The emergency room drama “The Pitt” secured its second consecutive best drama trophy while newcomer “Widow’s Bay” claimed the top comedy honor at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, according to Reuters. Broadcast live on NBC and streamed on Peacock from Los Angeles, television’s biggest night honored a mix of returning champions and milestone-breaking first-time winners amid ongoing industry shifts.
“The Pitt” and “Widow’s Bay” Lead Winners
Emergency room drama “The Pitt” extended its reign with another best drama victory, according to Reuters. Star Noah Wyle told the audience it felt overwhelming to land his second straight Emmy for playing Dr. “Robby” Robinavitch on the medical drama set in a Pittsburgh trauma center. Describing himself as a “Hollywood kid,” Wyle said from the stage that the show’s home was the only club he ever wanted to join.
In the comedy categories, the horror comedy “Widow’s Bay”—set in a cursed New England town—overcame the final season of previous winner “Hacks” to earn the top prize, according to Reuters. Hiro Murai won the award for outstanding directing in a comedy series for “Widow’s Bay,” making him the first director of Asian descent to win in that category. Additionally, Stephen Root scored an upset for “Widow’s Bay” by winning best supporting actor in a comedy over favourite Harrison Ford of “Shrinking,” according to Reuters.
Historic Acting Milestones for Jean Smart and Matthew Rhys
“Hacks” star Jean Smart captured her fifth Emmy for portraying stand-up comic Deborah Vance, achieving the distinction of becoming the first performer to win best comedy actress for every season of a show’s run, according to Reuters. Smart thanked the show’s creators on stage and called the journey a wild ride. Julia Louis-Dreyfus previously won best comedy actress for six of the seven seasons of “Veep,” coming closest to Smart’s milestone.
Matthew Rhys made history as the first person to win two lead acting honors at the same ceremony, according to Reuters. Rhys claimed the best comedy actor trophy for Apple TV horror comedy “Widow’s Bay” and secured best actor in a limited series for the Netflix psychological thriller “The Beast in Me.”
Drama and Supporting Victories
Rhea Seehorn earned her first Emmy win, taking home the trophy for best drama actress for her role on the Apple TV series “Pluribus,” where she plays a misanthropic woman at war with an alien hive mind, according to Reuters. Accepting the award, Seehorn quoted feminist activist Gloria Steinem—who died earlier that month at age 92—stating that women are linked rather than ranked.
A Unique Ceremony Led by Mariska Hargitay
Breaking with the traditional format of using a comedian as emcee, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” star Mariska Hargitay hosted the live broadcast, according to Reuters. Hargitay joked with the crowd about the high pressure of the job and noted how many familiar faces in the audience she had supposedly arrested on her NBC drama. The broadcast also featured a pre-recorded sketch involving Hargitay’s character, Olivia Benson, investigating whether Taylor Swift would attend the ceremony, ultimately deducing that Swift would instead be watching Travis Kelce play on Monday Night Football in Kansas City.
