Here's what the new 'Game of Thrones' Emmys record means for TV
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
The TV program 鈥淕ame of Thrones鈥� may center on various characters battling for the right to rule the land of Westeros, but the 2016 Emmy Awards left no doubt that 鈥淭hrones鈥� itself is king of TV.聽
With its most recent wins, the HBO fantasy program has won the most Emmy Awards of any fictional primetime TV show. This year, the TV show, which is based on the bestselling novels by writer George R.R. Martin and concluded its sixth season earlier this past summer, won such prizes as best drama series and outstanding writing and directing for a drama series.聽
In taking its new title, 鈥淭hrones鈥� beats the NBC program 鈥淔rasier,鈥� which had won 37 Emmy Awards. 鈥淭hrones鈥� has now won 38. (The NBC TV show 鈥淪aturday Night Live鈥� has won the most Emmys in the awards show鈥檚 history.)
points out that 鈥淭hrones鈥� overtaking 鈥淔rasier鈥� is a great feat partially because 鈥淭hrones鈥� hasn鈥檛 been on TV as long, and because the new TV world means 鈥淭hrones鈥� has so many more shows to vie against.
鈥淭he record is particularly impressive considering Thrones has 鈥榦nly鈥� been on six seasons, while Fraiser was on for 11,鈥� Mr. Hibberd writes. 鈥淎nd 鈥楩rasier鈥� was competing in an era of only a few TV channels, whereas this year offered more than 400 scripted shows.鈥澛�
However, Hibberd pointed out, 鈥溾�橳hrones鈥� has the advantage of being a lavishly produced drama that鈥檚 competitive in so many varied categories, from special effects to costumes to writing to directing to acting,鈥� in contrast to 鈥淔rasier鈥� being a traditional sitcom.聽
Yet 鈥淭hrones鈥� beating 鈥淔rasier鈥� may also emphasize networks' recent struggles at awards ceremonies. Broadcast networks still get nominated for prizes, with such TV shows as ABC鈥檚 鈥淏lack-ish,鈥� 鈥淎merican Crime,鈥� and 鈥淢odern Family鈥� and Fox鈥檚 鈥淓mpire鈥� receiving nods, but had a difficult time聽picking up trophies this year.
鈥淭he broadcast networks continued to have a diminished presence at the Emmys,鈥� noted of this year鈥檚 ceremony. 鈥淣BC won two awards Sunday night, and ABC and Fox won one. CBS was shut out altogether.鈥�
