The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story dominated the Primetime Emmy nominations along with HBO’s medieval fantasy Game of Thrones.

The 10-part drama on basic-cable channel FX chronicling the sensational, polarising murder trial of O.J. Simpson in 1995 earned 22 nominations in all, including best limited series and best actor for Cuba Gooding Jr’s title role as the disgraced former football star.

The show aired against a contemporary backdrop of rising tensions between minority communities and law enforcement over a series of killings of unarmed black men at the hands of police in cities across the country, giving rise to the Black Lives Matter protest movement.

On the other hand, Game of Thrones led Emmy contenders with 23 nominations overall, including nods for best drama series, two for best supporting actor and three for best supporting actress.

Online streaming networks fared well. Netflix garnered 54 nominations

The hit show, based on George R.R. Martin’s fantasy novel series A Song of Ice and Fire, was named outstanding drama series at last year’s Emmy Awards.

Rounding out the best drama race are Showtime’s CIA thriller Homeland, FX’s Cold War espionage saga The Americans, AMC’s quirky legal story Better Call Saul, Netflix’s political mystery House of Cards, the final season of PBS’s period melodrama Downton Abbey and USA Network’s freshman cyberhacking drama Mr. Robot.

Thursday’s Emmy nominees showcased a more diverse crop of talent in television than in Hollywood’s film industry, which drew sharp criticism this year when all 20 performers nominated for Oscars were white for a second consecutive year.

African-American actor Anthony Anderson, who co-hosted the Emmy nomination announcements, shouted with joy as he was named a contender for best comedy actor in the ABC sitcom Black-ish.

Jonathan Pryce, Natalie Dormer, and Hannah Waddingham in Game of Thrones.Jonathan Pryce, Natalie Dormer, and Hannah Waddingham in Game of Thrones.

Online streaming networks also fared well. Netflix garnered 54 nominations, six of them for its 10-part documentary series Making a Murderer. Amazon Studios scored 16 nominations, including 10 for its transgender comedy Transparent.

Among the shows snubbed by Emmy voters in major categories this year was the Netflix prison dramedy Orange is the New Black and The Good Wife, a usual Emmy favourite that just ended its seven-year CBS run.

Winners of the Emmy Awards, voted on by the 20,000-plus members of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, will be presented September 18 at a ceremony in Los Angeles.

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