'Shōgun' wins Best Drama, 'Hacks' takes home Best Comedy at 2024 Emmys

"Shōgun" made history at the 76th annual Primetime Emmys, as the first best drama winner with dialogue largely spoken in Japanese. In fact, no drama has ever won that wasn't spoken in English. ("Squid Game," in Korean, came closest in 2022.) Meanwhile, in the supreme surprise of a night without too many of those, Max's "Hacks" won as best comedy for the first time in three seasons.

'THE BEAR' WAS A BIG EARLY WINNER

The 76th Annual Emmy Awards began much as the 75th did — with a ringing endorsement of "The Bear," which won a trio of major acting awards, for Jeremy Allen White (best actor), Liza Colón-Zayas (supporting actress) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (supporting actor).

'BABY REINDEER'  WINS 4 EMMYS

It was also a big night for "Baby Reindeer," the hugely popular, but controversial Netflix miniseries about a London-based comic (Richard Gadd) and the woman who stalked him (Jessica Gunning). Both Gadd and Gunning won as actors in the anthology category, while "Reindeer" won as best anthology and Gadd took home another award for best writer.

JEAN SMART'S THREE-PEAT

And Jean Smart did what everyone at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles obviously expected she would do Sunday night — accept her third win as best actress in a comedy for "Hacks."

'SHOGUN' SCORES

 "Shogun" also won two other prestigious awards: Hiroyuki Sanada also won as best actor in a drama and Anna Sawai won for best actress. The 10-parter on FX/Hulu, based on the James Clavell novel about 17th century Japan, also yielded an Emmy winner in 1980 on NBC.

FATHER-AND-SON HOSTS

Meanwhile, father/son Eugene and Daniel Levy started the show with a wry, generational look at the awards they found themselves co-hosting for the first time. "I've played a lot of dads," said the dad. "But without question, my most rewarding dad role has been your dad in 'Schitt's Creek.' Because it got me my first Emmy."

SOME MORE MEMORABLE (AND NOT-SO) MOMENTS

These Emmys had a few twists, some successful — others not so much. There was an attempt at internationalism (the outstanding director for an anthology was announced in Spanish), and shout-outs to TV moms, dads, cops and lawyers. Prolific TV producer Greg Berlanti, who won the Governors Award, gave a stirring speech about diversity and acceptance — notably his own, as a gay showrunner in an industry that wasn't always so welcoming.

And Jimmy Kimmel gave a tribute to Bob Newhart (who died in July at the age of 94) — "a humble and politely hilarious man."

Those were fine, but a much-teased "Happy Days" reunion lasted all of a minute, with Ron Howard and Henry Winkler awkwardly throwing to "outstanding director for comedy." Another bit featured an in-show promotion for booze (Johnny Walker), which was also a sponsor of these Emmys. That may have been an Emmy first over 76 years.

Billy Crystal — better associated with the Oscars than the Emmys — also arrived Sunday to present outstanding variety talk series, and came up with a novel bit, by pulling out a tattered diary where he claimed to have recorded his recollections of appearances on various talk shows. The punchline: The various hosts at each of them had stood him up at dinner.

When looking at this year's Emmy nominees, you are also looking at this past January's to some degree. Sunday's 76th annual Primetime Awards are the spiritual cousin's to the 75th nominees — a dark, brooding lot, full of division, anxiety and despair.

And those were just the comedies. (Ba dum.)

Nevertheless, Hollywood's — or at least TV's — neuroses were on full display once again Sunday, set against the lead-up to two crippling strikes, dread over artificial intelligence and a streaming world gone mad.

But the Emmys had one final surprise for those remaining viewers who were still around at 11:05: "Hacks," a genuine comedy, won instead of "The Bear."