‘Shogun’ Triumphs in Best Drama, ‘Hacks’ Stuns in Comedy at TV’s Emmys – Reuters

By Lisa Richwine and Danielle Broadway

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – "Shogun," a grand historical epic set in imperial Japan, secured the coveted best drama award at the recent Emmy Awards, while "Hacks" delivered a surprise victory over the reigning comedy champion, "The Bear."

The series, which explores intricate political dynamics, also earned acting accolades for Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai, marking them as the first Japanese actors to win in their respective categories. Overall, "Shogun" garnered 18 awards, a record for any single season of a drama.

"Baby Reindeer," a gripping narrative about a bartender plagued by a persistent customer, was honored as the best limited series.

Despite featuring mostly Japanese dialogue with English subtitles, "Shogun" emerged as an unlikely international sensation. Executive producer Justin Marks expressed gratitude to the FX network for its willingness to take a chance on the series.

"You guys greenlit a very expensive, subtitled Japanese period piece whose central climax is a poetry competition," Marks remarked during his acceptance speech. "I have no idea why you did that."

Sanada called "Shogun" an "East meets West dream project," emphasizing the value of collaboration. "It taught me that when people work together, we can create miracles and build a better future," he said.

An emotional Sawai expressed her disbelief upon receiving the best actress award, sharing, "I was crying before my name was announced. I’m a mess today," while clutching her Emmy statuette.

The substantial wins for "Shogun" contributed to FX’s parent company, Walt Disney, achieving a record total of 60 Emmys this year.

Following the celebrations for "Shogun," the night’s biggest upset occurred when HBO’s "Hacks," studying the relationship between a seasoned comedian and a millennial writer, was crowned best comedy, beating out the previous winner "The Bear."

"Comedy is vital, as it can bridge divides," said executive producer Lucia Aniello. "When you laugh with someone, you find common ground. So please support comedy and speak truth to power."

Earlier in the evening, Jean Smart received a standing ovation as she won her third Emmy for her role as the determined stand-up comic Deborah Vance in "Hacks." "I appreciate this because I just don’t get enough attention," she joked on stage.

Also, "The Bear," another FX offering, set a new record by winning 11 awards, further solidifying its status in comedy.

Jeremy Allen White and Ebon Moss-Bachrach both secured their second consecutive Emmys for comedy actor and supporting actor, respectively. White portrays Chef Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto, while Moss-Bachrach was honored for his role as Cousin Richie.

In a surprising twist, Liza Colón-Zayas claimed her third Emmy for "The Bear," winning best supporting comedy actress against esteemed contenders like Meryl Streep and Carol Burnett. "All the Latinas who are looking at me, keep believing and vote for your rights," she urged, referencing upcoming U.S. elections.

Presenter Candice Bergen brought attention to progress in women’s rights, reminiscing about how her character from "Murphy Brown" faced criticism for having a child. "Oh, how far we’ve come," she noted, pointing out that a Republican vice presidential candidate would no longer attack a woman for motherhood.

The winners were determined by nearly 22,000 members of the Television Academy, including performers, directors, and producers.

Richard Gadd, star and creator of "Baby Reindeer," also received awards for acting and writing, reflecting on his journey. "Ten years ago, I was down and out. I never thought I’d be able to get my life together," he stated during his acceptance speech.

Eugene and Dan Levy hosted the red carpet ceremony, bringing humor to the occasion. Eugene quipped, "If things go south, my name is pronounced Martin Short," alluding to the audience’s star.

Dan Levy added a light-hearted comment about the Emmys, referring to them as "broadcast TV’s biggest night for honoring movie stars on streaming services."