The 76th Primetime Emmys, hosted by father-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy, delivered a night of unexpected triumphs and historic moments that left viewers both surprised and entertained.
One of the many twists that industry insiders didn’t anticipate was HBO’s Hacks snagging the coveted Outstanding Comedy Series award, edging out last year’s favorite, The Bear. The win was part of a trifecta for Hacks, with Jean Smart continuing her reign as the queen of comedy by taking home her third consecutive Emmy for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
Despite missing out on the top comedy prize, The Bear had plenty to celebrate. The FX series set a new record for most wins in a single season for a comedy, with a total of 11 Emmys. Jeremy Allen White repeated his success in the Lead Actor category, while Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Liza Colón-Zayas added to the show’s trophy haul in the supporting categories. Colón-Zayas made history as the first Latina to win Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
FX’s Shogun emerged as the night’s big winner, claiming the Outstanding Drama Series award and making waves with historic wins for its lead actors. Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai became the first Japanese actors to win Emmys for Lead Actor and Actress in a Drama Series, respectively. The series’ total Emmy count for the year reached an incredible 18, setting a new record for the most wins by a single program in one year.
Baby Reindeer had a strong showing in the Limited Series categories, winning for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. Its creator and star, Richard Gadd, took home two personal Emmys for acting and writing. Meanwhile, Jodie Foster claimed her first Emmy for her powerful performance in True Detective: Night Country.
Here are some other notable wins from the night:
- Elizabeth Debicki won Supporting Actress in a Drama for her portrayal of Princess Diana in The Crown.
- Billy Crudup took home Supporting Actor in a Drama for The Morning Show.
- Last Week Tonight with John Oliver continued its dominance in the Variety Series category.
- The Daily Show reclaimed its place at the top of the talk show mountain.
- In a major upset, The Traitors dethroned the long-reigning RuPaul’s Drag Race for Best Reality Competition Program.
You can check out the full list of winners here.
FX led the pack among streaming services and cable networks with a personal best of 36 trophies across the Primetime and Creative Arts Emmys, while Netflix and HBO/Max followed closely behind.
