2024 Emmys Recap: Complete List of Winners, Major Snubs, and Shocking Moments

The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, held on September 15, 2024, delivered a historic evening filled with record-breaking victories, unexpected major upsets, and unforgettable speeches. FX’s historical epic Shōgun made Emmys history by securing 18 total awards across all categories, while HBO’s Hacks pulled off a stunning upset over The Bear for Best Comedy Series.

Major Winners of the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards

The 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards celebrated an extraordinarily diverse television landscape, recognizing excellence across traditional cable networks and streaming giants. Held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and hosted by father-son duo Eugene Levy and Dan Levy, the ceremony showcased a changing of the guard across several television genres.

Drama Category: Shōgun Makes Television History

FX's adaptation of James Clavell’s 1975 novel Shōgun emerged as the undisputed titan of the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards. Entering the night with 14 wins already secured at the Creative Arts Emmys, the feudal Japan drama added four major primetime trophies to its tally, ending the season with a monumental 18 Emmy Awards—the highest single-season total in television history.

• Outstanding Drama Series: Shōgun secured the top prize, becoming the first non-English language series to win Outstanding Drama Series at the Primetime Emmys.
• Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Hiroyuki Sanada won for his captivating performance as Lord Yoshii Toranaga, becoming the first Japanese actor to win an Emmy in an acting category.
• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Anna Sawai took home the award for her powerful portrayal of Toda Mariko, marking another historic first as the first Asian actress to win Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
• Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series: Frederick E.O. Toye was honored for directing the pivotal episode "Crimson Sky."

The success of Shōgun reflected a growing willingness among Academy voters to embrace international, subtitled storytelling on a grand cinematic scale. Executive producer Justin Marks and star/producer Hiroyuki Sanada accepted the top award, emphasizing the collaborative cross-cultural effort required to bring the 17th-century Japanese epic to life with technical precision and historical authenticity.

Key Milestone: Shōgun's 18 total wins broke the previous single-season record of 13 Emmys held by John Adams (2008) and the drama series record of 12 wins previously held by Game of Thrones (2015, 2016, 2019).

Comedy Category: Hacks Pulls Off the Ultimate Upset

While industry prognosticators widely expected FX's The Bear to sweep the comedy categories following its dominant 2023 performance, HBO/Max’s Hacks delivered the biggest surprise of the telecast by taking home the award for Outstanding Comedy Series.

• Outstanding Comedy Series: Hacks claimed the night's final comedy trophy for its third season, defeating heavy favorite The Bear.
• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Jean Smart earned her third Emmy for playing veteran stand-up comedian Deborah Vance (and her sixth Emmy victory overall), solidifying her status as comedic royalty.
• Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: Co-creators Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky won for the critically acclaimed Season 3 finale episode, "Bulletproof."

Despite losing the main award, The Bear still achieved remarkable success throughout the telecast, setting a record for the most Emmy wins by a comedy series in a single year with 11 total awards (including Creative Arts categories). Jeremy Allen White won Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for the second consecutive year for his role as Carmy Berzatto, while Ebon Moss-Bachrach repeated his victory for Supporting Actor as Richie Jerimovich.

A standout moment in the comedy categories was Liza Colón-Zayas winning Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance as Tina Marrero on The Bear. Colón-Zayas made history as the first Latina performer to win in this category, defeating a stacked field that included Meryl Streep (Only Murders in the Building) and Hannah Einbinder (Hacks).

Limited or Anthology Series Category: Baby Reindeer Dominates

Netflix's word-of-mouth sensation Baby Reindeer converted its critical acclaim and viral public attention into four major Primetime Emmy victories, establishing itself as the dominant force in the Limited or Anthology Series categories.

• Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: Baby Reindeer won the night's top award for limited storytelling.
• Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series/TV Movie: Creator Richard Gadd won for his semi-autobiographical portrayal of Donny Dunn.
• Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series/TV Movie: Richard Gadd captured his second trophy of the night for writing the complex psychological drama.
• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series/TV Movie: Jessica Gunning won for her terrifying yet nuanced portrayal of stalker Martha Scott.

In other limited series categories, veteran screen icon Jodie Foster won her first career Primetime Emmy Award, taking home Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her role as Chief Liz Danvers in HBO's True Detective: Night Country. Meanwhile, Lamorne Morris earned his first Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his performance as Deputy State Trooper Whitley "Witt" Farr in FX's Fargo.

Master Winners Table: 76th Primetime Emmy Awards

The following verified list highlights the major category winners from the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards telecast:

Shocking Moments and History-Making Milestones

Beyond the standard distribution of trophies, the 2024 Primetime Emmys generated several moments that resonated across pop culture and television industry history.

Historic Representation Milestones

The 76th Emmys marked an exceptional year for groundbreaking achievements among underrepresented artists:

1. First Japanese Lead Acting Winners: Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai became the first Japanese actors to win Emmy Awards in any acting category. Their shared wins for Shōgun represented a major milestone for Asian talent in American television history.
2. First Latina Supporting Comedy Winner: Liza Colón-Zayas's emotional win for The Bear broke decades of precedent, establishing her as the first Latina performer to win Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. In her acceptance speech, she dedicated her award to all Latinas watching, urging them to vote and keep believing in their potential.
3. First-Time Emmy for Jodie Foster: Despite a legendary cinematic career spanning five decades and two Academy Awards, Jodie Foster earned her very first Primetime Emmy Award for True Detective: Night Country.

The Levy Duo's Opening Monologue and Comedy Genre Jokes

Hosts Eugene Levy and Dan Levy delivered a sharp, warm opening monologue that immediately addressed the elephant in the room: the ongoing debate regarding television show genre classifications.

"I know some of you might be expecting us to make jokes about The Bear being nominated as a comedy," Eugene Levy quipped during the opening broadcast. "But in the true spirit of The Bear, we will not be making any jokes."

The self-aware commentary drew loud laughs from the audience at the Peacock Theater, acknowledging the industry-wide discussion regarding whether high-stress, dramatic series belong in traditional comedy categories.

Did You Know? The Television Academy relies on network submissions for category selection. A series submitted as a comedy (episodes running 30 minutes or formatted as such) competes in comedy categories regardless of tone, unless formally challenged or recategorized by rule updates.

The Biggest Snubs and Surprises of the Night

Every awards ceremony leaves celebrated programs and acclaimed actors unrewarded. The 2024 ceremony featured several high-profile snubs that surprised television critics and audiences alike.

The Bear Misses Best Comedy Series

Entering the ceremony, industry experts almost universally projected The Bear to repeat as Outstanding Comedy Series following its record 23 nominations—the most ever for a comedy in a single season. The show had dominated preceding awards circuits, winning SAG, Golden Globe, and Directors Guild honors.

However, when presenters red-carpet legend Catherine O'Hara and the cast presented the final comedic envelope, Hacks took home the top prize. Industry analysts attributed the outcome to voter preference for pure, joke-dense comedy writing (Hacks) over high-tension dramatic storytelling operating under a comedy label (The Bear).

Reservation Dogs Shut Out in Its Final Season

Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi’s critically revered FX series Reservation Dogs, which concluded its three-season run with universal acclaim, was largely overlooked by the Television Academy throughout its run. Despite securing a long-overdue nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series and a Lead Actor nomination for D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai in 2024, the show walked away from the telecast completely empty-handed. Woon-A-Tai made a striking statement on the red carpet, appearing with a red hand painted across his mouth to raise awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW).

Only Murders in the Building Acting Stars Miss Out

Hulu’s hit mystery-comedy Only Murders in the Building had another strong showing in overall nomination numbers, but its legendary lead trio—Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez—were once again bypassed for acting wins. Additionally, screen legend Meryl Streep, nominated for her guest role as Loretta Durkin, was considered a frontrunner for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series before Liza Colón-Zayas was announced as the winner.

Fallout and The Morning Show Shut Out of Top Tiers

Amazon Prime Video's hugely popular video game adaptation Fallout arrived at the Emmys with 16 total nominations and massive audience viewership. Despite praise for lead actor Walton Goggins and its immersive world-building, the series was unable to convert any of its nominations into main-stage primetime awards.

Similarly, Apple TV+'s The Morning Show entered the night with 16 nominations across the drama categories, including acting nods for Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Beharie, Greta Lee, and Karen Pittman. However, the show's sole primetime acting win went to Billy Crudup for Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, leaving its lead actresses unrewarded.

The Category Controversy: Defining Comedy vs. Drama

The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards highlighted ongoing tension within the Television Academy regarding how shows are categorized during nomination voting.

Historical Context: In 2015, the Television Academy instituted a rule defining comedies as half-hour series and dramas as one-hour series. However, this rule was formally eliminated in 2021, allowing producers to submit shows based primarily on intent rather than running time.

The "Stress vs. Laughs" Debate

The Bear, which follows chef Carmy Berzatto navigating grief, trauma, panic attacks, and restaurant operations, has sparked debates since its debut. Season 2 episode "Fishes"—a tense, hour-long family drama depicting holiday chaos—won major Emmys for directing and guest acting, leading critics to question whether the show belonged in the comedy field alongside traditional sitcoms like Abbott Elementary or Hacks.

Category Alignment in 2024

The voting split at the 2024 ceremony revealed a subtle shift:

• Academy voters selected The Bear for individual technical, directing, and acting performances (White, Moss-Bachrach, Colón-Zayas).
• However, when voting for overall Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, voters chose Hacks, favoring a show built around traditional comedic structure, stand-up humor, and punchlines.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which show won the most total Emmys in 2024?

FX's Shōgun won the most total Emmy Awards in 2024, securing a record-breaking 18 total trophies across the Creative Arts Emmys and the Primetime Emmy telecast. This broke the previous single-season record for any television series in Emmy history.

Why did Hacks winning Best Comedy Series shock industry analysts?

Hacks winning Best Comedy Series was considered a major surprise because FX's The Bear had dominated the awards season, setting a record with 23 comedy nominations. Many critics expected The Bear to easily win the top category, but Television Academy voters ultimately selected Hacks for its traditional comedy format and sharp writing.

Did Jodie Foster win her first Emmy in 2024?

Yes. Two-time Oscar winner Jodie Foster won her first Primetime Emmy Award in 2024, taking home Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her performance as Chief Liz Danvers in HBO's True Detective: Night Country.

What record did Shōgun break at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards?

Shōgun set the record for the highest number of Emmy wins for a single season of television (18 wins), surpassing HBO's John Adams (13 wins in 2008) and Game of Thrones (12 wins in a single season). It also became the first non-English language series to win Outstanding Drama Series.

Who hosted the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards?

The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards were hosted by the father-son actor and writer duo Eugene Levy and Dan Levy, best known for co-creating and starring together in the critically acclaimed comedy series Schitt's Creek.

Who was the first Latina actress to win Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series?

Liza Colón-Zayas became the first Latina actress to win Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Tina Marrero on FX's The Bear.

How to Catch Up on the 2024 Emmy-Winning Series

For viewers looking to watch the award-winning television programs from the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, here is where the major winners are available for streaming:

1. Watch Shōgun (Best Drama Series): Stream all 10 episodes of the record-breaking drama on Hulu in the United States and on Disney+ internationally.
2. Watch Hacks (Best Comedy Series): Seasons 1 through 3 are available to stream exclusively on Max (formerly HBO Max).
3. Watch Baby Reindeer (Best Limited Series): The limited psychological drama series is available globally on Netflix.
4. Watch The Bear (Record Comedy Wins): Seasons 1 through 3 are streaming on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.
5. Watch True Detective: Night Country: Available to stream on Max.