The 2024 Emmys saw a historic moment when Shōgun, a non-English language series, became the first to win Best Drama. The historical epic, adapted from the 1975 novel of the same name, bagged four major awards. Japanese actors Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai made history by winning the Best Actor and Actress categories, respectively, marking a first for Japanese performers at the Emmys.
During his acceptance speech, Sanada emphasized the power of collaboration, stating, “When people work together, we can create miracles, we can build a better future.” His words resonated with the evening’s theme of unity and progress.
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Emmy 2024, tutti i vincitori: Shogun, The Bear e Baby Reindeer le più premiate https://t.co/UUzltjNJJP
— informazione cultura (@infoitcultura) September 16, 2024
Record-Breaking Creative Arts Emmys
Earlier this month, Shōgun also dominated the Creative Arts Emmys, where it won 14 awards in a single night, setting a new record for the most technical and guest-acting accolades awarded to a series in one year. This historic achievement added to the show’s momentous impact on television.
A Surprise Win for Hacks in Comedy
In the comedy categories, Hacks emerged as the surprise winner for Best Comedy Series, beating fan favorites like The Bear and Abbott Elementary. Jean Smart, the star of Hacks, claimed her third Emmy for Lead Actress in a Comedy. The show, which revolves around two female comedians, also won Best Writing.
Hosts Eugene and Dan Levy made a lighthearted remark about The Bear, which had faced controversy for its classification as a comedy: “We won’t be making any jokes about whether The Bear is really a comedy,” Eugene said, in line with the show’s serious tone.
The Bear Breaks Comedy Award Records
While it lost Best Comedy Series, The Bear claimed the majority of the comedy awards with four Emmys, including acting honors for Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Liza Colón-Zayas. The show also made history as the most awarded comedy series for a single season, with wins spanning across the Creative Arts Emmys and the main ceremony. Colón-Zayas’ emotional speech, directed at Latina women, encouraged them to “keep believing and vote for your rights.”
Drama and Limited Series Wins
In the drama categories, The Crown saw Elizabeth Debicki win Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Princess Diana. In her acceptance speech, Debicki expressed her gratitude, calling it a privilege to play such an iconic figure. Meanwhile, Billy Crudup won Best Supporting Actor for The Morning Show.
In the limited or anthology series category, Baby Reindeer took home four awards, including Best Limited Series and acting trophies for Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning. Gadd, who also won for Best Writing, delivered a poignant speech about perseverance, saying, “No matter how bad it gets, it always gets better. Keep going.”
Other notable wins in the limited series category included Jodie Foster’s first Emmy win for her role in True Detective: Night Country and Lamorne Morris winning Best Supporting Actor for Fargo.
Reality TV and Cast Reunions
In the reality competition category, The Traitors took home the award for Best Reality Competition Program, ending RuPaul’s Drag Race‘s winning streak. Host Alan Cumming also won Best Host at the Creative Arts Emmys.
The ceremony also featured cast reunions from iconic shows like Happy Days, Saturday Night Live (celebrating its 50th year), and The West Wing. Richard Schiff humorously remarked on the state of politics, noting that current headlines would have seemed “utterly ridiculous” 25 years ago.
Calls for More Diversity in Television
John Leguizamo used his stage time to highlight the need for greater diversity in television, praising this year’s nominees but urging the industry to continue pushing for change. He referenced his full-page ad in The New York Times, which criticized the Television Academy’s lack of inclusivity.
A Night of History, Change, and Progress
The 2024 Emmys were a night of historic wins and poignant moments, from Shōgun’s groundbreaking victories to emotional speeches about representation and resilience. With diverse wins across categories and memorable reunions, the ceremony marked a significant chapter in television history.
