The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards saw emergency-room drama “The Pitt” and comedy-horror series “Widow’s Bay” take television’s top prizes at a ceremony in Los Angeles.
“The Pitt”, set in a Pittsburgh emergency department, won best drama series for the second consecutive year, while “Widow’s Bay” overcame the previous season’s winner, “Hacks”, to claim best comedy series.
Noah Wyle, who plays Dr “Robby” Robinavitch in “The Pitt”, also secured his second straight Emmy for best lead actor in a drama. “This is the only club I’ve ever wanted to join. Thank you for accepting me,” he told the audience.
Matthew Rhys, a star of “Widow’s Bay”, made history by becoming the first person to win two lead acting honours at the same ceremony. Stephen Root, his fellow cast member, was named best supporting actor in a comedy, defeating favourite Harrison Ford of “Shrinking”.
“Thank you, sir, for all your many years of great, great, great acting,” Root told Ford during his acceptance speech.
Jean Smart makes Emmy history
Jean Smart won her fifth Emmy for playing stand-up comic Deborah Vance in “Hacks”, becoming the first actress to win best lead comedy actress for every season of a show’s run.
Smart, who has won eight Emmys overall during her acting career, said: “What a ride this has been,” after receiving a standing ovation.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus remains the performer who came closest to Smart’s comedy lead actress sweep, winning the award in six of the seven seasons of political satire “Veep”.
Rhea Seehorn won best actress in a drama for her role as the lone character in “Pluribus”, after two unsuccessful nominations for her breakthrough part in “Better Call Saul”. Vince Gilligan, creator of “Breaking Bad” and its spin-off, won best drama writing for “Pluribus”.
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” was named best variety series, ending its farewell season with six Emmys in total after CBS cancelled the programme, citing financial pressures.
Colbert rejected that explanation and accused network executives of giving in to pressure from President Donald Trump over the programme’s frequent mockery of his administration.
