Netflix dominates Emmys with 'Crown' sweep and 'Queen's Gambit'

Netflix has transformed the TV landscape since creating its first original show in 2012, but had never won any top series prize before Sunday's ceremony -- the small-screen equivalent of the Oscars.

In the comedy categories, Apple TV+'s "Ted Lasso" was the big winner.

A reduced audience of top television stars gathered in person for the event in Los Angeles for the first time in two years -- it was held at a partially outdoor venue due to ongoing Covid-19 concerns.

"We're gonna have a party now. I'm lost for words, and I'm very, very grateful," said "The Crown" creator Peter Morgan, dialing in with fellow cast and filmmakers from a remote London satellite hub.

The fourth season of the wildly popular British royal series depicted the ill-fated marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

Olivia Colman -- who previously won an Oscar for playing Britain's Queen Anne in "The Favourite" -- scooped best actress for portraying her descendant Queen Elizabeth II.

Colman paid tribute to her father who died during the Covid-19 pandemic and "would have loved all of this," as she collected an award that had been widely expected to go to her co-star Emma Corrin, who portrayed a young Diana.

Josh O'Connor, named best actor for playing Charles, praised Corrin as a "force of nature" and said making the show had been "the most rewarding two years of my life."

"The Crown" also won both supporting actor prizes -- including one for Gillian Anderson for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher -- and awards for best writing and directing.

Its tally including technical awards handed out before Sunday's ceremony came to 11 -- tied this year with "The Queen's Gambit," and one short of the drama record held by "Game of Thrones."

- 'Sexy back' -

"The Queen's Gambit," a limited series about a troubled orphaned girl who storms the world of professional chess, sent chessboard sales skyrocketing worldwide on its release last October.

"You brought the sexy back to chess, and you inspired a whole generation of girls and young women to realize that patriarchy simply has no defense against our queens," executive producer William Horberg told star Anya Taylor-Joy on stage.

"The one thing that no algorithm can predict and no billion-dollar budget can manufacture is word of mouth," he said of the show becoming a global phenomenon.

But the limited series lead actress prize went to Kate Winslet for small-town whodunit detective drama "Mare of Easttown," which also won both limited series supporting acting awards for Julianne Nicholson and Evan Peters.

"I just want to acknowledge my fellow nominees in this decade that has to be about women having each other's backs," said Winslet.

She praised the show's creators for creating "a middle-aged, imperfect, flawed mother... you made us all feel validated, quite honestly."

Ewan McGregor won best-limited series actor for fashion designer series "Halston."

- 'Heck of a year' -

Apple TV+ global smash hit "Ted Lasso" won best comedy series.

Co-creator Bill Lawrence praised the show's "fearless leader" Jason Sudeikis, who won best actor as an out-of-his-depth American football coach handed control of an English soccer team.

"Heck of a year," said Sudeikis. "I would say that this show is about family, this show is about mentors and teachers, this show is about teammates.

"And I wouldn't be here without those three things in my life."

The show also claimed the night's first two awards in comedy for supporting acting.

But it missed out on comedy writing and directing to "Hacks," whose star Jean Smart won the best actress for portraying a faded diva scrambling to save her residency in Las Vegas.

Veteran TV star Smart earned a standing ovation and paid an emotional tribute to her actor husband Richard Gilliland, who died six months ago, for "putting his career on the back burner."

- 'Too many of us' -

The show opened with rappers LL Cool J and Lil Dicky and actress Rita Wilson leading the celebrities in a singalong of late rapper Biz Markie's "Just A Friend," riffing on the year's nominated television shows.

Unlike last year's virtual ceremony, a strict guest list of 500-odd nominees gathered under strict pandemic precautions including proof of inoculation.

But following the musical number, actor Seth Rogen nodded to the circumstances, joking that "there are way too many of us in this little room."

"Why is there a roof? It's more important that we have three chandeliers than that we make sure we don't kill Eugene Levy tonight," he added.

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