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Hulu Won Best Drama Series At The Emmys After Years Of Cable And Premium Dominance

"The Handmaid's Tale" had a night to remember.
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By 

Senior Entertainment Reporter, HuffPost

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After years of dominance by cable and premium shows, a streaming platform took home the top prize on Sunday night at the 69th annual Primetime Emmy Awards. 

Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” was named Outstanding Drama Series, beating out “Better Call Saul” (AMC), “The Crown” (Netflix), “House of Cards” (Netflix), “Stranger Things” (Netflix), “This Is Us” (NBC) and “Westworld” (HBO). 

The show’s cast and crew received a standing ovation from the crowd while accepting the award. 

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Hulu

“Go home, get to work, we have a lot of things to fight for,” showrunner Bruce Miller said in his speech as inspiration to fellow creators.  

This is the first time a streaming site has taken home the award for Best Drama. Since 2007, HBO’s “The Sopranos,” AMC’s “Mad Men,” Showtime’s “Homeland,” AMC’s “Breaking Bad” and HBO’s “Game of Thrones” have reigned supreme. 

Now, Hulu has changed the game. 

“The Handmaid’s Tale” was a critical success and has already been picked up for Season 2. The show, based on Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel, received 11 total nominations and won in the following categories:

  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Elisabeth Moss
  • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Ann Dowd
  • Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for Reed Morano
  • Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for Bruce Miller
  • Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series  for Alexis Bledel
  • Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary or Fantasy Program for Julie Berghoff, Evan Webber, Sophie Neudorfer
  • Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series for Colin Watkinson

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Before You Go

The 2017 Emmy Awards
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Actors Sarah Paulson (L) and Allison Janney attend the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Steve Granitz via Getty Images)
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Actors Gina Rodriguez and Shemar Moore speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Kevin Winter via Getty Images)
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Actors Shailene Woodley, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, and Zoe Kravitz speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Kevin Winter via Getty Images)
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Host Stephen Colbert (2nd from R) performs onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Lester Cohen via Getty Images)
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Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the Crown, John Lithgow, speaks onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theatre on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:FREDERIC J. BROWN via Getty Images)
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Former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer speaks onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theatre on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:FREDERIC J. BROWN via Getty Images)
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Actors Anna Chlumsky (L) and Ellie Kemper walk the red carpet during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Rich Polk via Getty Images)
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Actor Kate McKinnon accepts the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series award for "Saturday Night Live" onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Lester Cohen via Getty Images)
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Actors Issa Rae and Riz Ahmed speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Lester Cohen via Getty Images)
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Actor Laura Dern accepts the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie award for "Big Little Lies" onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Lester Cohen via Getty Images)
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Actors Anna Faris and Allison Janney speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Lester Cohen via Getty Images)
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Comedian Dave Chappelle and actor Melissa McCarthy speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Kevin Winter via Getty Images)
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Actor/director Donald Glover accepts Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for 'Atlanta' (episode 'B.A.N.') onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Kevin Winter via Getty Images)
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Actor Rachel Bloom performs onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Lester Cohen via Getty Images)
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Director Jean-Marc Vallee accepts Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special for 'Big Little Lies' onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Kevin Winter via Getty Images)
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Actors Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, and Jane Fonda speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Lester Cohen via Getty Images)
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Host Stephen Colbert is dragged offstage during the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theatre on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:FREDERIC J. BROWN via Getty Images)
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Actors Alexis Bledel and Gerald McRaney speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Kevin Winter via Getty Images)
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Actor Alexander Skarsgard accepts Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for "Big Little Lies" onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Kevin Winter via Getty Images)
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TV personalities Seth Meyers and James Corden speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Lester Cohen via Getty Images)
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Actor Ann Dowd accepts the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for "The Handmaid's Tale" onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Kevin Winter via Getty Images)
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Host John Oliver accepts the Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series for "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Kevin Winter via Getty Images)
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Alec Baldwin accepts the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for "Saturday Night Live" onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theatre on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:FREDERIC J. BROWN via Getty Images)
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Actors Sonequa Martin-Green and Jeremy Piven speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images)
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Actors LL Cool J and Gabrielle Union speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images)
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Writers Aziz Ansari and Lena Waithe accept the Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series award for "Master of None" onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Lester Cohen via Getty Images)
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Actors Rashida Jones and Mark Feuerstein speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images)
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Jim parsons and Iain Armitage speak onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theatre on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:FREDERIC J. BROWN via Getty Images)
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Lea Michelle and Kumail Nanjiani speak onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theatre on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:FREDERIC J. BROWN via Getty Images)
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Actors Priyanka Chopra and Anthony Anderson walk onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Lester Cohen via Getty Images)
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Audrey Morrissey and crew members accept the award for Outstanding Reality Competition Program for "The Voice" onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theatre on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:FREDERIC J. BROWN via Getty Images)
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Actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus accepts Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for "Veep" from actor Debra Messing onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Kevin Winter via Getty Images)
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Actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus accepts Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for "Veep" onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Kevin Winter via Getty Images)
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Actors Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon with cast and crew of "Big Little Lies" accept the Outstanding Limited Series award onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Kevin Winter via Getty Images)
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Writer-producer Norman Lear and actor-comedian Carol Burnett speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Lester Cohen via Getty Images)
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Nicole Kidman accepts the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for "Big Little Lies" onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theatre on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:FREDERIC J. BROWN via Getty Images)
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Actors Craig Robinson and Adam Scott speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Lester Cohen via Getty Images)
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