In a recent interview, Stephen Colbert, who will host the Emmy Awards on Sunday night, was asked to name the biggest TV star of the past year. “Undoubtedly Donald Trump—no one’s close,” he said. “Kind of like how the Bible outsells every book of all time. Donald Trump is the Bible of the 2016–2017 television season.” Fittingly, this year’s list of Emmy nominees includes a slew of what we might call Talmudic scholars, including Alec Baldwin and Melissa McCarthy, nominated, respectively, for their bravura interpretations of Trump and Sean Spicer on “Saturday Night Live.” In the talk-show category, there’s Samantha Bee, America’s Comedian-in-Chief, and Colbert himself, whose relentless attacks on the Administration have given his “Late Show” a demonstrable Trump bump. There was little room for pure escapism in any TV category this year (not when the Oval Office insists on acting “Veep”-ish), but let’s pause and remember that the Emmys are really about a different kind of politics: arguing over which of our favorite TV shows have been honored and which were unjustly snubbed. (Don’t get Emily Nussbaum started.) Before the ceremony, catch up on The New Yorker’s past coverage of this year’s Emmy nominees.

“Westworld”

In her review in the magazine, Emily Nussbaum described the series as “a come-hither drama that introduces itself as a science-fiction thriller about cyborgs who become self-aware, then reveals its true identity as what happens when an HBO drama struggles to do the same.” On the Web site, Tom Bissell wrote about its creators, while Aaron Bady examined race and the Western and why the show is no “Game of Thrones.”

“The Handmaid’s Tale”

Emily Nussbaum reviewed HBO’s adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s book, writing that it dramatizes “claustrophobia through gorgeous tableaux of repression.” Alexandra Schwartz made the case for the show’s feminism, and Moira Wiegel considered what it reveals about our own reproductive dystopia.

“Atlanta”

In her review, Emily Nussbaum described how the show “emphasizes character and mood, place and flow, a different type of originality.” Cassie da Costa wrote about the show’s new hip-hop sensibility.

“Feud”

Emily Nussbaum wrote about how Ryan Murphy, the creator of the miniseries, “lets the contradictions sizzle: he knows that schlock can double as great art.” Meanwhile, Richard Brody analyzes what the show misses about the art of movies.

“How to Get Away with Murder”

Last year, John Lahr wrote a Profile of Viola Davis, who is nominated for her performance as Angelica Keating, and how she came “to show the private moments of this tough, brilliant professional, who has a difficult, and promiscuous, past.”

“Big Little Lies”

“Generous to its characters, even those who begin as clichés, the series becomes a reflection on trauma,” Emily Nussbaum wrote in a review earlier this year. Jia Tolentino recapped the drama’s cathartic finale.

“The Crown”

Michael Schulman wrote about the “sumptuous and surprisingly engrossing Netflix series” and the screenwriter Peter Morgan’s interest in Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.

“Better Things”

Carrie Battan called Pamela Adlon’s prickly comedy “possibly the most poignant love letter to single motherhood that has ever aired on TV.”

“The Young Pope”

Rachel Syme on the HBO series, which is a campy show about the construction of faith.

“The Night Of”

Alex Okeowo examines the magnificent performance of Riz Ahmed and the tragic development of his character.

“Saturday Night Live”

Ian Crouch describes why Alec Baldwin makes a perfect Donald Trump, and Alexandra Schwartz explains why casting Melissa McCarthy as Sean Spicer was a “stroke of comedic brilliance.”

“Stranger Things”

Emily Nussbaum writes about how the HBO series is both a pastiche and an original, and Joshua Rothman traces the show’s nostalgia for the eighties—and beyond.

“Veep”

Ian Crouch on the unavoidable similarities between this season of “Veep” and the Trump Presidency.

“The Man in the High Castle”

In a Cultural Comment, Aaron Bady considers the grim resonance of the adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s novel and the author’s vision for resisting fascism in America.

“O.J.: Made in America”

Richard Brody on what the documentary reveals about the flow of information in the pre-Internet age.</s>Alec Baldwin accepts the award for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for "Saturday Night Live" at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Elisabeth Moss accepts the award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for 'The Handmaid's Tale' at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Elisabeth Moss, left, embraces Margaret Atwood while accepting the award for outstanding drama series for 'The Handmaid's Tale'at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Dave Chappelle, left, presents the award for outstanding directing for a comedy series for the 'Atlanta' episode 'B.A.N.' to Donald Glover at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Donald Glover accepts the award for outstanding directing for a comedy series for the 'Atlanta' episode 'B.A.N.' at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Kate McKinnon accepts the award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for 'Saturday Night Live' at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Sean Spicer speaks at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

President Donald Trump never won an Emmy, it's true. But his presence was felt at this year's television awards ceremony more than any actor, writer or producer.

"Saturday Night Live," for which Trump was an endless fount of comedy during his campaign and early presidency, had its best Emmys haul in the show's 41-year history. "The Handmaid's Tale," the Hulu drama about an authoritarian society where some found disturbing echoes in real life, was the most-honored drama Sunday night.

Then there was host Stephen Colbert's string of one-liners about the man he considered the biggest television star of the past year, and former White House press secretary Sean Spicer's jaw-dropping cameo in Colbert's opening monologue.

Trump is a past Emmy nominee, from his time as "Celebrity Apprentice" host. Colbert told the audience that the Emmys may be to blame for his presidency, because Trump might not have run if he'd won an Emmy. Then he got in a dig where he knew it would hurt: "Unlike the presidency, Emmys go to the winner of the popular vote," he said.

Spicer wheeled onto the stage behind a mobile podium — a la "SNL" impersonator Melissa McCarthy — and joked about the Emmys having its biggest audience ever. The reference to his dubious claim about the crowd size at Trump's inaugural struck some on social media as not the sort of thing that should be joked about.

"Saturday Night Live" won a total of nine Emmys Sunday and at last week's Creative Arts Emmys. The cast members who impersonated Trump and opponent Hillary Clinton — Alec Baldwin and Kate McKinnon — both won Emmys for supporting roles in a comedy. The show won the Emmy for best variety sketch series.

Backstage, the show's longtime top executive, Lorne Michaels said it was one of the show's most amazing years, "because everything changed every day."

"Philosophically, anyone who is in power should be questioned and that's what we do," he said. "If you seem to have a clear bias I think people stop listening and resist the show."

"The Handmaid's Tale" won the Emmy for best drama. The show was also responsible for drama writing and directing awards, and star Elisabeth Moss won best actress. Margaret Atwood, whose 1985 novel is the show's source, stood onstage with the cast and crew to soak in the adulation.

Asked about it after the telecast, show producer Bruce Miller said the show doesn't look to the politics of the day to bend the story.

"But we're a really plugged in group of actors," he said. "I don't think you can help but have it affect you."

Julia Louis-Dreyfus earned the best comic actress Emmy for the sixth time as the clueless politician in "Veep," and the show was named best comedy for the third time. Add in the Emmys Louis-Dreyfus won for "Seinfeld" and "New Adventures of Old Christine," and she's now tied with Cloris Leachman as the most Emmy-winning performer ever.

The dominance of "Veep" is about to come to an end, since the HBO show is going into its final season.

"We did have a whole story line about impeachment, but we abandoned that because we were worried that someone else might get to it first," Louis-Dreyfus said.

HBO's "Big Little Lies" won the Emmy for best limited series, and Nicole Kidman won best actress in a limited series for her role in the show. Kidman and co-star Reese Witherspoon said they were grateful the show provided strong roles for women.

The Emmys seemed a bit star-struck by Kidman, giving her two minutes, 45 seconds of uninterrupted time to talk after her award. Meanwhile, Sterling K. Brown, who won for best actor in a drama for his role in "This is Us," got a loud musical hook ending his acceptance speech before he'd reached the two-minute mark. Brown paid tribute to the last African-American man to win in his category, Andre Braugher.

Donald Glover won the best comedy actor and best comedy director Emmys for "Atlanta," which he created and which carries his distinctive voice.

"I want to thank Trump for making black people No. 1 on the most oppressed list. He's the reason I'm probably up here," Glover said.

John Lithgow, who received the best supporting drama actor for his role as British leader Winston Churchill in "The Crown," took a more diplomatic approach to political commentary.

"Most of all I have to thank Winston Churchill. In these crazy times, his life, even as an old man, reminds us what courage and leadership in government really looks like," Lithgow said.

AP Television Writer Lynn Elber and Entertainment Writer Lindsey Bahr in Los Angeles contributed to this report.</s>LOS ANGELES, Sept 17 (Reuters) - The 2017 Primetime Emmy Awards, the highest honors in television, were handed out on Sunday at a ceremony in Los Angeles hosted by Stephen Colbert.

Following is a list of nominations in key categories: BEST DRAMA SERIES "The Handmaid's Tale" Hulu BEST COMEDY SERIES "Veep" HBO BEST LIMITED SERIES "Big Little Lies" HBO BEST ACTOR, DRAMA Sterling K. Brown "This is Us" BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA Elisabeth Moss "The Handmaid's Tale" BEST ACTOR, COMEDY Donald Glover "Atlanta" BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY Julia Louis-Dreyfus "Veep" BEST ACTOR, LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE Riz Ahmed "The Night Of" BEST ACTRESS, LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE Nicole Kidman "Big Little Lies" VARIETY TALK SERIES "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver"

"Saturday Night Live" REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM "The Voice" (Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Mary Milliken)</s>(CNN) — Sunday (Sept. 17) is all about the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards, and you don’t want to miss out on any of the action.

Join us here as we keep you up to date on the fashion, politics, speeches and big moments of the night.

We’ll time stamp everything, so you can simply scroll down to catch anything you may have missed.

11:00 p.m

 Hulu’s dystopian drama “The Handmaid’s Tale” wins the Emmy for outstanding drama series. Adapted from Margaret Atwood’s 1985 thriller, Hulu’s victory with the “Handmaid’s Tale” is a huge win for the streaming service.

10:55 p.m.

 No shocker that Elisabeth Moss has won the lead actress Emmy for her performance in the dystopian drama “The Handmaid’s Tale.”

She thanked her mom and had to be censored for a part of her tribute which we can only assume included some swears.

Moss didn’t get far before Oprah Winfrey announced that her series had won for best drama.

10:52 p.m.

 Sterling K. Brown won for outstanding lead actor in a drama for “This Is Us.”

He paid homage to “Homicide” actor Andre Braugher and his cast.

“You are the best white TV family that a brother ever had,” Brown said.

10: 45 p.m.

 Proof that you are never too big a star to get hit with nerves, the legendary actress Cicely Tyson had to pause a few times before presenting “Big Little Lies” with the Emmy for outstanding limited series because she was nervous she said.

“It’s been an incredible year for women in television,” said “Big Little Lies” star and producer Reese Witherspoon.” Can I just say bring women to the front of their own stories and make them the heroes of their own stories. Thank you for that opportunity and for audiences to wrap their arms around us.”

Kidman said the project came about because of the frustration that as women “We weren’t being offered great roles.”

“So, now, more great roles for women please,” she said.

10:30 p.m.

 Riz Ahmed has got to feel good having beat out Robert De Niro to nab the outstanding actor in a limited series Emmy for “The Night Of.”

Nicole Kidman won her very first Emmy and graciously shared it with her “Big Little Lies” costar, Reese Witherspoon, who was also nominated for outstanding actress in a limited series.

Kidman’s husband Keith Urban got teary eyed when she thanked him and their two little girls.

The actress also thanked the Television Academy for recognizing her in a role that dealt with domestic violence.

“By you acknowledging me with this award, it shines a light on it even more,” she said.

10:22 p.m.

 Julia Louis-Dreyfus didn’t have time to sit down before “Veep” won for best comedy series.

“Atlanta,” “Black-ish” and “the Trump White House” got shout outs as inspiration to the team behind “Veep.”

“This show works because we had sort of a no jerkoffs policy on the show and other than Julia, we really stuck to it,” joked showrunner David Mandel.

10:18 p.m.

 “Veep” star Julia Louis-Dreyfus wins an unprecedented sixth consecutive Emmy Award for her performance as fictional politician Selina Meyer. No other performer has been honored with more Emmys for a single role.

The star joked they had a storyline prepped for the show about impeachment, but “worried somebody else would get to it first.”

He wins for lead actor in a comedy series.

“I want to thank Trump for making black people number one on the most oppressed list,” Glover joked. “He’s the reason I’m probably up here.”

Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel do a fun joke about Oliver beating them.

The cocktails they are sipping are named after his show, they said.

“It’s so high quality that apparently they can only make one a week,” Colbert said.

10 p.m.

 Don Roy King takes home the Emmy for directing a variety series for “Saturday Night Live.”

He also wins the award for best dad for getting his kid on the air by shouting out to the director of the Emmys to make sure to cut to her.

The Emmy for outstanding variety talk series goes to “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” for the second consecutive year.

In keeping with his adoration of Oprah, Oliver thanked her seat filler since Mama O apparently dipped out for a minute.

9:50 p.m.

 Can we all just agree that Viola Davis classes up everything she touches?

She introduced singer Christopher Jackson who sang the Stevie Wonder hit “As” as the montage ran to pay tribute to those in Hollywood who we lost this year.

9:45 p.m.

 Awwww, Reed Morano won for directing a drama series for “The Handmaid’s Tale.” She’s one of the youngest in the biz doing what she does.

9:35 p.m.

 “Master of None” star Lena Waithe became the first black woman to win the Emmy for outstanding writing for a comedy series along with co-star and the show’s creator, Aziz Ansari.

She was honored with Ansari for the episode “Thanksgiving,” which poignantly featured a young lesbian navigating her family relationships after coming out.

Waithe is also the first black woman to be nominated in the category.

“The things that make us different, they are our super powers,” she said paying homage to the LGBTQI community.

And NBC’s “The Voice” won the Emmy for outstanding reality competition show.

9:30 p.m.

 The skit with RuPaul as the Emmy statue was everything.

Accepting the Emmy for writing for his variety show “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver,” Oliver paid tribute to Oprah — just because.

“I’d like to thank Oprah because she’s sitting right there and it seems inappropriate not to,” he said.

Ann Dowd got us choked up with her win for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series for “The Handmaid’s Tale” — mostly because she was so emotional.

Pretty much everyone is getting played off by the music tonight, so we didn’t have much time to be moved.

9 p.m.

 “I suppose I should say at long last Mr. President, here is your Emmy,” is how Alec Baldwin opened his acceptance speech for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for his work impersonating President Trump on “Saturday Night Live.”

He brought tons of funny to “SNL” this season.

Speaking of funny, we vote for Rachel Bloom to introduce the accountants on all the awards shows. The “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” star’s song and dance schtick was pretty cute.

The deserved it for how amazing they looked.

The “9 to 5” stars joked about being unwilling to be controlled by a “sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical, bigot” in that film — and now.

We have no idea who they were referencing (we kid, we kid).

8:30 p.m.

 It seemed like the universe was all over it when Dave Chappelle joked about the diversity at the Emmys by saying, “I counted 11 of us here on the monitor” and then presented (along with Melissa McCarthy) the Emmy for outstanding director on a comedy series to Donald Glover for his show “Atlanta.”

“I want to thank the great algorithm that put us all here,”Glover said in his acceptance speech.

“Atlanta” has been hailed as one of the shows to usher in a golden age for black TV shows.

People on social media buzzed over Glover becoming the first African American to win the award.

8 p.m.

 Stephen Colbert promised a hot Emmys night, and he kicked it off politically-tinged song about concerning current events. But not to worry, Colbert sang, “everything is better on TV.”

He was joined by talent from shows — including “This Is Us” and “The Handmaid’s Tail” — to express that while things are rough right now in the world, there’s always the escapism of television.

He even got a surprise assist from Chance the Rapper.

Colbert’s opening monologue included jokes about who the winners should thank (“Mainly ‘Game of Thrones’ for not being eligible this year”) to the fascination with the impeding death of Milo Ventimiglia’s character on “This Is Us” (“I’m just saying, your fans want to see you dead.”)

Viewers who looked forward to Colbert roasting President Donald Trump were not disappointed.

“Hello, Sir. Thank you for joining us,” he said. “Looking forward to the tweets.”

The late night host then reminded us that Trump has never gotten over not winning an Emmy for “The Apprentice.”

“Unlike the presidency, Emmys go to the winner of the popular vote,” Colbert joked.

The audience lost it when former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer appeared.

“This will be the largest audience to witness an Emmys period, both in person and around the world,” Spicer joked from a podium.

Oh, and the first Emmy of the night was given out.

John Lithgow won for supporting actor in a drama for “The Crown.”

7:30 p.m.

 Want to know how much fun is happening on the red carpet?

Rita Moreno’s face as she encounters RuPaul says it all.

Also, could the “Stranger Things” kids be any cuter?

7 p.m.

 The red carpet is in full swing an hour before the ceremony starts and the stars are out in full force.

“This Is Us” star Sterling K. Brown knows it’s all about the look. He tweeted the best photo of his wife, actress Ryan Bathe, in a stunning yellow gown with the caption, “Do the damn thang, Ry! @michellechel #EMMY2017.”

Earlier he posted a video of his wife getting ready writing, “Don’t hurt ’em, Bird! #emmys2017 How can it get any better than this?”

“I feel like Rocky, Bathe says in the video, before breaking into the “Rocky” theme in celebration of her “knockout” look.

It probably doesn’t hurt that Brown is nominated for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for his work on the hit NBC drama.

Related: Emmy nominations 2017: Is your show on the list?

Felicity Huffman is up for the outstanding lead actress in a limited series for her role in “American Crime.” She tweeted a sneak peek of her dress fitting from earlier in the week and asked, “What do you guys think?”

Meanwhile, “Being Mary Jane” star Gabrielle Union shared her excitement about attending the show for the first time.

“I’ve been doing TV since 1995,” she tweeted.”This will be my 1st time going to the Emmys & I’m presenting an award! 22 yrs later. #OvernightSuccess”</s>The 69th Primetime Emmy Awards were presented Sunday night in Los Angeles at the Microsoft Theater. See highlights of the awards ceremony.

By The Associated Press

Host Stephen Colbert performs at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Partial list of winners of the annual Emmy Awards, announced Sunday by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Copyright © 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.</s>Donald Glover accepts the award for outstanding directing for a comedy series for the "Atlanta" episode "B.A.N." at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

John Oliver accepts the award for outstanding writing for a variety series for 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver' at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Laura Dern accepts the award for outstanding supporting actress in a limited series or movie for 'Big Little Lies' at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Kate McKinnon accepts the award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for 'Saturday Night Live' at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Alec Baldwin accepts the award for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for 'Saturday Night Live' at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.</s>This year, Stephen Colbert will preside over the festivities, which will take place in Los Angeles on Sunday.

In preparation for the big night, we’ve broken down number of heated, must-monitor races.

The nominees: “Better Call Saul” (AMC), “The Crown” (Netflix), “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu), “House of Cards” (Netflix), “Stranger Things” (Netflix), “This Is Us” (NBC), “Westworld” (HBO)

“24” was the last broadcast TV series to win best drama at the Emmys back in 2006. NBC’s breakout hit “This Is Us” stands as a strong contender in this race.

If the big prize indeed goes to this wholesome drama, it would no doubt be a big win for the Big Three, as the siblings on the show are called, and the Big Four (networks) alike.

The spoiler here could be Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” a drama based on the 1985 novel by Margaret Atwood that has been praised for both its performances and timely themes.

Both “This Is Us” and “The Handmaid’s Tale” picked up awards at the Creative Arts Emmys last weekend.

Five of the seven shows in this category are nominated for their first seasons, but it’s hard to say whether that’s a benefit or not. In the past twenty years, four shows have won the best drama Emmy for their first seasons — “Homeland,” “Mad Men,” “Lost” and “The West Wing.” That’s not a bad club to be in for any of the competing freshman shows.

A win in this category has eluded “House of Cards” for the last four years, and signs point to no change in this pattern.

This is “Better Call Saul’s” third nomination in this race.

The nominees: Pamela Adlon (“Better Things”), Jane Fonda (“Grace and Frankie”), Allison Janney (“Mom”), Ellie Kemper (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Veep”), Tracee Ellis Ross (“black-ish”), Lily Tomlin (“Grace and Frankie”)

All eyes will be on Louis-Dreyfus as she competes to break the record for most Emmys won by a performer for a single role, and with five consecutive wins under her belt, the odds are in her favor.

With two previous wins (for “The New Adventures of Old Christine” and “Seinfeld”) also to her name, a win this year would put the actress in a tie with Cloris Leechman for most Primetime Emmys won a performer (8).

It’s worth noting, however, that Janney, too, currently has seven Emmys. Meaning if she won, she’d top Louis-Dreyfus and also tie Leechman.

The battle of the Emmy Behemoths is on.

The nominees: Sterling K. Brown (“This is Us”), Anthony Hopkins (“Westworld”), Bob Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul”), Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”), Liev Schreiber (“Ray Donovan”), Kevin Spacey (“House of Cards”), Milo Ventimiglia (“This is Us”)

The Emmys have set us up for a family feud of sorts as Sterling K. Brown and Milo Ventimiglia, who both won praise for their performances on family drama “This Is Us,” compete in the same category. (They play father and son on the show, but because of the show’s twisty timelines, have only shared one trippy scene together.)

Brown is the favorite to win in this category, one year after he picked up his first Emmy for “The People v. O.J. Simpson.”

If he won, Brown would also become the first black actor to win the best actor in a drama category since Andre Braugher won for “Homicide: Life on the Street” in 1998.

Hale, Burrell, and Anderson are all previous winners in this highly competitive category, but eyes will be on Baldwin, whose impersonation of President Donald Trump made headlines weekly during the last season of “SNL.”

Baldwin has won two Emmys previously in the lead actor in a comedy category for his work on “30 Rock.”

The nominees: Carrie Coon (“Fargo”), Felicity Huffman (“American Crime”), Nicole Kidman (“Big Little Lies”), Jessica Lange (“Feud”), Susan Sarandon (“Feud”), Reese Witherspoon (“Big Little Lies”)

You could essentially rename this category Battle of the Oscar winners.

Kidman (who won her Oscar in 2003), Lange (a two-time Oscar winner), Sarandon (a 1996 Oscar winner), and Witherspoon (who won an Oscar in 2006) are the four leading this pack of ultra-talented women, with a clear winner not among them. In other words, this is a great race.

The odds might be slightly less in the favor of Huffman, a 2006 Oscar nominee, and Coon. But a split vote among fans of “Feud” and “Big Little Lies” could yield a surprise.

The nominees: “Full Frontal With Samantha Bee” (TBS), “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC), “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” (HBO), “The Late Late Show With James Corden” (CBS), “Real Time With Bill Maher” (HBO), “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS)

Arguably no year in recent history has been more important than this one for those in late night TV, and the choice must have been a difficult one for voters.

Will feminist icon Samantha Bee pull out a win for herself and plant a symbolic flag for women in late night? Will a reignited Stephen Colbert earn back his space at the top? Will Oliver score a repeat win?

It’s possible, too, that voters gave their support to hosts who wear their hearts on their sleeves — like Kimmel, whose plea about health care, as told through an emotional story about his newborn son, was hailed as moving and poignant. Or Corden, who found his own way to hit on the topics that he held dear (see: his video about the travel ban) and also emerged as a kind of king of viral favorites.

Answers to all the questions we seek will be answered September 17 at 7 p.m. on WHNT.</s>It’s television’s biggest night once again as the 69th annual Emmy Awards kick off Sunday night, September 17, live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, with Late Show host Stephen Colbert set to host the proceedings for the first time.

With Colbert hosting this year’s ceremony, the question awards-watchers are asking most is not whether the show will delve into politics, but just *how* political it will get. The CBS host is perhaps the most outspoken anti-Donald Trump critic in all of late-night, and it’s widely expected he’s going to bring his apparent hatred for the president to TV’s big night.

This year’s show also handed out 22 nominations across numerous categories to Saturday Night Live. Alec Baldwin is nominated for his mocking portrayal of Trump, as is Melissa McCarthy, for her impression of former White House press secretary Sean Spicer.

For those tuning in to the show to see their favorite television shows and stars get awarded (as opposed to the political proselytizing), this year’s ceremony offers up a number of intriguing matchups and storylines.

With the biggest show in all of television (HBO’s Game of Thrones) ineligible for this year’s awards, all eyes will be on Netflix to see if the streaming giant can take home Best Series glory for its 80s nostalgia monster hit Stranger Things, for its Queen Elizabeth drama The Crown, or for longtime contender House of Cards. But those series will face stiff competition from HBO’s other heavy-hitter, the Anthony Hopkins-starring sci-fi drama Westworld, as well as from Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale, and NBC’s ensemble weepy This Is Us, the latter of which hopes to become the first Best Series Emmy-winner for a broadcast network since Fox’s 24 picked up the honor in 2006.

On the comedy side, Veep is up against Atlanta, Silicon Valley, Master of None, black-ish, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and perennial favorite Modern Family, the latter of which could break the record if it picks up its sixth win for Best Series tonight.

Follow along with the Breitbart News live-wire tonight for live updates from the show, as it kicks off at 8pm ET/5pm PT.

All times Eastern. Latest updates at the top.

7:26 p.m. – Half-hour until showtime. Breitbart News is watching, so you don’t have to. Stick around for updates.

6:47 p.m. – The stars are out in full force on the red carpet, and some are using their wardrobe to make political statements. Celebrities like Kumail Nanjiani, Padma Lakshmi, and Matt Walsh are sporting blue ribbons in support of the ACLU, which has fought hard against President Trump’s immigration agenda.

Read the full story from Breitbart’s Ben Kew here.

Here’s more red-carpet looks from the night’s stars and nominees:</s>All the winners at the 2017 Emmy Awards

Los Angeles - The winners for the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards have been announced.

Stephen Colbert was the host of the prestigious awards.

The Emmys celebrates the best in television entertainment over the past year, covering drama and comedy series, reality and variety shows, and mini-series and made for TV movies.

Here is the full list of winners:</s>LOS ANGELES, Sept 17, (Reuters) - The 2017 Primetime Emmy Awards, the highest honors in television, will be handed out on Sunday at a ceremony in Los Angeles hosted by Stephen Colbert.

Following is a list of nominations in key categories:

"This Is Us" NBC

Sterling K. Brown "This is Us"

Milo Ventimiglia "This is Us"

Viola Davis "How To get Away With Murder"
The Primetime Emmy Awards is held in Los Angeles at the Microsoft Theater. Political satirist and The Late Show host Stephen Colbert hosts the event.