The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, held on Sunday, Sept. 15, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, had two dominant moods. The first was that of a popsicle: cool, refreshing and craved on a Sunday evening after a long, hot week at work. The second was that of a revolution: historic, exciting and…in spite of attempts to chill out, almost irresponsibly sweaty. (According to The New York Times, “humidity chic” was trending on the red carpet.) Jokes were cracked; records were shattered. If you wanted an award show to remind you why you watch television, you got one.
Father-son co-hosts Eugene and Dan Levy of “Schitt’s Creek” charmed giggles out of the live L.A. audience while letting couch-riders in on the joke, too. Their Canadian quips ranged from playful to more playful. Rolling Stone called them “blah.” Others want them to host every awards show.
“I know some of you might be expecting us to make a joke about whether ‘The Bear’ is really a comedy…but in the true spirit of ‘The Bear’ we will not be making any jokes,” Eugene remarked during his opening monologue before continuing the night in playful sarcasm with his son. (Placing “The Bear” in the comedy rather than drama category has sparked a passionate debate, though the FX series still won a record-breaking 11 awards, with star Jeremy Allen White securing best actor in a comedy for the second year.)
It felt right to have the Levys at the helm of the ceremony. We wanted stability again, and we got it. If you’ve felt confused by the timing of the Emmys lately, you’ve been paying attention: This was the second Emmys in 2024, with last year’s ceremony held on Jan. 15, due to long SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America strikes last year that brought entertainment production to a standstill.
Even with a slower year, the night had surprises. FX’s “Shogun,” a historical drama about powerful feudal lords of 17th-century Japan, smashed Emmy records with a historic sweep of 18 wins for one season. The period epic was the first non-English language series to win outstanding drama series, and lead stars Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai took home awards for lead actors in a drama series, the first Japanese contenders to do so. Delivering his acceptance speech, Mr. Sanada said: “Shogun taught me that when people work together, we can make miracles. We can create a better future together.”
That they did: “Shogun” made history with risky but fresh casting and cinematography sustained by a plot that eclipses oceans, borders and language. It was a good night for progress. It was also a good night for “Hacks,” a surprise winner of best comedy series, beating “The Bear” and “Abbott Elementary.”
While the Chicago restaurant dramedy and Philadelphia public school sitcom were fan favorites, “Hacks,” the story of a moody mentorship between lauded Las Vegas comic Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and an outcast 25-year-old comedy writer (Hannah Einbinder) captivated the hearts and appetites of critics, scoring three awards. Lucia Aniello, a co-creator of the HBO series, encouraged fans to keep supporting comedy. “It speaks truth to power,” she shared. “When you laugh with someone, you have something in common with them.”
Netflix’s limited-series unicorn “Baby Reindeer,” a portrait of stalking and harassment inspired by true events that happened in creator Richard Gadd’s life, took home four awards. Delivering his acceptance speech for outstanding writing while donning a Scottish kilt, Mr. Gadd reflected on how hard times made him industrious. “Good storytelling that speaks to our times. So take risks, push boundaries. Explore the uncomfortable. Dare to fail in order to achieve.” Jessica Gunning, who plays the tormentor that infiltrates her victim’s life, won best supporting actress.
As for true-to-form victories that still felt special, Jodie Foster won outstanding lead actress for “True Detective: Night Country,” and Elizabeth Debicki secured a win for her supporting role as Princess Diana in the final season of “The Crown.”
Liza Colón-Zayas, who triumphed over Meryl Streep and Carol Burnett to secure her first Emmy, delivered a heartfelt speech saying: “To all the Latinas watching, continue to believe and vote. Vote for your rights.”
At long last, the Emmys brought televised showbiz back, baby. With all the sweat and heat.
