ’ s “ The Marvelous Mrs Maisel” for top honours.

– TV history in making –

In 2016 , “ Game of Thrones ” — the tale of noble families vying for the Iron Throne — made history , picking up 12 awards and becoming the most decorated fictional show since the Television Academy first handed out prizes in 1949 .

With its seven Creative Arts Emmy statuettes this year , “ GoT” — which will return in 2019 for an abbreviated eighth and final season — now has 45 Emmys overall.

On Monday , beyond the best drama trophy, cast members Lena Headey , Nikolaj Coster – Waldau and Peter Dinklage are nominated , along with the show ’ s directors and writers .

But “ Handmaid ’ s Tale ” is also well placed in the acting races , with last year’ s winners Elisabeth Moss and Ann Dowd again in the running.

Other major contenders include FX ’ s “ The Assassination of Gianni Versace , ” which racked up 18 nominations .

Darren Criss is the favourite to win the star- studded race for best actor in a limited series or movie for his searing portrayal of Versace ’ s killer Andrew Cunanan — but the field also includes Antonio Banderas and Benedict Cumberbatch .

In the emerging battle of traditional networks vs new platforms, streaming giant Netflix ended HBO ’ s 17 – year streak of leading the Emmy nominations , with 112 to the premium cable network ’ s 108 .

After last week ’ s Creative Arts Emmys , HBO has won 17 statuettes to Netflix ’ s 16 .

– Politics and ratings –

Another major contender is veteran comedy sketch show “ Saturday Night Live, ” just behind “ GoT” with 21 nominations .

Show regulars Michael Che and Colin Jost will host the Emmys , to be broadcast on NBC , and series creator Lorne Michaels will produce the event for the first time in 30 years .

With awards show audiences dwindling in the age of Twitter, can the “ SNL ” team breathe new life into the format ?

Jost has said he wants the Emmys to be “ less political than normal ” — but that seems unlikely only a week after CBS chairman and CEO Les Moonves left in a cloud of sexual misconduct allegations .

Stay tuned — the Emmys begin at 5 : 00 pm Monday ( 0000 GMT Tuesday ) .

AFP .