“Succession” and “Ted Lasso” topped the Emmy Awards on Monday, earning best drama and comedy series distinction, respectively, in a ceremony that touted the power of TV and extended honors to “Squid Game” and winners who delivered messages of empowerment.
The evening’s uplifting tone, as voiced especially by Zendaya, Lizzo and Sheryl Lee Ralph, was in contrast to the darkness that pervaded the storytelling of best drama series winner “Succession.”
“Thanks for making such a safe space to make this very difficult show,” said best drama actress winner Zendaya, claiming her second award for “Euphoria,” which chronicles teens and their tough coming-of-age.
“My greatest wish for “Euphoria’ was that it could help heal people. Thank you for everyone who has shared your story with me. I carry them with me, and I carry them with” her character, Rue, as well, Zendaya said.
“Succession,” about a media empire run by a grasping and cutthroat family, split drama series honors with “Squid Game,” the series about the idle rich turning the poor into entertainment fodder.
Lee Jung-jae of “Squid Game,” who played the show’s moral center, became the first Asian actor to win the best drama series actor Emmy.
Jason Sudeikis and Jean Smart collected back-to-back acting trophies, while Zendaya picked up her second drama actress prize for “Euphoria.”
Several new Emmy winners were minted, with Lizzo and Quinta Brunson and Sheryl Lee Ralph of “Abbott Elementary” collecting trophies.
Sudeikis won his second consecutive trophy for the soccer comedy “Ted Lasso,” with Smart matching that haul for the standup-centered comedy “Hacks.” Sudeikis gave a rare awards show shoutout to TV consumers.
“Thanks to the people who watch this show and dig it as much as we dig making it,” he said.
Ralph stopped the Emmy Awards show by accepting the best supporting actress comedy award for “Abbott Elementary” with a brief but rousing song of affirmation.
“I am an endangered species, but I sing no victim song. I am a woman, I am an artist and I know where my voice belongs,” she belted out. She then encouraged anyone doubting their dream “I am here to tell you this is what believing looks like.”
The audience, including Lizzo and many of television’s biggest stars, leapt to their feet to cheer on Ralph.
When Lizzo herself accepted the award for best-competition series trophy for “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls,” she offered another emotional pep talk.
“When I was a little girl, all I wanted to see was me in the media. Someone fat like me, Black like me, beautiful like me,” the music artist said.
“Ted Lasso” co-star Brett Goldstein, won comedy supporting actors, while Matthew Macfadyen of “Succession” and Julia Garner of “Ozark” earned drama seires supporting actor honors.
“It’s such a a pleasure and privilege for me to play this bonkers gift of a role in this wonderful show,” Macfadyen said in accepting the trophy for his role as a scheming member of a media empire family.
Garner was among the winners who took advantage of covering all bases by thanking her husband and others in an on-screen message.
“The White Lotus” collected several honors, including best limited or anthology series.
Host Kenan Thompson kicked off the Emmys with a tribute to TV, dismissing Tik-Tok as “tiny vertical television,” and a musical number saluting series’ theme songs from “Friends” to “The Brady Bunch” to “Game of Thrones.”
Once the music stopped, Thompson provided a mic drop moment — announcing Oprah Winfrey as the first presenter. Winfrey strutted onto the stage holding an Emmy statuette, declaring the night “a party!” The night’s first award went to Michael Keaton for his role in “Dopesick.” Winfrey and Keaton hugged before she handed him his trophy.
“It means something,” Keaton said of the award for playing a caring doctor ensnared with his patients by addiction. He went on to recall the “magic” of being introduced to TV when his dad won a set at a raffle and thanked his parents for not mocking his youthful attempts at acting.
Amanda Seyfried earned the limited-series lead actress trophy for “The Dropout,” in which she played ill-fated Silicon Valley whiz kid Elizabeth Holmes. She thanked a list of family and colleagues and even her dog, Finn.
Murray Bartlett won the best supporting actor award for limited series of “The White Lotus,” a tragicomedy set in a Hawaii resort. Jennifer Coolidge, who won best supporting actress honors for the show, delighted the audience by shimmying to the music intended to cut off her acceptance speech.
The award for best variety talk show went to “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” with stand-up special “Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel” winning for best writing for a comedy special.
“Good night, everybody. I’ma go home. I’m not like a sore winner, but I’m going to go home because I can’t top this right now,” an overcome Carmichael told the audience.
Glamour was back with some metallic sparkle and lots of bright color as an otherworldly Britt Lower, Old Hollywood Elle Fanning and their fellow stars posed for photographers.
Governors Award
Accepting the TV Academy’s Governors Award on behalf of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media were founder and chair Geena Davis and president/CEO Madeline Di Nonno. In her acceptance remarks, Davis noted that stories and depictions on television impact how people see themselves and their value in the world, making it of the utmost importance that women are represented in storytelling, in front of and behind the camera. While gratified by the Academy recognition for the Institute, Davis affirmed that there’s still much work to be done.
In the press room backstage Di Nonno gave an example of that work, sharing that in October the Institute will introduce its #GirlsNeedSTEM initiative, giving voice to and advocating for girls involved in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
Tally
In totaling the awards given out this evening and the Creative Arts Emmys bestowed the weekend of September 3 and 4, "The White Lotus" led the way with 10 Emmys, followed by "Euphoria" and "Squid Game" with six apiece, then "Adele: One Night Only," "Stranger Things" and "The Beatles: Get Back" with five each, and "Arcane," "Succession" and "Ted Lasso" garnering four Emmys each.
SHOOT’s Robert Goldrich and AP writer Beth Harris contributed to this report.
Here’s a category-by-category rundown of this evening’s winners:
Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series
Ted Lasso • No Weddings And A Funeral • Apple TV+ • Apple presents a Doozer Production in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television
MJ Delaney, Directed by
Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series
Squid Game • Red Light, Green Light • Netflix • Siren Pictures for Netflix
Hwang Dong-hyuk, Directed by
Outstanding Directing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie
The White Lotus • HBO/HBO Max • HBO in association with Rip Cord, The District and Hallogram Inc.
Mike White, Directed by
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
Ted Lasso • Apple TV+ • Apple presents a Doozer Production in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television
Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Squid Game • Netflix • Siren Pictures for Netflix
Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie
Dopesick • Hulu • 20th Television, Danny Strong Productions, John Goldwyn Productions, The Littlefield Company
Michael Keaton as Dr. Samuel Finnix
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
Hacks • HBO/HBO Max • Universal Television in association with Paulilu, First Thought Productions, Fremulon Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment
Jean Smart as Deborah Vance
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Euphoria • HBO/HBO Max • HBO in association with ADD Content Agency | HOT | TCDY Productions, Dreamcrew, Tiny Goat, A24 and The Reasonable Bunch
Zendaya as Rue
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie
The Dropout • Hulu • Searchlight Television, 20th Television
Amanda Seyfried as Elizabeth Holmes
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Ted Lasso • Apple TV+ • Apple presents a Doozer Production in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television
Brett Goldstein as Roy Kent
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Succession • HBO/HBO Max • HBO in association with Project Zeus, HyperObject Industries, Gary Sanchez Productions
Matthew Macfadyen as Tom Wambsgans
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie
The White Lotus • HBO/HBO Max • HBO in association with Rip Cord, The District and Hallogram Inc.
Murray Bartlett as Armond
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary • ABC • Delicious Non-Sequitur Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and 20th Television
Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Ozark • Netflix • MRC for Netflix
Julia Garner as Ruth Langmore
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie
The White Lotus • HBO/HBO Max • HBO in association with Rip Cord, The District and Hallogram Inc.
Jennifer Coolidge as Tanya
Outstanding Comedy Series
Ted Lasso • Apple TV+ • Apple presents a Doozer Production in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television
Outstanding Drama Series
Succession • HBO/HBO Max • HBO in association with Project Zeus, HyperObject Industries, Gary Sanchez Productions
Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series
The White Lotus • HBO/HBO Max • HBO in association with Rip Cord, The District and Hallogram Inc.
Outstanding Variety Talk Series
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver • HBO/HBO Max • HBO in association with Sixteen String Jack Productions and Avalon Television
Outstanding Variety Sketch Series
Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Outstanding Competition Program
Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls • Prime Video • Amazon Studios
Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary • Pilot • ABC • Delicious Non-Sequitur Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and 20th Television
Quinta Brunson, Written by
Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series
Succession • All The Bells Say • HBO/HBO Max • HBO in association with Project Zeus, HyperObject Industries, Gary Sanchez Productions
Jesse Armstrong, Written by
Outstanding Writing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie
The White Lotus • HBO/HBO Max • HBO in association with Rip Cord, The District and Hallogram Inc.
Mike White, Written by
Outstanding Writing For A Variety Special
Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel • HBO/HBO Max • HBO in association with Rotten Science
Jerrod Carmichael, Written by
