The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, held on September 15, 2024, celebrated the finest achievements in television across drama, comedy, and limited series categories. FX’s historical epic Shōgun made television history by sweeping the drama categories with 18 total wins across Primetime and Creative Arts ceremonies, while Max’s Hacks achieved a major upset by winning Outstanding Comedy Series, and Netflix’s Baby Reindeer dominated the limited series field.
Overview of the 2024 Emmy Season: A Historic Year for Television
The 2024 television award calendar was unique in industry history. Due to the Hollywood labor strikes of 2023, the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards were delayed from September 2023 to January 15, 2024. As a result, the calendar year 2024 featured two distinct Emmy Award ceremonies: the strike-delayed 75th ceremony in January (honoring the 2022–2023 season) and the standard 76th ceremony in September 2024 (honoring television broadcast between June 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024).
The September 2024 ceremony, hosted by the father-son duo Eugene Levy and Dan Levy at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, served as a definitive snapshot of modern prestige television. Streaming services and premium cable networks continued their dominant hold over major categories, while international narratives and non-English language storytelling achieved unprecedented critical recognition.
The night belonged to three major titles across their respective formats:
- FX’s Shōgun achieved the single most decorated season in Emmy history, claiming 18 total awards (14 Creative Arts Emmys and 4 Primetime Emmys), breaking the previous record of 13 set by John Adams in 2008.
- FX’s The Bear set a new single-season record for a comedy series by taking home 11 total Emmys, even as it was narrowly edged out for the top comedy banner.
- Max’s Hacks secured its place in television comedy history by winning Outstanding Comedy Series alongside Lead Actress accolades for Jean Smart.
- Netflix’s Baby Reindeer emerged from sleeper hit status to dominate the Limited or Anthology Series categories, collecting major awards for acting, writing, and overall series quality.
Summary of Major Winners and Nominees
Below is an overview of the winner outcomes across the core categories of the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, highlighting the winning production, lead creators, and competing nominees.
| Category | Winner | Program / Entity | Key Nominees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outstanding Drama Series | Shōgun | FX / Hulu | The Crown, Fallout, The Gilded Age, The Morning Show, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Slow Horses, 3 Body Problem |
| Lead Actor in a Drama Series | Hiroyuki Sanada | Shōgun | Idris Elba (Hijack), Donald Glover (Mr. & Mrs. Smith), Walton Goggins (Fallout), Gary Oldman (Slow Horses), Dominic West (The Crown) |
| Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Anna Sawai | Shōgun | Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show), Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age), Maya Erskine (Mr. & Mrs. Smith), Imelda Staunton (The Crown), Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show) |
| Outstanding Comedy Series | Hacks | Max | Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Only Murders in the Building, Palm Royale, Reservation Dogs, What We Do in the Shadows |
| Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | Jeremy Allen White | The Bear | Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows), Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building), Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building), D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Reservation Dogs) |
| Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | Jean Smart | Hacks | Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary), Ayo Edebiri (The Bear), Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building), Maya Rudolph (Loot), Kristen Wiig (Palm Royale) |
| Outstanding Limited Series | Baby Reindeer | Netflix | Fargo, Lessons in Chemistry, Ripley, True Detective: Night Country |
| Lead Actor in a Limited Series/Movie | Richard Gadd | Baby Reindeer | Matt Bomer (Fellow Travelers), Jon Hamm (Fargo), Tom Hollander (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans), Andrew Scott (Ripley) |
| Lead Actress in a Limited Series/Movie | Jodie Foster | True Detective: Night Country | Brie Larson (Lessons in Chemistry), Juno Temple (Fargo), Sofía Vergara (Griselda), Naomi Watts (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans) |
Detailed Breakdown of 2024 Emmy Winners and Nominees
Drama Series Categories
The Drama categories were dominated by FX’s adaptation of James Clavell’s Shōgun, which earned 25 overall nominations heading into the season. The series achieved landmark cultural recognition, becoming the first non-English language series to win Outstanding Drama Series at the Primetime Emmy Awards.
Outstanding Drama Series
- Winner: Shōgun (FX)
- The Crown (Netflix)
- Fallout (Prime Video)
- The Gilded Age (HBO/Max)
- The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
- Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Prime Video)
- Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
- 3 Body Problem (Netflix)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series
- Winner: Hiroyuki Sanada (Shōgun)
- Idris Elba (Hijack)
- Donald Glover (Mr. & Mrs. Smith)
- Walton Goggins (Fallout)
- Gary Oldman (Slow Horses)
- Dominic West (The Crown)
Context: Hiroyuki Sanada’s portrayal of Lord Yoshii Toranaga earned him his first Emmy Award. Sanada also served as a producer on Shōgun, helping ensure authentic cultural representation throughout the production.
Lead Actress in a Drama Series
- Winner: Anna Sawai (Shōgun)
- Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show)
- Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age)
- Maya Erskine (Mr. & Mrs. Smith)
- Imelda Staunton (The Crown)
- Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show)
Context: Anna Sawai made history as the first actor of Asian descent to win Lead Actress in a Drama Series, recognized for her role as Lady Toda Mariko.
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
- Winner: Billy Crudup (The Morning Show)
- Tadanobu Asano (Shōgun)
- Mark Duplass (The Morning Show)
- Jon Hamm (The Morning Show)
- Takehiro Hira (Shōgun)
- Jack Lowden (Slow Horses)
- Jonathan Pryce (The Crown)
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
- Winner: Elizabeth Debicki (The Crown)
- Christine Baranski (The Gilded Age)
- Nicole Beharie (The Morning Show)
- Lesley Manville (The Crown)
- Karen Pittman (The Morning Show)
- Holland Taylor (The Morning Show)
Context: Elizabeth Debicki secured her first Emmy Award for her portrayal of Princess Diana in the final season of Netflix's The Crown.
Directing and Writing for a Drama Series
- Directing for a Drama Series: Frederick E.O. Toye for Shōgun (Episode: "Anjin")
- Writing for a Drama Series: Will Smith for Slow Horses (Episode: "Reinventing the Wheel")
Comedy Series Categories
The Comedy categories featured an intense competition between the critical powerhouse The Bear and the industry-focused satire Hacks. While The Bear collected the majority of individual acting and directing trophies, Hacks ultimately took home the top honor for Outstanding Comedy Series alongside writing and lead acting honors.
Outstanding Comedy Series
- Winner: Hacks (Max)
- Abbott Elementary (ABC)
- The Bear (FX / Hulu)
- Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO/Max)
- Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
- Palm Royale (Apple TV+)
- Reservation Dogs (FX / Hulu)
- What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
- Winner: Jeremy Allen White (The Bear)
- Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows)
- Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
- Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building)
- Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building)
- D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Reservation Dogs)
Context: Jeremy Allen White secured his second consecutive Emmy Award for his portrayal of Carmy Berzatto in The Bear.
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
- Winner: Jean Smart (Hacks)
- Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary)
- Ayo Edebiri (The Bear)
- Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building)
- Maya Rudolph (Loot)
- Kristen Wiig (Palm Royale)
Context: Jean Smart earned her third Emmy Award for her role as veteran comedian Deborah Vance in Hacks, bringing her total career Emmy count to six.
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
- Winner: Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear)
- Lionel Boyce (The Bear)
- Paul W. Downs (Hacks)
- Paul Rudd (Only Murders in the Building)
- Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live)
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
- Winner: Liza Colón-Zayas (The Bear)
- Carol Burnett (Palm Royale)
- Hannah Einbinder (Hacks)
- Janelle James (Abbott Elementary)
- Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary)
- Meryl Streep (Only Murders in the Building)
Context: Liza Colón-Zayas made history as the first Latina actor to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Tina Marrero in The Bear.
Directing and Writing for a Comedy Series
- Directing for a Comedy Series: Christopher Storer for The Bear (Episode: "Fishes")
- Writing for a Comedy Series: Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky for Hacks (Episode: "Bulletproof")
Limited or Anthology Series Categories
The Limited or Anthology Series field was characterized by strong performances from both established Hollywood stars and breakthrough talents. Netflix's psychological drama Baby Reindeer swept the majority of categories.
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
- Winner: Baby Reindeer (Netflix)
- Fargo (FX)
- Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)
- Ripley (Netflix)
- True Detective: Night Country (HBO/Max)
Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
- Winner: Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer)
- Matt Bomer (Fellow Travelers)
- Jon Hamm (Fargo)
- Tom Hollander (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans)
- Andrew Scott (Ripley)
Context: Creator and star Richard Gadd won both Lead Actor and Writing honors for his semi-autobiographical series detailing his personal experiences with stalking and trauma.
Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
- Winner: Jodie Foster (True Detective: Night Country)
- Brie Larson (Lessons in Chemistry)
- Juno Temple (Fargo)
- Sofía Vergara (Griselda)
- Naomi Watts (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans)
Context: Two-time Academy Award winner Jodie Foster won her first career Primetime Emmy Award for her portrayal of Chief Liz Danvers in HBO's True Detective: Night Country.
Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
- Winner: Lamorne Morris (Fargo)
- Jonathan Bailey (Fellow Travelers)
- Robert Downey Jr. (The Sympathizer)
- Tom Hollander (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans)
- Treat Williams (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans)
- John Hawkes (True Detective: Night Country)
Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
- Winner: Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer)
- Dakota Fanning (Ripley)
- Lily Gladstone (Under the Bridge)
- Diane Lane (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans)
- Nava Mau (Baby Reindeer)
- Kali Reis (True Detective: Night Country)
Directing and Writing for a Limited Series or Movie
- Directing for a Limited Series or Movie: Steven Zaillian for Ripley
- Writing for a Limited Series or Movie: Richard Gadd for Baby Reindeer
Historical Milestones and Key Surprises of the 76th Emmy Awards
The 2024 ceremony established several historic benchmarks that reflect changing dynamics within creative development, casting, and distribution across the television industry.
1. Non-English Language Dominance
Shōgun became the first non-English language production to take home the top prize for Outstanding Drama Series. While Hwang Dong-hyuk won Directing and Lee Jung-jae won Lead Actor for Netflix’s Korean-language series Squid Game in 2022, Shōgun marks the first time a predominantly non-English project won the marquee series prize. Furthermore, Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai became the first Japanese actors to win Emmy Awards in lead acting categories.
2. Record-Breaking Single-Season Totals
- Total Wins Record: Shōgun set an all-time record for the most Emmy victories by a series in a single season with 18 total awards (including 14 Creative Arts Emmys).
- Comedy Category Record: The Bear broke its own single-season record for a comedy series, securing 11 total Emmys across the Primetime and Creative Arts ceremonies, surpassing its 10-win mark from the 75th ceremony.
3. The Comedy Series Upset
Despite The Bear collecting four major Primetime awards on ceremony night (Lead Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, and Directing), Max’s Hacks pulled off an unexpected victory in the final category of the night, winning Outstanding Comedy Series. Industry analysts pointed to debate regarding category classification—whether The Bear operates fundamentally as a drama rather than a traditional comedy—as a potential factor in voters selecting Hacks for the top prize.
4. Directorial and Writing Milestones
Steven Zaillian’s noir adaptation of Ripley for Netflix received high technical acclaim, earning Zaillian the Emmy for Directing for a Limited Series. Meanwhile, Richard Gadd completed a rare triple-win night for Baby Reindeer, receiving individual trophies for writing, acting, and executive producing the Outstanding Limited Series winner.
Network and Platform Performance Analysis
The distribution of wins at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards highlighted the continued dominance of subscription video on demand (SVOD) platforms and premium cable networks, while traditional broadcast television saw limited presentation in major categories outside of ABC’s Abbott Elementary.
Performance Breakdown by Platform Parent Company
- The Walt Disney Company (FX / Hulu / ABC): Disney led all media companies, heavily boosted by FX’s banner year. FX alone secured 36 total Emmys across Creative Arts and Primetime nights, anchored by Shōgun (18 wins) and The Bear (11 wins).
- Netflix: Netflix captured key wins across the limited series and drama divisions, powered by Baby Reindeer (6 total wins), The Crown, and Ripley.
- HBO / Max: Warner Bros. Discovery maintained its presence in major categories with key wins for Hacks (Outstanding Comedy Series, Comedy Writing, Lead Actress in a Comedy) and True Detective: Night Country (Lead Actress in a Limited Series).
- Apple TV+: Apple TV+ earned major accolades across its slate, highlighted by The Morning Show (Billy Crudup winning Supporting Actor in a Drama) and Slow Horses (Will Smith winning Writing for a Drama Series).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why were there two Emmy Award ceremonies in the year 2024?
The dual Emmy ceremonies in 2024 were caused by schedule disruptions from the 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) strikes. The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards, originally scheduled for September 2023, were postponed to January 15, 2024. The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards proceeded on its regular schedule on September 15, 2024, honoring television programs broadcast between June 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024.
Which show won the most Emmy Awards in 2024?
FX’s historical drama Shōgun won the most Emmy Awards in 2024, earning 18 total trophies (14 Creative Arts Emmys and 4 Primetime Emmys). This set the record for the highest number of Emmys won by a single season of a television show in industry history.
Who hosted the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards?
The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards were hosted by actors and creators Eugene Levy and Dan Levy. The father-son duo previously swept the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards in 2020 with their hit comedy series Schitt's Creek.
Did The Bear win Best Comedy Series at the September 2024 Emmys?
No. While The Bear won 11 overall Emmys in 2024—including acting wins for Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Liza Colón-Zayas, as well as Directing for Christopher Storer—the award for Outstanding Comedy Series was won by Max’s Hacks.
Where can viewers stream the main 2024 Emmy-winning series?
- Shōgun: Streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
- Hacks: Streaming on Max.
- The Bear: Streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
- Baby Reindeer: Streaming on Netflix.
- True Detective: Night Country: Streaming on Max.
- The Crown: Streaming on Netflix.
Practical Recommendations for Television Viewers
For viewers looking to explore the award-winning landscape of the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, the following viewing path offers a balanced entry point into the year's top productions:
- For Epic Scale and Historical Drama: Begin with FX’s Shōgun (Hulu/Disney+). Its 18 wins reflect top-tier achievement in production design, cinematography, costume design, directorship, and leading performances.
- For Character-Driven Comedy & Satire: Watch Max’s Hacks for sharp writing on the entertainment industry, or Hulu’s The Bear for high-intensity culinary drama and acclaimed ensemble acting.
- For Standalone Limited Storytelling: Stream Netflix’s Baby Reindeer for a compact, four-hour psychological thriller, or HBO’s True Detective: Night Country (Max) for a atmospheric crime procedural featuring Jodie Foster’s award-winning performance.
Official archival information, detailed voting rules, and technical credits for all 2024 nominees and winners remain accessible directly through the Television Academy Official Website.
