The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards are here and, no, you’re not imagining things: It’s only been eight months since the strike-delayed Emmys ceremony was held in January, where “Succession,” “Beef” and “The Bear” dominated.
At tonight’s ceremony, FX’s “The Bear” is once again expected to fare well — even if no one really thinks it’s a comedy. But this year’s batch of contenders includes a number of new or previously overlooked titles. While it’s likely that FX and Netflix will pick up a slew of trophies, there are many pressing questions heading into the evening: Will Jodie Foster win her first Emmy for HBO’s “True Detective: Night Country”? Will the massive buzz around Netflix’s “Baby Reindeer” translate to awards? And will “The Crown” pick up any prizes for its final, uneven season?
The Times has you covered throughout TV’s biggest night with live updates on the Emmys ceremony. Staff writer Meredith Blake and columnist Mary McNamara are breaking down the highs, the lows and the in-betweens of Sunday’s telecast on ABC. Follow their conversation below.
Winners list | Red carpet fashion | ‘The Bear’ breaks record | Lamorne Morris at his first Emmys
6:46 p.m. Um what was that apparent Johnnie Walker promo in the middle of the Emmys and why did Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who just won an Emmy, do it? Seriously bizarre. —MM
Thankfully Richard Gadd helps wipe away the memory of… whatever that awkward liquor commercial was with an excited acceptance speech. He wins for writing “Baby Reindeer,” which was only slightly less disturbing than the Johnnie Walker branded content. —MB
6:41 p.m. “Slow Horses”!!! Will Smith wins writing for drama series and I am very, very happy. He even makes a joke about the Oscars slap: “Despite the name, I come in peace.” As I wrote recently, at annoying length, everyone should watch this show. —MM
6:39 p.m. Is ABC really giving us a segment on “iconic TV doctors” without a single cast member from “Grey’s Anatomy?” This is — excuse the pun — malpractice. —MB
6:37 p.m. I have loved Lamorne Morris since “New Girl” so I am thrilled he won supporting actor in a limited series for “Fargo.” No one seemed more surprised than he and there have not been many surprises tonight. —MM
6:35 p.m. Nicola Coughlan is such a deft comedic performer she manages to sell a bit in which she confuses “supporting actor in a limited series” for “emotional support animals.” Is it time for an Emmy for best awards show banterer? —MB
6:33 p.m. Are we halfway through? I feel like we are halfway through. This is something the josts need to announce. —MM
Billy Crystal presents Jon Stewart of “The Daily Show” with the 2024 Emmy for talk series.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
6:28 p.m. Somehow “The Daily Show” wins for talk series, even though it doesn’t currently have a full-time host. Is this just residual love for Jon Stewart, who has been back on the show once a week since February? This makes me a little mad for the other nominees in the category: “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” all of which, if nothing else, have full-time hosts. —MB
You’re tired of “The Bear,” I’m tired of Jon Stewart and John Oliver winning all these Emmys. Can someone get Alan Cumming a talk and/or variety show next please. —MM
6:25 p.m. Whenever Billy Crystal shows up on any awards show I can just imagine the hosts having a complete anxiety attack. Eugene and Dan Levy remained very cool, introducing him with one of their funniest bits so far — Dan offering the “fun fact” that Eugene had been up for role of Toby Ziegler in “The West Wing,” for which, “another fun fact,” Richard Schiff won an Emmy. Eugene countered by asking how Dan’s audition for “Ripley” went. “Never heard back,” he deadpanned as camera cut to Andrew Scott. Even Crystal had to have been impressed. —MM
6:21 p.m. As much as I love seeing Meredith Baxter once again, and to muse a bit on how the roles of television mothers have changed, these character-archetype set pieces are not working nearly as well as the cast reunions from January. An idea that was better on paper than on screen I’m afraid. But Meredith Baxter looks great! —MM
They present the Emmy to “Hacks” for writing for a comedy series, and — OK, I’ll bite — it’s nice to see an actually funny show win this category. There, I said it. Paul Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky are winning for their work on the delightful Season 3 finale, which ended with a “Succession”-level twist. —MB
6:17 p.m. Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal — who, I am told, have a show coming out on Hulu called “La Máquina” — are having an informal “Y Tu Mama Tambien” reunion onstage to represent the award for directing for a limited series, won by “Ripley’s” Steven Zallian. It is honestly the most exciting thing that has happened all night. —MB
6:05 p.m. “Last Week Tonight” wins for (roughly) the 145th consecutive time and John Oliver is, once again, charming, using his moment on the stage this year to paying tribute to his recently deceased dog. “This is for all dogs,” he says. —MB
I am very sorry to hear about Oliver’s dog, seriously. I lost one too this year and it’s awful. But honestly, only a person who has won a helluva lot of Emmys would use that time to talk about his dog. —MM
Jessica Gunning accepts her Emmy for supporting actress in a limited series for “Baby Reindeer.”
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
5:57 p.m. As predicted by our own Glenn Whipp, Jessica Gunning wins for supporting actress in a limited series for her scary yet empathetic turn as a stalker in the Netflix phenomenon “Baby Reindeer.” Gunning had some intense competition in the category this year, including costar Nava Mau, Kali Reis from “True Detective,” and Lily Gladstone for “Under the Bridge.” Gunning gives a gracious and not-even-slightly-unhinged acceptance speech that, I can only assume, was written on an iPhone. —MB
5:53 p.m. “You know how hard it was to get a date after ‘Misery’?” Kathy Bates ask in bit about TV villains. “And my ‘American Horror Story’ was forgetting to thank Ryan Murphy after I won my Emmy.” I know, Mer, another “old lady,” but come on — Bergen, Smart and Bates within 10 minutes of each other? —MM
5:51 p.m. I am thrilled to see “The Traitors” win, but what I really want to know is if Alan Cumming is going to thank Tonka. —MB
Ha! Even though he didn’t, any television program is improved by the sight and sound of Cumming. And love the Scottish… scarf? Wrap? Either way. Fabulous. —MM
Presenter Candice Bergen applauds Jean Smart as she accepts her Emmy for comedy actress for “Hacks.”
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
5:44 p.m. So happy to see “Murphy Brown” herself Candice Bergen as a presenter. Especially as she reminds the world of when Dan Quayle condemned Murphy for becoming a single mother and sends a barb flying at vice-presidential candidate JD Vance: “ A Republican candidate for vice president would never attack a woman for having kids. So as they say, My work here is done. Meow.” And especially when she gives the best actress in a comedy to Jean Smart for HBO’s “Hacks.” She makes a joke about Max — ”just what we needed, another network.” Throw in Elizabeth Debicki’s drama actress win for playing Princess Diana in “The Crown” and it’s been a pretty full few minutes. —MM
My 9-year-old daughter just saw Jean Smart accept the prize from Candice Bergen and asked, “Why are there so many old lady actors?” which I am going to choose to believe was an expression of joyful surprise and not… something else. —MB
5:39 p.m. “Murphy Brown was one of my first TV role models, which I know is crazy, considering I’m only 24,” says Dan Levy. —MB
5:36 p.m. I just got my COVID shot and made sure my soon-to-be 18-year old is pre-registered to vote so I am feeling very seen by both telecast and commercials tonight. —MM
Liza Colón-Zayas accepts her Emmy for supporting actress in a comedy series for “The Bear.”
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
5:30 p.m. Well, Mer, you are in for a long evening. Though Liza Colón-Zayas winning supporting actress in a comedy for “The Bear” is actually a bit of surprise and quite lovely. “To all the Latinas who are looking at me, keep believing and vote. Vote for your rights.” I am actually crying a little. She is so good in that show and her character is allowed to be sane. —MM
Agree, I can’t complain about this win or Colón-Zayas’ lovely speech. But don’t worry, I’ll find something to grumble about soon. —MB
5:27 p.m. Huge surprise as Jeremy Allen White wins for actor in a comedy for “The Bear.” “Having to come up with an Emmy acceptance speech twice in a single year” is the definition of a quality problem. —MM
At the risk of being the office curmudgeon and getting canceled by the internet, I’m going to say something: I’m sick of “The Bear” winning everything already. Couldn’t we at least have given Larry David a farewell Emmy for his performance as the ultimate curmudgeon on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” even if it wasn’t much of a stretch? Bah humbug. —MB
Ebon Moss-Bachrach picks up his Emmy for “The Bear.” from Steve Martin.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
5:17 p.m. Don’t know about Dan Levy, but my crush on Colin Farrell remains intact. He awards supporting actor in a drama series to Billy Crudup for “The Morning Show,” who refers to wife Naomi Watts as his “eye candy”? Um, okay. —MM
Crudup also mentioned that Watts is an “immigrant,” for what it’s worth. I’m guessing there will be more political points throughout the night. —MB
5:14 p.m. “When I see an actor I don’t recognize I just say ‘I loved your scene with Nicole Kidman.” Joke of the night already from Steve Martin? Though I am not quite understanding why he, Martin Short and Selena Gomez are standing so far apart from each other. They give Emmy for supporting actor in a comedy to Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who also won in January. Let “The Bear” dominance begin. —MM
5:12 p.m. It’s been 10 minutes and we already have a childless cat lady joke. I’m guessing it won’t be the last. JD Vance continues to be an accidental comedic genius. —MB
“Only Murders in the Building” costars Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez present during the Emmy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
5:09 p.m. Dan Levy notes the number of nominations for queer performers this year, including Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey, who play lovers in McCarthy-era Washington D.C. in the limited series “Fellow Travelers.” Their nominations prove “that you can be nominated for playing gay even if you’re not straight.” —MB
5:05 p.m. Hosts Eugene and Dan Levy take to the stage and do a shared monologue — duologue? — that plays up their father-son dynamic. Sample joke: “Without question, my most rewarding dad role ever has been being your dad… in ‘Schitt’s Creek’ because it got me my first acting Emmy,” says Eugene. —MB
I need to know who designs the eyeglasses for the Levy family. And nice ref to the “is it a comedy controversy” surrounding “The Bear” — ”in the spirit of ‘The Bear’,” Eugene says, “we will not be making any jokes.” —MM
Father-son duo Eugene Levy and Dan Levy host the 2024 Emmy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
4:53 p.m. At least Andrew Scott is nominated this year, for the super-intense “Ripley,” which almost but not quite makes up for his unbelievable snub as the iconic Hot Priest in “Fleabag.” This year’s unbelievable snub goes to Kristin Scott Thomas, who somehow was not nominated for “Slow Horses.” (And the fact that those two share snub-honors says everything you need to know about the Emmys and awards in general). “Baby Reindeer” is predicted to beat out “Ripley” in limited series, but Scott’s performance was amazing. —MM
4:40 p.m. Hey Mer. Here we are again — second Emmys telecast of 2024! In a way it makes sense, given the amount of television there is, but it’s still a lot for those of us who cover awards shows, not t mention the stylists!
There will definitely be some repeats — the first season of FX’s “The Bear” cleaned up at the January awards and the second season, which included the life-altering “Fishes” episode, will likely dominate the comedy categories. (Jamie Lee Curtis just won her first Emmy, as outstanding guest actress, for “Fishes.”) This time around, though, they have some competition from HBO’s “Hacks” — Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder are favored to win lead and supporting actress, though one should never count out Meryl Streep, up for “Only Murders in the Building.”
But there are also some significant Emmy newcomers — FX’s “Shogun” and my personal favorite, Apple TV+’s “Slow Horses,” among them. Our colleague Glenn Whipp has “Shogun” taking the win for outstanding drama so we could see a long-overdue very big night for FX. But who knows?
January’s telecast brought us a bittersweet wealth of reunions, and a reminder of a time when broadcast networks dominated television. Beyond the joyful anticipation of seeing the father/son duo of Eugene Levy and Dan Levy take on hosting duties, and the possibility of Jodie Foster also winning her first Emmy for HBO’s “True Detective: Night Country,” is there anything you’re looking forward to this time around? —MM
Well, hello again, Mary. I have to be honest with you: I feel a little adrift as I sit here, thinking about a three-hour telecast featuring absolutely no members of the Roy family. This is a transitional year, not just in the TV industry writ large, but at the Emmys. A whole bunch of big-name shows (including my beloved “Succession”) wrapped last year, and between that and various strike-related delays, this year’s batch of nominees is, well, weird. But weird can be good, especially at the Emmys, an awards show that tends to rubber-stamp nominees year after year. I hope “weird” that means some breakthrough wins for some of the Indigenous performers and projects nominated this year, like Kali Reis in “True Detective: Night Country,” or maybe even the until-now-overlooked “Reservation Dogs.” —MB
