• by Karlene Lukovitz  @KLmarketdaily, September 21, 2020

HBO dominated drama awards at this year’s Emmys, silencing critics who had predicted that the brand would be unable to retain its mojo post “Game Of Thrones.”

While Netflix received more nominations -- 160 to HBO’s 107 -- HBO won 30 awards, to Netflix’s 21.

HBO’s “Succession” took Outstanding Drama Series, “Watchmen” won Outstanding Limited Series, “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver,” won Outstanding Variety Talk Series, and “Bad Education” won for Outstanding TV Movie.

In addition, “Succession”’s Jeremy Strong won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series; “Watchmen”’s Regina King Won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series; Mark Ruffalo won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series, for “I Know This Much Is True”; and “Euphoria”’s Zendaya won for best lead actress in a drama. Other HBO awards included Outstanding Writer for “Succession” creator Jesse Armstrong.

“Watchmen” also won the most Emmys of any TV show, with 11.

“I am thrilled,” Casey Bloys, president of HBO, told Deadline following the awards. “It’s especially nice because there was a question how HBO would do. This is a pretty good way to answer that question.”

Pop TV’s “Schitt’s Creek” won best comedy series and swept the comedy awards, with its creator, Daniel Levy, also taking the awards for writing, directing (along with Andrew Cividino) and best supporting actor. Co-star Catherine O’Hara won best actress, Eugene Levy won best actor, and Annie Murphy won best supporting actress in a comedy series.