Showtime, FX Lead Cable's Golden Globe Award Wins

Showtime’s The Affair and FX’s Fargo were cable’s big standouts during Sunday night's 72nd annual Golden Globe Awards telecast highlighted by big wins for online streaming shows.

Showtime’s freshman series The Affair won the Globe award for best drama, besting such veteran shows as PBS’ Downton Abbey, HBO’s Game Of Thrones, CBS’ The Good Wife and Netflix’s House of Cards.

The Affair star Ruth Wilson won best actress in a drama series, beating out last year’s winner Robin Wright (House of Cards) as well as Julianna Marguiles (The Good Wife); Viola Davis (How To Get Away With Murder); and Claire Danes (Homeland).

FX’s Fargo took home two major awards during the telecast, including top miniseries and a best actor in a miniseries or TV movie for series star Billy Bob Thornton.

Over the top streaming service Amazon’s series Transparent was a big winner, garnering top honors in the best comedy category over HBO’s Girls, CW’s Jane The Virgin, HBO’s Silicon Valley and Netflix’s Orange Is The New Black. The series’ star Jeffrey Tambor took home a best actor in a comedy series for his role in the comedy series.

Transparent's wins marked the first Golden Globes Awards for the streaming service.

Netflix's House Of Cards star Kevin Spacey won the Golden Globe for best actor in a drama series. 

Matt Bomer won best supporting actor in a series, miniseries or TV movie for his role in HBO’s The Normal Heart, while Maggie Gyllenhaal ‘s leading role in SundanceTV’s The Honorable Woman won her best actress in a miniseries or TV movie honors.

A partial list of winners in the Television Category appears below:

Best Musical Or Comedy

Transparent – Amazon

Best Performance In A Musical or Comedy -- Actor

JeffreyTambor – Transparent (Amazon)

Best Performance In A Musical Or Comedy -- Actress

Gina Rodriguez, Jane The Virgin (CW)

Best Drama

The Affair – Showtime

Best Performance In A Television Series Drama -- Actor 

Kevin Spacey, House Of Cards (Netflix)

Best Performance In A Television Series Drama -- Actress

Ruth Wilson, The Affair (Showtime)

Best Miniseries or Television Film

Fargo – FX

Best Performance In A Miniseries Or TV Film -- Actor

BillyBob Thorton, Fargo (FX)

Best Performance In A Miniseries Or TV Film -- Actress

Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Honorable Woman (SundanceTV)

Best Supporting  Performance In A Series Or Television Film -- Actor 

Matt Bomer, The Normal Heart (HBO)

Best Supporting Performance In A Series Or Television Film -- Actress

Joanne Froggatt, Dowton Abbey (PBS)

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.