The Crown Wins Big At Emmys In Ceremony Which Seth Rogen Thought Was COVID-Unsafe

Unlike last year's virtual show, this year's Emmys was an in-person event held in an air-conditioned tent at the LA Live Deck, next to the Microsoft Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.

But Seth Rogen, the evening's first presenter, didn't think it was a good idea to pack so many (about 500) into the venue amid the surge of Delta variant.

“What are we doing? They said this was outdoors — it’s not! They lied to us," he said. “We’re in a hermetically-sealed tent right now. I would not have come to this. 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. That is what has been decided.”

Per the Emmys website, all guests and everyone working on the show had to provide proof of vaccination and a negative test 48 hours prior to the ceremony.

Still, the show went on with The Crown the big winner of seven awards.

The Netflix regal drama scooped every award it was shortlisted, including the prestigious Outstanding Drama Series award, as well as wins in the acting categories for stars Olivia Colman, Josh O'Connor, Gillian Anderson and Tobias Menzies.

Accepting the Drama Series honour from London, showrunner Peter Morgan admitted they were ready to celebrate in style — but not for long as they would be back to work on the following day.

He said: "Thank you the Television Academy. Thank you Netflix. Thank you Sony. Thanks, this lot.

"Thank you to one or two people not here because we start shooting in a couple of hours... We're going to have a party now! I am lost for words and I'm very, very grateful. Thank you."

Elsewhere, Ted Lasso also had a successful evening, taking the Outstanding Comedy Series award, as well as Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Jason Sudeikis and the Supporting Actor and Actress prizes for Brett Goldstein and Hannah Waddingham, while the Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series award went to The Queen's Gambit.

An emotional Kate Winslet scooped Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her work on Mare of Easttown.

She said of the show: “It was this cultural moment and it brought people together and gave them something to talk about other than a global pandemic."

The British star had been the subject of tributes from her co-stars Evan Peters and Julianne Nicholson when they took the Supporting Actor and Actress, respectively.

Evan had thanked "Kate Winslet for being Kate Winslet", while Julianne said: "Kate Winslet. Man, you're good at acting. But it turns out you're good at caring for a whole production. You led all of us every step of the way with such care and intelligence and love. If you hadn't called and asked me to join you in Philly, I'd probably have read the first two episodes and thought, 'Nah, the priest did it' and stayed home so I owe this to you."

John Oliver won the Variety Talk Series award for Last Week Tonight for the sixth year in a row, while RuPaul became the most Emmy-awarded Black person in history after scooping his 11th trophy for RuPaul's Drag Race in the Competition Program category.

Here are the 2021 Primetime Emmy Awards winners:

Outstanding Drama Series:

The Crown

Outstanding Comedy Series:

Ted Lasso

Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series:

The Queen’s Gambit

Lead Actor in a Drama Series:

Josh O’Connor, The Crown

Lead Actress in a Drama Series:

Olivia Colman, The Crown

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:

Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:

Jean Smart,, Hacks

Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie:

Ewan McGregor, Halston

Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie:

Kate Winslet Mare of Easttown

Variety Talk Series:

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver

Variety Special (Pre-Recorded):

Hamilton

Variety Special (Live):

Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020

Television Movie:

Dolly Parton’s Christmas On The Square

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:

Tobias Menzies, ‘The Crown

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:

Gillian Anderson, The Crown

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:

Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:

Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso

Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie:

Evan Peters, Mare Of Easttown

Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie:

Julianne Nicholson, Mare Of Easttown

Competition Program:

RuPaul’s Drag Race

Directing for a Drama Series:

Jessica Hobbs, The Crown

Writing for a Drama Series:

Peter Morgan, The Crown

Directing for a Comedy Series:

Lucia Aniello, Hacks

Writing for a Comedy Series:

Denise Petski, Hacks

Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie:

Scott Frank, The Queen's Gambit

Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie:

Michaela Coel, I May Destroy You

Governor’s Award:

Debbie Allen

Catch the encore telecast of the Emmys tonight (Sept 20) on Channel 5, 10.35pm. It's also available on-demand on meWATCH.