Emmys 2019: 5 moments you missed, from Bob Newhart to Julia Louis-Dreyfus' shocking loss
Emmy Awards voters bent the knee to "Game of Thrones."
As expected, HBO's epic, pop culture-defining fantasy hit triumphed at Sunday's show, winning two trophies including best drama series and supporting actor for Peter Dinklage (his fourth win in the category for playing Tyrion Lannister).
But the bigger story was in the comedy category, where the second season of Amazon's critically acclaimed, dark-horse contender "Fleabag" brought home top prizes, taking best comedy series, directing (Harry Bradbeer), writing and actress (British creator/star Phoebe Waller-Bridge).
"This is just getting ridiculous," said Waller-Bridge, 34, as she accepted best comedy for the tragically funny series, which was adapted from her one-woman stage show and first aired in the U.K.
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Emmys 2019: Full winners list
More on the night's biggest moments:
Phoebe Waller-Bridge beats Julia Louis-Dreyfus for best comedy actress
In keeping with the Emmys' love of "Fleabag," Waller-Bridge surprised in the comedy actress category, prevailing over front-runner Louis-Dreyfus, who has won six times for playing petulant politician Selina Meyer on HBO's "Veep," and two other awards for "Seinfeld" and "The New Adventures of Old Christine." Had she won Sunday, Louis-Dreyfus would have become the winningest actor in Emmys history.
Waller-Bridge seemed taken aback by the win, exclaiming, “No! Oh, my God, no! Thank you. I find acting really hard and really painful. To be nominated with these unbelievable actresses who I’ve looked up to and watched and laughed with, it means so much."
Earlier in the night, Waller-Bridge picked up best comedy writing for "Fleabag," joking of her bawdy title character, "It's really wonderful to know a dirty, pervy, angry messed-up woman can make it to the Emmys."
Our take on Emmys 2019: A shocking 'Fleabag' sweep, and still love for 'Game of Thrones'
The big winners: 'Fleabag' wins best comedy, 'Game of Thrones' takes best drama
Patricia Arquette tearfully pays tribute to her late sister, calls for trans rights
Also surprising with a best supporting actress win for Hulu miniseries "The Act," Arquette took a moment to recognize her late sister, transgender actress/activist Alexis Arquette, who died in 2016.
“In my heart, I’m so sad,” Arquette said, holding back tears. “I lost my sister Alexis, and (I'm sad) that trans people are still being persecuted. I’m in mourning every day, and I will be the rest of my life, Alexis, for you.
“Give them jobs,” she added. “They are human beings, give them jobs.”
Patricia Arquette: At 50, 'I didn't imagine I'd get good parts' like Hulu's 'The Act'
Michelle Williams celebrates equal pay, stands up for women of color during acceptance speech
The four-time Oscar nominee earned her first Emmy for best actress for FX's Broadway-set miniseries "Fosse/Verdon." Williams, who was joined by best friend Busy Philipps at Sunday's show, used her time on stage to thank the network for paying her the same as co-star Sam Rockwell, following her public pay-gap scandal with Mark Wahlberg for 2017's "All the Money in the World."
"They understood that when you put value in a person, it empowers that person to get in touch with their own inherent value and where do they put that value? They put it into their work," Williams said. "Next time a woman – and especially a woman of color, because she stands to make 52 cents on the dollar compared to her white male counterpart – tells you what she needs in order to do her job, listen to her, believe her, because one day she might stand in front of you and say, 'Thank you' for allowing her to succeed because of her workplace environment and not in spite of it."
Michelle Williams: Pay-gap scandal has 'become the greatest gift of my life'
Bob Newhart reminds us he's still alive in sardonic bit
Breaking from the usual forced banter between presenters, Ben Stiller earnestly paid tribute to late TV icons at the top of the show, pointing to wax models of George Burns and Lucille Ball before walking up to Newhart, who was standing completely still.
"Ben, Ben, I'm still alive," Newhart, 90, snapped in jest. "You put me with George and Lucy in this weird wax museum of comedy. This legend is going to kick your (butt) – that way, you'll know I'm alive."
The duo walked center stage to present best supporting actor in a comedy series to Tony Shalhoub ("The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"), but not before Newhart got in one last jab about Stiller: "I hated you, by the way, in 'Tropic Thunder.' "
'Pose' star Billy Porter makes history with Emmy win
In a night full of shockers – hello, Jodie Comer for "Killing Eve" – one of the most widely predicted awards went to Porter, who coasted to victory for leading actor in a drama for FX's "Pose," which explores LGBTQ ballroom culture in the 1980s. The actor, who previously starred in Broadway's "Kinky Boots," became the first openly gay man to win in the category.
Wearing a massive, asymmetrical hat and crystal-covered suit, Porter, 50, earned a standing ovation from the entire audience as he took the stage.
"Oh, my God. The category is love, y'all. Love. I am so overwhelmed and so overjoyed to have lived long enough to see this day," Porter said.
"We, as artists, are the people who get to change the molecular structure of the hearts and minds of the people who live on this planet,” he added. “Please don’t ever stop doing that. Please don’t ever stop telling the truth.”
From Billy Porter's win to Patricia Arquette's plea: Emmys were queerest they've ever been
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Emmys 2019: 5 moments you missed, including Julia Louis-Dreyfus' loss
