Do not adjust your screens: Television’s biggest night is upon us once again. And yes, these are the second Emmys of 2024, courtesy of the fact that the 2023 awards, postponed by the Hollywood strikes, were held in January.
That’s not the only bit of history these 76th annual prime time Emmy Awards made: They’re also the first to be hosted by a father-and-son, in the form of Canadians Eugene Levy and his son Dan handling the MC duties for the ceremony. (“My most rewarding role was being your dad … in Schitt’s Creek, because it got me my first acting Emmy,” joked the elder Levy in the opener.)
And, even before the televised awards, Shōgun — the smash-hit FX adaptation of James Clavell’s novel — broke a record for the most Emmys won by a show in a single year when it nabbed 14 statues at the Creative Arts Emmys last week. It led the nominations tonight, with 25 overall. The Bear — the most nominated comedy in Emmy history — and Only Murders In The Buildings were just behind, with over 20 nominations each.
So did your favourite show win big? Who got snubbed? We tuned in so you didn’t have to.
Interesting minimalism reigned supreme on the red carpet
If the red carpet style at the Emmys 2024 had a theme, it was unusual silhouettes with elegant restraint. Case in point: Greta Lee in sculptural Loewe with a very cool rolled neckline, or Saiorse Ronan in custom navy Louis Vuitton with incredibly chic draping over a bare midriff. Ayo Edibiri — arguably one of the night’s best — wore a colourful, pixelated floral column gown that was both minimal and exuberant.
Quinta Brunson brought something new to the LBD category with pleather and bows on her George Chakra gown, while Selena Gomez offered a bedazzled spin on a sleek halter-neck in Ralph Lauren Collection.
Embellishment, in fact, was another popular move: Nicola Coughlan looked like the chicest disco ball possible in a sculptural dress covered in sequins, Jennifer Aniston wore an entirely beaded Oscar de la Renta, a cue also taken by Catherine O’Hara in her champagne gown.
The Levys struck a convivial tone as hosts
Some hosts like to use these awards as a chance to roast the celebrities present. Eugene and Dan Levy — who joked that if nothing else, they hoped people left tonight knowing they pronounced their last name with a short e — went for a gentler approach, preferring to joke about the elder Levy’s texting typos (“Sent from my iphonn”) and how The Bear, despite being nominated as a comedy, isn’t particularly funny. “I love the show,” Eugene said. “And 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.” Our nation’s reputation for niceness was also a punchline, as when the younger Levy joked, “in what can only be described as a cruel joke, two Canadians have been put in charge of playing you off tonight.”
The Bear all but swept the comedy acting category
Not only did Jeremy Allen White win the best actor in a comedy award for the second year in a row — “My heart is just beating so fast,” he said in his speech — but The Bear dominated, as expected, across the category. Ebon Moss Bacharach and Liza Colon-Zayas — who walked up to huge applause — both won the supporting actor awards, beating out heavyweights like Meryl Streep, Martin Short and Steve Martin.
Jean Smart wins her third Emmy for Hacks
The exception to The Bear’s comedy acting category sweep was Hacks’ Jean Smart, who won for best actress, and accepted her award to a standing ovation. “I appreciate this because I just don’t get enough attention,” she quipped, a cheeky nod to the fact that she also won in this category for the same role playing an aging comedian in 2021 and 2022.
Elizabeth Debicki won for playing Princess Diana
After her nomination last year, Debicki won the best supporting actor in a drama gong for playing Princess Diana in the last weeks of her life in the final season of The Crown. “Playing this part based on this unparalleled, incredible human being has been my privilege,” she said. “It has been a gift.”
Holland got a shout-out in the best reality show acceptance speech
In one of the night’s more unexpected expressions of gratitude, Alan Cumming — who accepted The Traitors’ award for best reality show in his capacity as its host — thanked Holland, the country, acknowledging the fact that so many of the formats that go global as reality shows (The Voice, Deal Or No Deal, Big Brother among them) originate in the Netherlands. Now you know!
Baby Reindeer’s Jessica Gunning won the best actress in a limited series
“Blinkin’ heckers,” said Baby Reindeer’s Jessica Gunning as she accepted her award for best actress in a limited series. “I keep thinking I’m going to wake up and this whole thing is a dream.” After joke-threatening to sing her appreciation, she thanked the show’s creator, Richard Gadd, for the chance to play Martha, a woman who stalks Gadd’s character in a plot loosely based on his real life experiences. “I will never forget her or you. Thank you, Reindeer.”
John Oliver dedicated his Emmy win to “all dogs”
In what he acknowledge was a “weird” choice, John Oliver include his late dog, who he recently said goodbye to, in his acceptance speech for Best Variety Series for Last Week Tonight.
“She was at our wedding, she got us through the pandemic and the two pregnancies,” Oliver said as the get-off-the-stage music started playing. “She was an amazing dog, and this isn’t just for her, it’s for all dogs. You’re very good girls, you’re very good boys, you all deserve a treat. Play me off now!”
