“Shogun” and “Hacks” were the big winners at the 76th annual Emmy Awards on Sunday, with “Shogun” winning best drama series as well as best actor and actress in a drama, and “Hacks” taking the Emmy for best comedy series and best lead actress in a comedy for star Jean Smart.
“Baby Reindeer” dominated the limited or anthology series categories, winning best limited series, best lead actor in a limited series for its creator Richard Gadd, and best supporting actress for his costar Jessica Gunning.
“Shogun,” a period drama with the majority of its dialogue in Japanese with English subtitles, had already won 14 Emmys after the Creative Arts Emmys were held a week ago. That set a new record for the most Emmys by any show in a single year.
With four more Emmys on Sunday, including best actor in a drama for Hiroyuki Sanada and best actress in a drama for Anna Sawai, who is the first actress of Asian descent to win an Emmy for lead actress in a drama series. “Shogun” ended up with 18 Emmys, shattering the previous record of 13 Emmys set by the limited series “John Adams” in 2008.
“You guys greenlit a very expensive period drama in Japanese whose central climax revolves around a poetry competition,” “Shogun” co-creator Justin Marks said of FX the show’s network. “I have no idea why you did that but thank you.”
Jean Smart picked up the Emmy for lead actress in a comedy series for a second consecutive year for her work in “Hacks.”
“It’s very humbling, it really is,” Smart said as she accepted the award. “And I appreciate this because I just don’t get enough attention.”
The audience inside the Peacock Theatre roared with laughter – Smart is a very beloved actress.
“I’m serious!” she insisted with mock dismay.