It’s hard to make a yearly awards show feel special when it’s staged twice in one year. But on September 15th, co-hosts Eugene and Dan Levy opened up the 76th Emmy Awards, or as they called it, “broadcast TV’s biggest night for honoring movie stars on streaming services!” This is the first time the father-son duo has worked together since their hit sitcom Schitt’s Creek ended in 2020. The three hour long show featured both surprising and anticipated wins, so let’s take a look at some of the most memorable moments from the night.
Even before the night had started, the FX series Shōgun had already won 14 Creative Arts Emmys the weekend prior. The series broke the record for most wins for a single season of television (previously held by John Adams) and the record for most wins by a series in its first season (which briefly belonged to The Bear). The drama series based on James Clavell’s 1975 novel (which bases characters on real historical figures but changes their names) is set in the year 1600 and follows Lord Yoshii Toranaga and his power struggle after the ruling Taikō, Nakamura Hidetoshi, dies. Things are further complicated when a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village carrying an Englishman and his crew. The show grabbed an additional 4 Emmys during the night including Frederick E.O. Toye for best director, Anna Sawai (who portrays Mariko) winning best actress in a drama, Hiroyuki Sanada (who plays Lord Toranaga) winning best actor in a drama, and the series taking the title of best drama.
The series Hacks created a major upset for the final category at the 2024 Emmys. The Max series won the Emmy Award for best comedy series for its third season, marking its third win of the ceremony. Hacks follows a dark mentorship that forms between Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comic, and an entitled, outcast 25-year-old comedy writer. The show also won for best actress in a comedy for Jean Smart and best writing in a comedy series for Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky.
Netflix’s limited edition series Baby Reindeer won four Emmys at Sunday night’s ceremony for a grand total of six. The story of Baby Reindeer centers on struggling comedian Donny Dunn’s strange and layered relationship with a woman named Martha, whose initially friendly demeanor unravels as she begins to stalk Donny relentlessly. The series won best limited series, best actor in a limited series or TV movie for Richard Gadd, best supporting actress in a limited series or TV movie for Jessica Gunning, and best writing for a limited series, movie, or drama special for Richard Gadd.
With a record-breaking 23 nominations, The Bear was up for the most awards in the comedy category, of which it won 11. But, there were also controversies over whether the show – known for its “tense, stress-inducing tone” as said by Forbes – should actually compete in the drama categories. Co-hosts Dan and Eugene Levy joked about the show’s category placement during their opening monologue: “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.” Jeremy Allen White won best actor in a comedy for The Bear, Liza Colon-Zayas won best supporting actress in a comedy, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach won best supporting actor in a comedy.
While the favorites like Shōgun and The Bear definitely took their fair share of awards, Hacks and Baby Reindeer jumped in with a few surprises. Having the Emmy Awards twice in one year was definitely unusual, but the second Emmys of 2024 proved to be just as action-packed and full of emotions as the first one.
