‘Last Week Tonight with John Oliver’ has won the 2021 Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding writing for variety series. The show also won the Emmy Award for best variety talk series for the sixth straight year.

From the stage, Oliver praised fellow nominee Conan O’Brien, whose show recently ended its late-night run on TBS.

“Like many of us in this room, I was kind of rooting for ‘Conan,’ so this is bittersweet. Thank you so much, Conan, for inspiring 30 years of comedy writers,” The Associated Press quoted Oliver as saying.

He also paid tribute to comic Norm Macdonald, who died on Tuesday.

 “No one was funnier in the last 20 years than Norm Macdonald on late-night comedy, so if you have any time in the next week, just do what I did and just spend time YouTubing clips of Norm and Conan, because it just doesn’t get better than that,” Oliver said.

The producers of the Emmys have promised that the show will be a celebration for all. But it could be much more rewarding, even historic, for some.

That includes Netflix’s drama “The Crown” and Apple TV+ comedy “Ted Lasso.” Each is considered a frontrunner Sunday for top series honors in their respective categories, and their casts have received armloads of nominations.

More than the shows on streaming would benefit. Victories in both the best drama and comedy series categories would mark a first for streaming services and reinforce their growing dominance, to the dismay of competitors.

But the TV industry overall, including the broadcast networks that still field popular shows but are largely eclipsed at the Emmys, will be honored, say those in charge of the event airing on CBS.

“Sometimes, programs that can be called ‘niche’ walk off with the awards, and a lot of people …. are going, ‘What the hell is that? So we’ve been really mindful of that, and bring in big stars that everyone knows and loves,” said Ian Stewart, executive producer of the ceremony.