CNN
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“Succession” and “Ted Lasso” appeared as returning heroes in 74th Annual Emmy Awardson a night that leaned toward repeat winners while spreading fortune in a way that seemed to celebrate diversity between talent, platforms, and content.
After a record Netflix performance in 2021, HBO has reasserted its dominance in its now annual battle with Netflix for supremacy in the prestigious world of television. Pay Network led the limited series “The White Lotus,” which took home five awards Monday night—along with a handful of tech awards at previous Creative Arts Celebrations—letting it out with 10 total wins this season, more than any other show.
HBO collected 12 of the 25 figurines awarded at Monday’s party. This included a second victory for “Succession,” which was knocked out last year due to the eligibility window, leaving the door open for “the crown” To sweep the drama vote.
“Ted Lasso” became the show’s back-to-back comedy winner as well as co-stars Jason Sudeikis and Brett Goldstein — an increasingly rare feat, only because shows now take longer breaks between runs.
They were denied the opportunity to make history as a non-English drama winner, as He did ‘Parasite’ at the OscarsNetflix’s social media feel ‘Squid’ wins awards Starring Lee Jong Jae and directing. The show had previously earned a quartet of wins at the Creative Arts Gala.
Adding to previous festivities with Monday Night, HBO totaled 38 Emmys this year, well ahead of second place Netflix, at 26. Apple’s “Ted” show left the streaming service with nine total, tied with Disney+ behind Hulu, with 10 thanks so far Great for its limited, fact-based series. (Like CNN, HBO is a unit of Warner Bros. Discovery.)
After a quiet start to the show, Sherrill Lee Ralph She woke audiences up as she became only the second black woman to win a supporting actress in a comedy for ABC’s Abbott Elementary, a win 35 years after Jackee Harry’s lead in “227.” Then the Broadway star sang a portion of her speech (she thanked the executives in a text that ran across the bottom of the screen), bringing the crowd to her feet.
Quinta Bronson, the show’s star and producer, has also been honored for writing the sitcom about teachers, a boost as its second season approaches next week.
Ralph brought energy to broadcast television that might have used more of it. Hosted by Saturday Night Live’s Kenan Thompson (including a mini-meeting with former co-star Kel Mitchell), the party bounced back at an awkward pace. Politics played a muted role in the evening, and efforts to celebrate the breadth of television sometimes seemed to come at the expense of time allotted for actual awards.
As usual, there was a fair amount of repetition, and a lot of words omitted. The first prize included the seventh in a row for “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver,” and another trophy for the long-running “Saturday Night Live.” Oliver’s HBO owned this category, the way Jon Stewart had it in his previous home, “The Daily Show.”
Zendaya took home her second award as a lead actress for the grim high school HBO drama ‘Euphoria’, and Julia Garner took home her third Emmy for her supporting role as Ruth in the dreary Netflix drama ‘Ozark’. Jane Smart joined the recurring winners of the HBO Max comedy about comedians, “Hacks.”
However, the first-time winners also had success. Matthew Macfadyen took home the supporting actor award for “Succession,” the most-nominated program of the year, and was joined by limited series stars Michael Keaton for “Dopesick” and Amanda Seyfried in another Hulu production, “The Dropout,” and her portrayal of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes.
First nominees Murray Bartlett and Jennifer Coolidge were honored for “White Lotus”, the latter having to beat four co-stars in an impressive cast. Coolidge was fired during her spirited acceptance speech, after a few recipients spoke to the music. Mike White also won for both writing and directing the series.
Amazon”Lizzo watch out for Big GrrrrlsShe also crowned three Emmys this awards season with a win on the competition show, prompting one of the most emotional acceptance speeches from its host.
HBO’s strong showing came after a year in which Netflix tied a record 47 (originally set by CBS) with a total of 44 Emmys across creative arts and mainstream television. This included sweeping the top categories of drama with “The Crown,” which not broadcast during this year’s eligibility period.
HBO was the network’s most honored in 2019 and 2020, having tied up with Netflix the year before that.
The show began with tributes to TV songs, and a standing ovation to Oprah Winfrey, who presented the first award of the night.
After record-low records in 2020 with a virtual party, the Emmys’ viewership rebounded last year to an estimated 7.4 million viewers — still low by historical standards, but a marked improvement over the past two years.
Linear TV ratings have declined overall, and the Emmys are believed to have been influenced by the nomination of fewer widely popular shows as broadcasting took over the awards contest.
Television rights for the Emmys alternate between the four major broadcast networks. This year’s show has moved from its regular Sunday broadcasts as it airs on NBC, which has “Sunday Night Football.”