An Emotional, Posthumous Win for a Legend
In one of the night's most poignant moments, the late Rob Reiner was awarded a posthumous Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy for his role in "The Bear". The audience at the Peacock Theater rose for a standing ovation. Reiner’s win came roughly
50 years after he won two Emmys for his iconic work on "All in the Family," adding a layer of historical significance to the emotional tribute.
Guest Stars Steal the Spotlight
The guest acting categories delivered some of the most exciting wins. Shailene Woodley took home her very first Emmy, winning Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Hulu's "Paradise". Betty Gilpin also scored her first-ever Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy for Apple TV+'s "Widow's Bay," after being nominated three times previously for "Glow". Ernest Harden Jr. won for his guest role on HBO Max's medical drama "The Pitt," marking a win on his first nomination.
Big Night for Limited Series Standouts
A few shows are heading into the Primetime Emmys with serious momentum. HBO Max's dark comedy "DTF St. Louis" had a great night, with both David Harbour and Linda Cardellini winning for their supporting roles in a limited series, both of them first-time winners. Apple TV's "Widow's Bay" also proved to be a powerhouse, picking up a slew of technical awards for cinematography, production design, and music, in addition to Gilpin's acting win.
Unscripted and Unstoppable
In the reality and unscripted space, a few familiar faces and one big surprise took home trophies. Alan Cumming won his third consecutive Emmy for hosting Peacock's hit competition show "The Traitors," which also racked up several other awards. Jimmy Kimmel won for hosting "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" And in a major upset, the long-running PBS series "Antiques Roadshow" won its first Emmy ever after 24 nominations. Meanwhile, Mariska Hargitay had a huge weekend, winning two Emmys for her documentary "My Mom Jayne" before she even takes the stage to host the main ceremony.
Technical Wins Hint at a 'Pitt' Domination
The show that entered the season with the most nominations, HBO Max's "The Pitt" (25 nods), began converting those into gold. Beyond Ernest Harden Jr.'s acting award, the series picked up several craft Emmys, including for casting, prosthetic makeup, and original music. These below-the-line wins often signal broad support for a series, suggesting "The Pitt" could be a major contender in the top categories at the main Primetime ceremony.
Animation and Variety Champions
"South Park" was named Outstanding Animated Program, beating a packed field that included "The Simpsons" and "Rick and Morty". In the variety categories, Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show was a massive winner, taking home seven Emmys, including for Outstanding Variety Special (Live). In a surprise, Disney's revival of "The Muppet Show" won for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded), beating out Taylor Swift's highly publicized "Eras Tour" special.
