The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards saw “The Pitt” retain the top drama prize while “Widow’s Bay” emerged as the leading comedy winner. The ceremony also produced several milestones, including major acting records for Jean Smart and Matthew Rhys.
“The Pitt” won Outstanding Drama Series for the second consecutive year, with Noah Wyle also taking home the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Rhea Seehorn won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for “Pluribus,” while Tom Pelphrey was recognized as Outstanding Supporting Actor for “Task” and Allison Janney won Outstanding Supporting Actress for “The Diplomat.” “Slow Horses” director Saul Metzstein also received the directing award in the drama category.
“Widow’s Bay” won Outstanding Comedy Series and dominated the comedy acting categories, with Matthew Rhys taking Outstanding Lead Actor and Stephen Root and Kate O’Flynn winning the supporting acting awards. The series collected 14 Emmys across the season, including Creative Arts awards, setting a single-season record for a comedy series. Rhys also won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for “The Beast in Me,” giving him two lead acting Emmys at the same ceremony.
Jean Smart won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for “Hacks,” extending her streak to five consecutive victories in the category and bringing her total acting Emmy wins to eight. Sally Field won lead actress in a limited series or movie for “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” while “DTF St. Louis” won Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, “The Traitors” won reality competition program and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” took the variety series award. Actor Michael J. Fox also received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award, while Mariska Hargitay hosted the ceremony in Los Angeles.
Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, BBC, The New York Times.