The horror-comedy series “Widow’s Bay” made television history at the 78th Emmy Awards by capturing 14 trophies, breaking the previous record for the most wins by a single comedy series in a single year. According to reporting from major entertainment desks, the series edged past the satire “The Studio,” which secured 13 wins the previous year.
Widow’s Bay Dominates Comedy Categories
Created by Katie Dippold, “Widow’s Bay” centers on a New England island community grappling with a centuries-old curse. The production surpassed “Hacks,” which entered the evening with the highest number of nominations for a comedy in its fifth and final season, according to event records. Alongside the top comedy series win, “Widow’s Bay” collected three acting awards. Matthew Rhys earned the trophy for lead actor in a comedy, Kate O’Flynn won supporting actress, and Stephen Root took home supporting actor. Dippold additionally secured the writing award for the series, while Hiro Murai won for directing.
Jean Smart Sets Leading Actress Record
Despite the sweep by “Widow’s Bay,” Jean Smart carved out a historic milestone of her own for her performance in “Hacks.” According to awards coverage, Smart won the Emmy for best lead actress in a comedy series for the fifth year. The 75-year-old actor became the first woman to win the category for every season of a multi-season run. This victory marks her eighth career Emmy win, tying her with Cloris Leachman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus for the most Emmy wins by any individual actress, as noted by industry trackers.
Noah Wyle and The Pitt Triumph in Drama
In the drama categories, HBO Max’s “The Pitt” secured the award for best dramatic series for the second year, according to festival results. Noah Wyle collected his second straight Emmy for best lead actor in a drama series for his portrayal of emergency room physician Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch. The series, set almost in real-time within a Pittsburgh hospital, led all series nominees heading into the ceremony. Despite the series’ overall prominence, it did not sweep every category; Allison Janney won the supporting actress in a drama award for “The Diplomat,” prevailing over four competing cast members from “The Pitt,” while Tom Pelphrey won supporting actor for “Task.”
Seehorn and Gilligan Win for Pluribus
Additional major dramatic awards went to the Apple TV series “Pluribus.” Rhea Seehorn won the Emmy for best lead actress in a drama series for her role in the production, following two prior nominations for her work in “Better Call Saul,” according to broadcast logs. Vince Gilligan also earned recognition for the same series, winning the award for outstanding writing in a drama series. Direction honors in the drama field went to Saul Metzstein for “Slow Horses.”