This year’s Emmys were memorable for a number of reasons, and not just for Anna Chlumsky’s shocked reaction when Sean Spicer rolled that lectern onstage.
Donald Glover, the multi-hyphenate behind FX’s groundbreaking comedy “Atlanta,” became the first black director to win an Emmy for comedy direction. Glover won for “B.A.N.,” an experimental stand-alone episode set in “Atlanta’s” alternate-universe Black Entertainment Television. It was one of the first-year series’ best episodes, blistering in its honest and funny look at race, outrage culture and black masculinity.
FULL COVERAGE: Emmy Awards 2017 >>
Glover also won the Emmy for lead actor in a comedy, becoming just the second black man to take that award. Robert Guillaume won for “Benson” in 1985.
Lena Waithe, the first black woman ever nominated for comedy writing, took that Emmy for the “Master of None” episode “Thanksgiving,” which she co-wrote with series creator Aziz Ansari. The episode’s story, inspired by Waithe’s own life, followed her character, Denise, discovering her sexuality over the course of her life and finally revealing it to her mother.
“I had survived that thing that I was so afraid of,” Waithe told The Times of her coming-out experience.
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Presenter Oprah Winfrey and Emmy winner Elisabeth Moss of “The Handmaid’s Tale” after the show won the Emmy for drama series.
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Elizabeth Moss receives her Emmy for lead actress in a drama series (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) from Tatiana Maslany and Jeffrey D. Morgan.
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Elisabeth Moss hugs co-star Joseph Fiennes along with the cast of “The Handmaid’s Tale” after they won the drama series award during the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
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Bruce Miller and the cast congratulates Elisabeth Moss of “The Handmaid’s Tale” after they won drama series.
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Cast and crew of “Veep” accept the comedy series award onstage.
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Nicole Kidman reacts to “Big Little Lies” winning the limited series Emmy.
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Nicole Kidman accepts the award for lead actress in a limited series or a movie for “Big Little Lies.”
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Reese Witherspoon, center, accepts for “Big Little Lies” afer winning the Emmy fpr limited series.
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Nicole Kidman with the Emmy for lead actress in a limited series or movie for “Big Little Lies.”
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Sterling K. Brown accepting his Emmy for lead actor in a drama series for “This Is Us.”
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Alec Baldwin accepts his Emmy for supporting actor in a comedy series.
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Host Stephen Colbert being carried offstage in a scripted performance.
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A tender moment on stage is shared between actors Anna Faris and Allison Janney, the stars of TV comedy series “Mom.”
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Anika Noni Rose and Cecily Tyson present the Emmy for limited series or movie.
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Charlie Brooker accepts the award for outstanding television movie for “Black Mirror: San Junipero.”
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Charlie Brooker and “Black Mirror: San Junipero” win for television movie.
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Riz Ahmed wins for lead actor in a limited series or movie for “The Night Of.”
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Norman Lear and Carol Burnett present comedy series.
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus returns to the stage with Norman Lear and Carol Burnett after her show “Veep” wins for comedy series.
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus wins lead actress in a comedy series for “Veep.”
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus wins lead actress in a comedy series.
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Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer appears onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater.
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Chris Hardwick presents Julia Louis-Dreyfus her Emmy as she wins lead actress in a comedy series.
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus and her husband Brad Hall react in the audience.
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LOS ANGELES, CA., ††September 17, 2017: Sterling K. Brown accepting his Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series†during the show at the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater†in Los Angeles, CA., Sunday, September 17, 2017. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Oprah Winfrey speaks onstage before presenting the award for drama series.
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A tender moment between actors Anna Faris and Allison Janney, the stars of TV comedy series “Mom.”
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Actresses Anika Noni Rose, left, and Cicely Tyson present the award for limited series.
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John Oliver of “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” accept the award for variety talk series.
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Actors Jessica Biel and Joseph Fiennes onstage.
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Executive producer David Mandel and the cast and crew of “Veep” accept the award for comedy series for “Veep.”
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Reed Morano accepts her award after winning the Emmy for directing for a drama series.
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Jean-Marc Vallée accepts his Emmy for directing in a limited series or movie (“Big Little Lies”).
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“Ghosted” actors Craig Robinson, left, and Adam Scott present the award for directing for a variety series.
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Christopher Jackson sings as a picture of Adam West appears on-screen during an in memoriam tribute at the 69th Emmy Awards.
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“Big Bang Theory” actor Jim Parsons and “Young Sheldon” actor Iain Armitage during the show.
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“Star Trek: Discovery’s” Sonequa Martin-Green and “Entourage” actor Jeremy Piven during the show.
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Writers Aziz Ansari and Lena Waithe accept the writing in a comedy series award for “Master of None.”
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Seth MacFarlane and Emmy Rossum onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards.
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Actress Viola Davis
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Kaitlin Olsen and Tracee Ellis Ross onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards.
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Kate McKinnon accepts her Emmy for supporting actress in a comedy series Sunday during the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
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Actor Christopher Jackson performs during the in-memoriam section of the 2017 Emmys.
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The cast and crew of “The Voice” wins the Emmy for reality competition program.
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Laura Dern accepts her Emmy for supporting actress in a limited series or movie during the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards.
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Television Academy President Hayma Washington onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards.
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Donald Glover accepts the award for directing a comedy series for the “Atlanta” episode “B.A.N.” at the 69th Emmy Awards.
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LOS ANGELES, CA., September 17, 2017: Ann Dowd accepts the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for ‘The Handmaids Tale’ during the show at the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, CA., Sunday, September 17, 2017. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Seth Meyers, left, and James Corden speak onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards.
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Singer Jon Batiste performs onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater.
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Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman in the audience at the 69th Emmy Awards.
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Rachel Bloom performs onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards, introducing the accountants.
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Ernst & Young representatives appear onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards.
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Actor Alexander Skarsgard accepts for supporting actor in a limited series or movie for “Big Little Lies” with Dolly Parton, left, and Lily Tomlin during the 69th Emmy Awards.
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Director Jean-Marc Vallée accepts the directing for a limited series, movie or dramatic special award for “Big Little Lies” onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater.
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Lorne Michaels and the cast of “SNL” accept the award for outstanding variety sketch series for “Saturday Night Live” at the 69th Emmy Awards.
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Dave Chappelle and Melissa McCarthy speak onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater.
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The band Stay Human performs during the show at the 69th Emmy Awards.
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Host Stephen Colbert doing his monologue during the 69th Emmy Awards.
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Host Stephen Colbert is led offstage by costumed individuals recalling characters from HBO’s “Westworld.”
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Actors Issa Rae of “Insecure” and Riz Ahmed of “The Night Of” speak onstage.
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Actors Gina Rodriguez (“Jane the Virgin”) and Shemar Moore (“Criminal Minds”) speak onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards.
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Host Stephen Colbert speaks at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater.
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Actor Laura Dern, left, reacts when her name is read as the winner of the Emmy for supporting actress in a limited series or movie for “Big Little Lies.”
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Actor Laura Dern accepts supporting actress in a limited series or movie for “Big Little Lies.”
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Host Stephen Colbert dances onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards.
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Actors Shailene Woodley, left, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern and Zoe Kravitz of “Big Litle Lies” speak onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards.
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John Lithgow accepts his Emmy for supporting actor in a drama series for “The Crown.”
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Host Stephen Colbert performs onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Reed Morano became just the second woman to win the drama series directing Emmy. Mimi Leder won for “ER” in 1995. Morano earned the award for directing the pilot episode of “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
Not all of the night’s Emmy standouts were first-timers.
Perennial Emmy record-breaker Julia Louis-Dreyfus won a sixth consecutive prize for her portrayal of beleaguered career politician Selina Meyer on HBO’s “Veep.” The win gave Louis-Dreyfus the most Emmys for playing the same character — six — surpassing Candice Bergen (“Murphy Brown”) and Don Knotts (“The Andy Griffith Show”). (It should be noted that after her fifth win in 1995, Bergen took herself out of the running. Helen Hunt then began a four-year streak in 1996 for “Mad About You.”)
Louis-Dreyfus’ Emmy, her eighth overall, tied her with Cloris Leachman for most acting victories.
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Laura Dern with her Emmy for supporting actress in a limited series or movie for “Big Little Lies.”
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Ann Dowd of “The Handmaid’s Tale” with her Emmy for supporting actress in a drama.
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus with her Emmy for actress in a comedy series, for “Veep.”
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“Master Of None’s” Aziz Ansari and Lena Waithe with their Emmys for writing for a comedy series.
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“This Is Us” star Sterling K. Brown with his Emmy for lead actor in a drama series.
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Elisabeth Moss of “The Handmaid’s Tale” with her Emmys for drama series and actress in a drama series.
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“Saturday Night Live’s” Kate McKinnon hoists her Emmy for supporting actress in a comedy series.
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Donald Glover poses with the Emmys he won for lead actor in a comedy series and director of a comedy series, for “Atlanta.”
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Nicole Kidman hoists her awards for lead actress in a limited series or a movie and limited series for “Big Little Lies.”
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Alexander Skarsgard in the press room with his award for supporting actor in a limited series or movie for “Big Little Lies.”
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Alec Baldwin with his Emmy for supporting actor in a comedy series for “Saturday Night Live.”
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Riz Ahmed of “The Night Of” with his Emmy for lead actor in a limited series or movie.
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus, fourth from left, and the cast of “Veep” with their Emmy for comedy series.
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The cast and crew of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” winner of outstanding drama series.
(Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images) “This is and continues to be the role of a lifetime and an adventure of utter, utter joy,” Louis-Dreyfus said in her acceptance speech.
The producers of “Veep” have announced that its next season will be its last, affording Louis-Dreyfus one more opportunity to win for the character and the show.
“It’s nuts,” Louis-Dreyfus said, summing up her remarkable run.
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