Television’s biggest night saw some of the top shows of the year go head-to-head for the industry’s most sought-after prize.
Although award shows are seeing declining viewership each year, their importance is still significant. Though the events may be watched by few, the impact of what will win sets the tone for how studios make decisions on what to greenlight.
The Emmys don’t just offer the chance to see our favourite television celebrities dressed in full glam, they inform us of what was worth watching.
Drama
This year’s drama category was stacked with returning favourites and debut bombshells. From returning TV shows Andor, The Diplomat, Severance and The White Lotus, to debut TV shows Paradise and The Pitt, this category had no shortage of groundbreaking shows that audiences connected with and were sure to see some upsets.
Surprisingly, fast-paced, emergency room hit The Pitt was the breakout start of the night. Winning outstanding drama series, The Pitt offered a medical drama like we had never seen before. Immaculate attention to detail and medical accuracy sewn together with complex story lines, compelling characters and the fast-paced world of the ER, this program was genuinely groundbreaking.
The Pitt’s actors didn’t go unrecognized either, as Noah Wiley picked up the lead actor statue and the Emmy for supporting actress went to Katherine LaNasa.
Severance, a psychological thriller, entered the night as the biggest show and phenomenon of the year; expecting big wins, it delivered. In total it won 18 awards, becoming the most decorated drama of the evening. This is largely unsurprising as nearly everyone was tuned into the weekly installments of season two or knew someone who wouldn’t shut up about it. Britt Lauer took home lead actress, while Tramell Tillman made history as both the first Black actor and the first openly gay actor to win in his category of best supporting actor.
Comedy
Comedy was a very difficult category to stand out in this year, as many returning hits saw praise from previous years. Voters would’ve been splitting hairs had it not been for one show, The Studio; a debut show from Apple TV+ that saw breakaway success, ending the night with a formidable trophy collection.
Beating out favourites like Abbott Elementary, The Bear and Hacks, The Studio was engineered to clean up at award shows and steal Emmy voters’ attention. Featuring a cameo from nearly every actor under the sun and a behind the scenes look at what goes into making a show in Hollywood, its appeal to Emmy voters is clear. Winning a total of 13 awards and breaking the record for the most wins of any freshmen show, The Studio was a defining program this past year. Seth Rogan, who wrote, directed, produced and starred in The Studio was also given high praise, winning in each of these categories.
Between Severance and The Studio, Apple TV+ has clearly made a name for itself in creating shows that win big.
Although The Studio made waves, nothing could beat Jean Smart’s winning streak as Deborah Vance in the hit HBO Max offering Hacks. The awards saw her win her fourth Emmy for the role. Co-star Hannah Einbinder also won her first award for supporting actress in a comedy.
Supporting actor went to Jeff Hiller for Somebody Somewhere, one of the biggest shocks of the night, as many believed it would go to first-time nominee Harrison Ford for Shrinking.
Limited or an anthology series/movie
The limited series categories are often where the boldest storylines live. Capsule shows with beautiful story arcs that never overstay their welcome; perfect for a long weekend or sick day binge watch. From this category, it’s clear you should be adding Netflix’s Adolescence to your watchlist.
Adolescence dominated the limited/anthology categories, winning six of seven awards and cementing itself as the breakout anthology of the past year. The series took home Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, complementing awards for directing and writing, with critics praising its timeliness, tight storytelling and powerhouse performances. On the acting side, Stephen Graham (Lead Actor) and Erin Doherty (Supporting Actress) were both recognized for their roles, while Owen Cooper made history as the youngest man to ever win Supporting Actor in the category, thanks to his explosive performance.
The night also led Cristin Milioti to finally get her flowers. Her haunting turn as Sofia Falcone in The Penguin earned her the Lead Actress award, a performance celebrated for its chilling psychological depth and unflinching intensity.
Variety and talk
Beyonce may have inched closer to winning her long overdue Emmy with the Beyonce Bowl, but it was the SNL “50th Anniversary Special” that walked away with Outstanding Variety Special. The Emmy for Outstanding Scripted Variety Series once again went to Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.
Outstanding talk series went to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, who received two standing ovations throughout the night. Yet the celebration was tarnished with finality: this marks the show’s first and last win in the category, following the announcement earlier this year that The Late Show will be ending its run. Sadly, this Emmy felt less like a victory lap and more like a well-deserved sendoff to a late-night institution.
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This year’s Emmys were full of surprises, emotional speeches, opulent gowns and some long overdue recognition. Apple TV+ walked away as the night’s heavyweight while cable and network TV seems to be once again trailing behind in the streaming era. If you missed these shows the first time around, now is the perfect chance to binge the winners and get ahead of the next wave of must watch TV. If this year is any indication, television is only getting bigger, bolder and better.