Dan and Eugene Levy, famous for their hit series Schitt’s Creek, took centre stage as hosts of this year’s Emmys where FX’s Shogun and The Bear emerged as the big winners. Here are some of the special moments from the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, celebrating the best in television with humour, heartfelt speeches and standout performances.
The Levys rock the stage
Hosts Dan and Eugene Levy kicked off the show with plenty of laughs, with Eugene taking a playful jab at The Bear’s nomination in comedy categories: “In the true spirit of The Bear, we will not be making any jokes”. The night was filled with witty banter from the duo, including Dan quipping that the Emmys have become “broadcast TV’s biggest night for honouring movie stars on streaming services”. Eugene later confessed that his proudest dad role was playing Dan’s father in Schitt’s Creek, which won him his first acting Emmy.
Only Murders trio deliver a funny skit
The trio of Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez from Only Murders in the Building presented the first award and delivered laughs along the way. Gomez joked that Martin and Short were “this close to being childless cat ladies”. Steve Martin’s quick wit shone through as he teased Short with, “What an honour it is to be working with someone who looks like a former women’s tennis champion,” while Gomez struggled to keep a straight face.
Billy Crystal’s hilarious anecdotes
Comedian Billy Crystal made a splash while presenting the award for outstanding talk series. Crystal, who holds six Emmy wins, pulled out a diary chronicling his first appearances on the nominated shows. He hilariously recalled how Jon Stewart promised to grab dinner after The Daily Show, only for Crystal to be left waiting alone. His zinger about Stephen Colbert— “Brilliant guy, but I wonder if he’s ever seen himself naked”—had the audience roaring with laughter.
Tribute to the criminal justice system
The Emmys featured a tribute to TV’s criminal justice system, showcasing its two iconic elements: the cops and the lawyers. Representing the cops were Jimmy Smits from NYPD Blue, Niecy Nash-Betts of Reno 911! and Don Johnson from Miami Vice. The trio appeared onstage with a New York City police car serving as the backdrop. Smits humorously recalled dying in the first episode of Miami Vice and later in NYPD Blue. Viola Davis from How to Get Away with Murder, Gina Torres from Suits, and Christine Baranski of The Good Wife and The Good Fight represented the TV lawyers. Davis said, “Lawyers have seen every combination of the human condition.” Torres added, “In many ways, they strive to better that condition and uplift us all.”
Richard Gadd’s inspirational speech
Scottish comedian Richard Gadd swept the Emmys for his work on Baby Reindeer, earning accolades for both writing and acting. His acceptance speeches were packed with advice for youngsters. “10 years ago I was down and out, right? I never ever thought I would get my life together. I never ever thought I would rectify myself for what happened to me and get myself back on my feet again. And then here I am, just over a decade later, picking up one of the biggest writing awards on television,” Gadd said in his acceptance speech.
A West Wing reunion
In honour of the 25th anniversary of The West Wing, cast members Martin Sheen, Allison Janney, Dulé Hill, Richard Schiff, andJanel Moloney took the Emmys stage to give away the outstanding drama series award, which went to Shogun. They playfully noted how, in today’s political climate, the drama’s storylines could be pulled straight from the headlines.
TV doctors’ comedy moment
TV’s most famous fictional doctors also took the stage and delivered some of the night’s best laughs. Mekhi Phifer shared how real doctors inspired his ER character, while Mindy Kaling, who played a doctor on The Mindy Project, found motivation from her real-life OB-GYN mom. Zach Braff, however, hilariously revealed his inspiration came from working as a waiter in Beverly Hills and eating footlong subs from 7-Eleven: “I was inspired to not live like that anymore.”
Greg Berlanti bats for diversity
Writer, director, and producer Greg Berlanti reflected on his personal journey and deep connection with television while accepting the 2024 Governors Award at the Emmy Awards. In his heartfelt speech, the 52-year-old showrunner shared how, as a closeted gay kid in the 1970s and 1980s, TV was his escape. "Our family had one colour TV, and I watched everything," he said. Lamenting the lack of LGBTQ+ representation at the time, Berlanti noted how shows like Dynasty, Dallas, and The Golden Girls offered him solace and hope.
Schitt’s Creek reunion
The night ended on a high note with a mini Schitt’s Creek reunion as Eugene and Dan Levy were joined by co-stars Catherine O’Hara and Annie Murphy. In a humorous skit, Murphy jokingly demanded the spotlight, only for Dan to announce that O’Hara would be presenting the final award of the night. Catherine playfully tore up the envelope with the winner’s name, claiming there shouldn’t be just one winner before finally announcing Hacks as the outstanding comedy series. The foursome closed the Emmys together, holding each other in a warm embrace.