'Veep,' 'Game of Thrones' sweep fresh air into TV's Emmys

Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus holds the award for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series for her role in HBO's "Veep" backstage during the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California Sept 20, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

Diversity rules

HBO's "Veep" ended the five-year Emmy reign of ABC's "Modern Family" as best comedy series. Julia Louis-Dreyfus won best comedy actress for the fourth consecutive year for her role as the egotistical President Selina Meyer in the series, while Tony Hale, who plays her bag man, was again named comedy supporting actor.

"I think we just get better with every season we do, but also she became president so that gave us lots of challenges," "Veep" creator Armando Ianucci told reporters about the show's rise to the top. "Everything Selina does now has terrible international impact, so it made everyone raise their game."

On a milestone night for diversity, Viola Davis became the first African-American to win a drama lead actress Emmy for her role as a tough criminal defense lawyer in ABC's "How to Get Away With Murder."

"The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity," Davis said in an emotional acceptance speech. "You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there."

Davis thanked all the writers and producers "who have redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be sexy, to be a leading woman, to be black."

Two other black actresses, Uzo Aduba ("Orange is the New Black") and Regina King ("American Crime"), were also among Sunday's winners, while Jill Soloway joined the small club of women to win a directing Emmy, for the transgender comedy "Transparent."

In the first Emmys for Amazon.com's foray into original content, "Transparent" also won four other Emmys, including lead actor for Jeffrey Tambor.

Tambor, 71, won for his role as a father who transitions to a woman, and he dedicated the award - his first Emmy - to the transgender community.

"Thank you for your patience, thank you for your courage, thank you for your stories, thank you for your inspiration, thank you for letting us be part of the change," he said.

"Inside Amy Schumer," the no-holds-barred female comedy which is written and directed by Schumer, proved a popular first-time winner in the variety sketch series category.

But Schumer, the hottest new talent in comedy, could not dislodge perennial Emmy favorite "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," which won three Emmys for best variety series, writing and directing.

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Stars arrive at the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards