In a night full of surprises and record-breaking wins at the 76th Emmy Awards, Hacks pulled off a stunning upset by beating The Bear for Outstanding Comedy Series, adding to its tally with a Best Lead Actress win for Jean Smart.
Hosted by Eugene Levy and Dan Levy at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, the ceremony saw Shōgun, The Bear, and Baby Reindeer dominate the evening with multiple wins, but it was Hacks that stole the spotlight in the comedy categories.
The Bear was the favorite in the comedy category. Co-host Eugene Levy even teased the unconventional classification of The Bear as a comedy at the start of the ceremony, acknowledging the ongoing debate with the quip: “And 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.” This light-hearted jab reflected the growing discourse about genre classifications at the Emmys, where The Bear‘s intense drama and kitchen chaos raised eyebrows as a “comedy” contender.
FX’s Shōgun, a historical epic set in 1600s Japan, led the night by winning Outstanding Drama Series and snagging four Emmys, including Lead Actor for Hiroyuki Sanada and Lead Actress for Anna Sawai. These wins, along with 14 awards from the previous Creative Arts Emmys, set a record for the most Emmys won by a drama in a single year, bringing its total to 18.
Meanwhile, The Bear, a critical darling that had already broken records in the comedy category with 10 Emmys at the 75th ceremony, added four more to its haul. Jeremy Allen White once again took home the Lead Actor award, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach won Supporting Actor, while Liza Colón-Zayas earned her first Emmy for Supporting Actress.
“I’m so grateful for this show and to work with these beautiful people,” said Moss-Bachrach. Taking the stage, White offered, “This show [The Bear] has changed my life; it has instilled a faith that change is possible… you’re never actually alone.” Smart beat out favorites Ayo Edebiri from The Bear and Quinta Brunson from Abbott Elementary.
Jean Smart’s victory for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series marked her sixth career Emmy win, cementing her status as one of television’s finest performers. Hacks also took home the award for Writing in a Comedy Series, showcasing its brilliance in balancing humor with heartfelt moments.
Baby Reindeer, Netflix’s dark limited series, was another standout of the night, taking home six Emmys, including Outstanding Anthology Series or Movie and Lead Actor for Richard Gadd, who also won for writing the semi-autobiographical show.
Additional wins included Fargo‘s Lamorne Morris for Supporting Actor in an Anthology, Apple TV+’s The Morning Show, with Billy Crudup earning a second Emmy, and True Detective: Night Country, with Jodie Foster winning Lead Actress in a Limited Series.
The night wasn’t just about shows and stars. Greg Berlanti, the prolific producer behind Dawson’s Creek, Brothers & Sisters and The Arrowverse was honored with the prestigious Governors Award for his contributions to television, particularly for depicting underrepresented groups.
As the awards season progresses, the 76th Emmys will be remembered for its record-breaking wins, shocking upsets, and the emotional moments delivered by television’s biggest stars. Full list of winners below:
Drama series
“Shogun”
Comedy series
“Hacks”
Limited, anthology series, movie
“Baby Reindeer”
Actor in a drama series
Hiroyuki Sanada, “Shogun”
Actress in a drama series
Anna Sawai, “Shogun”
Supporting actor in a drama series
Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show”
Supporting actress in a drama series
Elizabeth Debicki, “The Crown”
Actor in a comedy series
Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”
Actress in a comedy series
Jean Smart, “Hacks”
Supporting actress in a comedy series
Liza Colón-Zayas, “The Bear”
Supporting actor in a comedy series
Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”
Actor in a limited, anthology series or movie
Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer”
Actress in a limited, anthology series or movie
Jodie Foster, “True Detective: Night Country”
Supporting Actress limited, anthology series or movie
Jessica Gunning, “Baby Reindeer”
Supporting actor in a limited, anthology series or movie
Lamorne Morris, “Fargo”
Reality competition program
“The Traitors,” Peacock
Scripted variety series
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”
Talk series
“The Daily Show”
Writing for a variety special
Alex Edelman, “Just for Us”
Writing for a comedy series
Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky, “Hacks”
Writing for a drama series
Will Smith, “Slow Horses”
Writing for a limited series, anthology or movie
Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer”
Directing for a limited or anthology series
Steven Zaillian, “Ripley”
Directing for a comedy series
Christopher Storer, “The Bear”
Directing for a drama series
Frederick E.O. Toye, “Shogun”
Governors award
Greg Berlanti
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