Television's biggest night was celebrated at the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards and history was also made in the process.
Pop TV's Schitt's Creek was the true winner of the night, taking home 7 awards and completely sweeping the comedy categories including Best Comedy Series. Catherine O'Hara won for actress in a comedy series, Eugene Levy claimed the actor win in the same category, Annie Murphy won for supporting actress, while Dan Levy took home honors for supporting actor in a comedy series as well as honors for writing and directing in a comedy series, with Andrew Cividino. The show was also the first series to sweep all categories during the main telecast while Dan Levy tied the record for most wins by an individual in a single season with four wins, joining Moira Demos in 2016 and Amy Sherman-Palladino in 2018. Earlier this week, it also won Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series for Jon Comerford and Lisa Parasyn and Outstanding Contemporary Costumes for Debra Hanson and Darci Cheyne.
HBO's Succession picked up four wins, including best drama series. Jeremy Strong won in the actor category, Jesse Armstrong won for writing and Andrij Parekh won for directing the drama. HBO's Watchmen also picked up four honors, including Best-Limited Series. Regina King won for Actress in a Limited Series, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II won Supporting actor, while Damon Lindelof and Cord Jefferson won for writing for a Limited Series.
Zendaya pulled out one of the night's most surprising wins with her victory in the Best Actress in a Drama Series category for her riveting turn on HBO's Euphoria. With her win, Zendaya also made history as the youngest person to take home the award at the age of 24. The category was highly competitive with Laura Linney being the favorite to win for Ozark and Jennifer Aniston also being a contender for her role on Apple TV+'s The Morning Show.
With her second win for Ozark, Julia Garner also surprised, with many anticipating Succession’s Sarah Snook would be recognized this year for her role as Shiv, Logan Roy’s only daughter. Billy Crudup of The Morning Show also beat Succession for supporting actor in a drama – three Succession nominations in fact for Kieran Culkin (favored, along with Giancarlo Esposito for AMC’s Better Call Saul), Matthew Macfadyen, and Nicholas Braun – which likely split the Succession vote. Crudup pulled out the first Emmy win for Apple TV+.
Jimmy Kimmel emceed the Emmys from the Staples Center, which were produced remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic. Considering the odds that were stacked against them by presenting a live virtual awards ceremony, the forced limitations of the broadcast actually made the Emmys fresh and new again. This is going to be the new normal for award ceremonies moving forward in the near future and other award shows will likely look to how the Emmys pulled this off without skipping a beat.
Did YOU watch the Emmys last night? Check out the full list of winners below!
DRAMA SERIES
Succession
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Julia Garner, Ozark
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Succession • Hunting
HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with Project Zeus, Hyperobject Industries and Gary Sanchez Productions
Andrij Parekh, Directed by
OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Succession • This Is Not For Tears
HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with Project Zeus, Hyperobject Industries and Gary Sanchez Productions
Jesse Armstrong, Written by
LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Zendaya, Euphoria
LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Jeremy Strong, Succession
COMPETITION PROGRAM
RuPaul’s Drag Race
LIMITED SERIES
Watchmen
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE
Uzo Aduba, Mrs. America
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Watchmen
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A LIMITED SERIES, MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Unorthodox • Netflix • Studio Airlift and RealFilm
Maria Schrader, Directed by
OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A LIMITED SERIES, MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Watchmen • This Extraordinary Being
HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with White Rabbit, Paramount Television, Warner Bros. Television & DC Comics
Damon Lindelof, Written by
Cord Jefferson, Written by
LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE
Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much Is True
LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE
Regina King, Watchmen
VARIETY TALK SERIES
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
COMEDY SERIES
Schitt’s Creek
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Annie Murphy, Schitt’s Creek
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Daniel Levy, Schitt’s Creek
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
Schitt’s Creek • Happy Ending
Pop TV • Not A Real Company Productions, Inc.
Andrew Cividino, Directed by
Daniel Levy, Directed by
OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
Schitt’s Creek • Happy Ending
Pop TV • Not A Real Company Productions, Inc.
Daniel Levy, Written by
LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek
LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek