Best Drama Series
Winner - (TIE) The Pitt and Severance
Runners Up - Andor, The Diplomat, Heartstopper, Industry, and The White Lotus
Commentary - What a year for this category after some less than stellar years. I could not choose between these two, so I picked both! My party, my rules. Severance raised the bar in its second season as it just continued to be provocative, heartbreaking, beautifully constructed, and unsettling to watch. The Pitt was such a welcomed surprise, leveling up the usual medical drama with superb acting, tense drama, and a surprise dose of humor and heartbreak. Both series prove that television is still in a golden age of greatness.
Best Comedy Series
Winner - Somebody Somewhere
Runners Up - Abbott Elementary, Hacks, Mid-Century Modern, Overcompensating
Commentary - After three glorious seasons, Somebody Somewhere finally won an Emmy, a well overdue recognition for one of its stars Jeff Hiller (See Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series below). This series could have had 12 seasons and probably never got old, but something is poignant about its short journey. Somebody Somewhere is a snapshot of life. Regular people living in a regular place doing regular things. They deal with change, heartbreak, family loss, health issues, marriage, divorce, friendship, and work. It is a slice of life of a band of misfits who found family and love in unexpected places, whose flawed humanity showed us the darkness and the light of even the smallest moments in life. One minute you were laughing so hard you thought you were going to pee, the next moment you are bawling your eyes out, then in just the right moments you are grinning ear to ear with goosebumps because your favorite characters are finally feeling joy. A beautiful series that everyone, no matter who you are, needs to see. Congrats to the whole team for this quietly stunning achievement.
Best Actor in a Drama Series
Winner - Noah Wyle "The Pitt"
Runners Up - Sterling K. Brown "Paradise", Gary Oldman "Slow Horses", Adam Scott "Severance"
Commentary - One of my favorite moments at the Emmys was seeing the great Noah Wyle finally win an Emmy after decades in the television game. He is the true star of The Pitt, balancing an aged and gruff exterior, with a leading charisma that has never faded. Thank you to the folks behind The Pitt for finally giving him the vehicle to get him the due he has long deserved.
Best Actress in a Drama Series
Winner - Kathy Bates "Matlock"
Runners Up - Sharon Horgan "Bad Sisters", Britt Lower "Severance", Keri Russell "The Diplomat"
Winner - Kathy Bates return to TV as the incomparable Matlock could have been another CBS procedural with low chemistry, cheesy plots, and eye rolling twist. Matlock was such so refreshing, as by the end of the its first episode you already know this was not your normal legal procedural. At its heart is a phenomenal performance from one of our greats, Kathy Bates. She balances out her two personas perfectly, is charming, witty, emotionally wrought, and is the soul that keeps the show fresh and entertaining. So happy to have her back on our television screens.
Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Winner - Benito Skinner "Overcompensating"
Runners Up - Adam Brody "Nobody Wants This", John Goodman "The Righteous Gemstones", Martin Short "Only Murders in the Building"
Commentary - Benito Skinner's irreverent, funny, and timely humor are the center of the breakthrough series Overcompensating. His anxiety, and his charisma center the show's narrative which showcases a new television star to watch out for moving forward.
Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Winner - Edi Patterson "The Righteous Gemstones"
Runners Up - Quinta Brunson "Abbott Elementary", Bridget Everett "Somebody Somewhere", Jean Smart "Hacks"
Commentary - The Righteous Gemstones is one of the raunchiest, most ridiculous comedy series of the last several years, but it also has a sly, and surprising brilliance to its chaos. The men that starred in the series were all great. They were the bigger names, and at first, they probably had the better scenes. But by the end of the series, I know I just wanted to see more of Judy on my screen. That was because of the outrageous talent, jaw-dropping ferocity, and hilarity of the amazing Edi Patterson. I can't wait to see what she does next.
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Winner - Tramell Tillman "Severance"
Runners Up - Zach Cherry "Severance", Walton Goggins "The White Lotus", James Marsden "Paradise", Sam Nivola "The White Lotus", Sam Rockwell "The White Lotus",
Winner - Tramell Tillman became the first black actor to ever win this award at the Emmy Awards last weekend. First, it was a great moment that was long overdue. Second, he was so deserving. As the season of Severance was unfolding, audiences and critics took notice of this great veteran actor, over the series bigger names. They kept saying, "he is the character to watch". They were right, and the buzz grew into an organic campaign to reward the best, not the biggest name, the best. I'm glad the campaign paid off.
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Winner - Carrie Coon "The White Lotus"
Runners Up - Patricia Arquette "Severance", Parker Posey "The White Lotus", Aimee Lou Wood "The White Lotus"
Commentary - Carrie Coon's character in The White Lotus had one of the most fascinating journeys throughout the season, especially when playing off of her co-stars Leslie Bibb and Michelle Monaghan. The slow burn of her character leading to an explosive finale could have been over-wrought, to quick of a shift, and maybe just a little unbelievable. But by the time the finale rolled around you truly understood and felt her character's whole journey. That is a testament to Carrie Coon, one of our finest, underrated, and versatile modern performers.
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Winner - Jeff Hiller "Somebody Somewhere"
Runners Up - Ike Barinholtz "The Studio", Paul W. Downs "Hacks", Harrison Ford "Shrinking", Michael Urie "Shrinking"
Commentary - I was literally screaming at the television in pure joy when Jeff Hiller shocked everyone with a well-deserved Emmy win. In the show's finale season, we really see Joel step into his character, navigate what he really wants in life, and showcase a humor, grace, and sadness that was such a pivotal part of the shows brilliant success.
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Winner - Liza Colon-Zayas "The Bear"
Runners Up - Hannah Einbinder "Hacks", Linda Lavin "Mid-Century Modern", Meg Stalter "Hacks"
Commentary - Liza Colon-Zayas remains one of the brightest lights of The Bear even though the show has not so slowly declined in quality. She is just one of those characters and performances that lights up every scene she is in, without, at least it seems like without much effort. She is such a heart and soul of that great cast, and I'm so glad she has gotten her flowers in recent years.
Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Winner - Shawn Hatosy "The Pitt"
Runners Up - Ben Mendelsohn "Andor", Jeffrey Wright "The Last of Us"
Commentary - Such a deserving win for veteran Shawn Hatosy, whose guest performance on The Pitt was riveting, brilliantly constructed, and pivotal to the plot.
Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Winner - Kaitlyn Dever "The Last of Us"
Runners Up - Gwendoline Christie "Severance", Catherine O'Hara "The Last of Us", Stacie Greenwell "The Pitt"
Commentary - According to interviews, Dever filmed her heartbreaking turn in this season of The Last of Us during a personal tragedy. That is why her brilliant performance had such a huge does of authenticity as it lit up the screen.
Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Winner - Bryan Cranston "The Studio"
Runners Up - Jon Bernthal "The Bear", John Mulaney "Saturday Night Live"
Commentary - Of all of the beefed up guest performances on The Studio, Bryan Cranston's was the most lively and interesting.
Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Winner - Julianne Nicholson "Hacks"
Runners Up - Olivia Colman "The Bear", Robbie Hoffman "Hacks", Kaitlin Olson "Abbott Elementary" and Hacks"
Commentary - What a great Emmy win for Julianne Nicholson's whose guest turn in this season of Hacks was fantastic.
Best Directing in a Drama Series
Winner - Amanda Marsalis "The Pitt- 6:00 P.M."
Runners Up - Janus Metz "Andor - Who Are You?", Ben Stiller "Severance - Cold Harbor"
Commentary - The Pitt's gritty tension is the sign of a fantastic directing. The 6:00 p.m. episode in particular was a fantastic showcase of Marsalis' skill.
Best Writing in a Drama Series
Winner - Dan Erickson "Severance - Cold Harbor"
Runners Up - Dan Gilroy and Tony Gilroy "Andor - Welcome to the Rebellion", Joe Sachs "The Pitt - 2:00 P.M.", Mike White "The White Lotus - Full-Moon Party"
Commentary - Severance is just so clever and has so much depth. The brilliant writing Cold Harbor is a masterclass in storytelling.
Best Directing in a Comedy Series
Winner - Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg "The Studio - The Oner"
Runners Up - Randall Einhorn "Abbott Elementary - Please Touch Museum", Lucia Aniello "Hacks - A Slippery Slope", Lennon Parham "Somebody Somewhere - AGG"
Commentary - This episode of The Studio has some fancy and fun directing tricks and cool shots that are fantastic to watch.
Best Writing in a Comedy Series
Winner - Hannah Bos, Paul Thureen, Bridget Everett "Somebody Somewhere - AGG"
Runners Up - Quinta Brunson "Abbott Elementary - Back to School", Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky "Hacks - A Slippery Slope",
Commentary - See Best Comedy Series.
Best Limited Series
Winner - Adolescence
Runners Up - Dying for Sex, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, The Penguin
Commentary - What an amazing and haunting limited series that explores the unthinkable. From its brilliant cast, to its haunting story, to is brilliant one-shot direction of each episode, Adolescence is one that we will not forget anytime soon.
Best Television Movie
Winner - Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Runner Up - Rebel Ridge
Commentary - Rebel Ridge was an emotionally effective drama, but the triumphant return to Bridget Jones' world was too fun to pass up rewarding.
Best Actor in a Limited Series/TV Movie
Winner - Colin Farrell "The Penguin"
Runner Up - Paul Giamatti "Black Mirror", Brian Tyree Henry "Dope Thief", Cooper Koch "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story"
Commentary - Colin Farrell is not just great makeup in The Penguin. He perfectly embodies the the complexity and evil of a classic villain in a fantastic performance.
Best Actress in a Limited Series/TV Movie
Will Win - Cristin Milioti "The Penguin"
Runners Up - Rashida Jones "Black Mirror", Michelle Williams "Dying for Sex", Renee Zellweger "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy"
Commentary - Cristin Milioti has been cranking out great roles for years, and I so happy to finally see her get her due in a fantastic performance in The Penguin.
Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series/TV Movie
Winner - Owen Cooper "Adolescence"
Runners Up - Javier Bardem "Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story", Rob Delaney "Dying for Sex", Bill Camp "Presumed Innocent", Peter Saarsgard "Presumed Innocent"
Commentary - Wow. This kid has a future ahead of him. His slow-burning, terrifying performance was absolutely jaw-dropping.
Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series/TV Movie
Winner - Erin Doherty "Adolescence"
Runner Up - Jenny Slate "Dying for Sex"
Commentary - Erin Doherty's turn as a the psychologist watching the horrifying reveals happen in real time is a fantastic showcase for a great actress.
Best Directing in a Limited Series/TV Movie
Winner - Philip Barantini "Adolescence"
Runners Up - Michael Morris "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy", Jennifer Getzinger "The Penguin - A Great Or Little Thing", Paris Barclay "Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story - Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?"
Commentary - See Best Limited Series
Best Writing in a Limited Series/TV Movie
Winner - Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne "Adolescence"
Runners Up - Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock "Dying for Sex - Good Value Diet Soda", Lauren LaFranc "The Penguin - A Great or Little Thing"
Commentary - See Best Limited Series
Best Variety Series
Winner - The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Runners Up - Saturday Night Live, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, The Daily Show
Commentary - I genuinely hope that the cancellation of The Late Show was a financial decision, and not a bow to political pressures. We need voices like Colbert on the air, and his version of The Late Show is a vital American asset that will be sorely missed.
Best Variety Special
Winner - SNL50: The Anniversary Special
Runners Up - The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé Bowl, Conan O'Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize For American Humor
Commentary - It was messy, but it was everything we could have hoped for to celebrate half a century of one of the greatest shows of American television. A fun and wonderful celebration.
Best Directing in a Variety Series/Special
Winner - Liz Patrick "SNL50: The Anniversary Special"
Runners Up - Hamish Hamilton "The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar", Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Alex Rudzinski "Beyoncé Bowl", Marcus Raboy "Conan O'Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize For American Humor", Beth McCarthy Miller "SNL50: The Homecoming Concert"
Commentary - See Variety Special.
Best Writing in a Variety Series/Special
Winner - The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Runners Up - Conan O'Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize For American Humor, SNL50: The Anniversary Special
Commentary - See Variety Series.
Best Animated Series
Winner - Arcane
Runners Up - Big Mouth, Bob's Burgers, The Great North
Commentary - Arcane proves to still be a beautifully constructed, incredibly human, wildly inventive, and horrifyingly timely.
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