Succession has done it again, taking home the night’s biggest prizes at the Emmys just a week after big wins at the Golden Globes.
The critically acclaimed series about a media mogul and his empire was named best drama, while Kieran Culkin and Sarah Snook, who play dysfunctional siblings Roman and Shiv Roy, took the prizes for best actor and actress respectively.
In the comedy categories, it was claustrophobic chef’s kitchen series The Bear that won the bulk of the awards, while road-rage comedy-drama Beef was the big winner in the limited series group.
Elsewhere, Sir Elton John was also among the winners for his televised live show – putting him in the exclusive EGOT club of stars who have won all four major entertainment awards in the US – an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and a Tony.
The Bear co-stars Jeremy Allen White (left) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach celebrated big wins for the comedy, as did Ali Wong (below) for Beef
Succession star Brian Cox, who plays fearsome patriarch Logan Roy and was also nominated in the best actor category, got a kiss on the lips from Culkin as his Emmys win was announced.
Jesse Armstrong, creator of the HBO/Sky Atlantic series, told the audience as the cast and crew accepted the best drama award: “Thank you to Brian Cox (who) this show was revolved around, whether he was in it or not.
“This is a show about family, but it also about when partisan news coverage gets intertwined with divisive right-wing politics – and after four season of satire, as I understand it that is a problem we have now fixed.”
The series also picked up the trophies for dramatic writing and directing, and best supporting actor for British star Matthew Macfadyen.
Matthew Macfadyen, who plays Tom Wambsgans in Succession, was named best supporting actor in the drama category, while The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri took home the best supporting actress in a comedy prize. Pic: Phil McCarten/Invision/AP
Celebrating the best in television at a ceremony in LA on Monday night, the 2023 ceremony had been pushed back from September due to the US actors’ and writers’ strikes.
The Bear was named best comedy series for its first season, with stars Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Ayo Edebiri winning the awards for lead actor, supporting actor and supporting actress respectively.
The show follows White’s fine-dining chef Carmy as he tries to turn around his family’s Chicago sandwich shop.
“Thank you for believing in me when I had trouble believing in myself,” said White as he accepted his prize, while Edebiri said: “This is a show about family and found family and real family, and my parents are here tonight – I’m making them sit kind of far away from me because I’m a bad kid.
“I love you guys so much, thank you for loving me and letting me feel beautiful and black and proud of all of that.”
Like Succession, The Bear also won awards for writing and directing.
Abbott Elementary star Quinta Brunson was named best actress in a comedy for her portrayal of an optimistic teacher in the show that she created, becoming teary as she was presented the award by industry legend Carol Burnett.
“I don’t know why I’m so emotional – I think it’s the Carol Burnett of it all,” Brunson said. “I’m so happy to be able to live my dream.”
Jennifer Coolidge picked up her second prize for her performance in The White Lotus. Pic: AP/Chris Pizzello
Jennifer Coolidge took home her second supporting actress gong for her performance in The White Lotus, taking the opportunity to thank “all of the evil gays” – in reference to a line one the show about those involved in a murder plot against her character.
Road rage comedy-drama Beef was also a big winner, taking home the award for best limited series and scoring wins for stars Ali Wong and Steven Yeun in the acting categories and also for directing and writing.
Organisers used the milestone event – the 75th Emmys – to honour classic television shows with cast reunions.
Where everybody knows your name: Cheers and Grey’s Anatomy (below) were some of the series celebrated to mark 75 years of the Emmys
Host Anthony Anderson opened the ceremony with a choir singing theme songs, with Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker joining to play the drum solo from Phil Collins’s In the Air Tonight, a song that aired during a pivotal moment in 1980s hit Miami Vice.
Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, Rhea Perlman and other stars of Cheers gathered around a recreation of the iconic bar set, while Grey’s Anatomy actresses Katherine Heigl and Ellen Pompeo spoke from a hospital room set to present an award. Other series including The Sopranos, Game Of Thrones and Dynasty – with an appearance from Dame Joan Collins – were also celebrated.