Best Drama Series
Winner - Shogun
Runners Up - The Curse, Heartstopper, Slow Horses
Commentary - The Curse was clever, Heartstopper is still adorable, and Slow Horses continues to get better. But no Drama Series quite matched the drama, the spectacle, and the quality of FX's Shogun. A remake from the 1980s, they had a lot to live up to, but they knocked it out the park with high quality technical aspects, beautiful scripts, and a fantastic cast. Can't wait till Season 2.
Best Comedy SeriesWinner - Hacks
Runners Up - Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Reservation Dogs
Commentary - I had such high hopes for Season 3 of Hacks, and it exceeded every single one of them. The cast was on point, the central struggle of Ava and Deborah continued to find new layers, and it continued to be one of the funniest, most heartfelt, and surprising television comedies. Then they went and announced a Season 4! It is going to be so great to see where this show goes wit ha great cliffhanger leaving us only wanting more.
Best Actor in a Drama Series
Winner - (TIE) Kit Connor "Heartstopper" and Joe Locke "Heartstopper"
Runners Up - Nathan Fielder "The Curse", Gary Oldman "Slow Horses", Hiroyuki Sanada "Shogun"
Commentary - Heartstopper's Season 2 proved that the first outing was not a fluke. At the center of this heartfelt drama is the Emmy-recognized pair of Kit Connor and Joe Locke. Their chemistry, their skill, and their heartfelt performances make Heartstopper sing.
Best Actress in a Drama Series
Winner - Anna Sawai "Shogun"
Runners Up - Jennifer Aniston "The Morning Show", Maya Erskine "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", Emma Stone "The Curse"
Commentary - Anna Sawai is subtly brilliant in Shogun, especially when her restraint is broken. She is quietly powerful, ever present, and has a ferocity of spirit that shines every time she appears on screen.
Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Winner - D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai "Reservation Dogs"
Runners Up - Matt Berry "What We Do in the Shadows", Kayvan Novak "What We Do in the
Commentary - My favorite nomination of 2024 is D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai. The center of this fantastic dramedy series is finally getting his laurels for his fierce, enigmatic, and commanding performance in Reservation Dogs. This show, and this performance, will be dearly missed.
Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Winner - Ayo Edibiri "The Bear"
Runners Up - Quinta Brunson "Abbott Elementary", Renee Elise Goldsberry "Girls5Eva", Devery Jacobs "Reservation Dogs", Jean Smart "Hacks"
Commentary - Ayo Edibiri's talent is just so fantastic, and in the well-received second season of The Bear, her jump to the lead up against Jeremy Allen White, showcased just how awkward, funny, and yet capable of drama depths she is as an actress. She is a worthy winner.
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Winner - Tadanobu Asano "Shogun"
Runners Up - Billy Crudup "The Morning Show", Takehiro Hira "Shogun", Jack Lowden "Slow Horses"
Commentary - Asano is the perfect supporting character, whose fealty to those in power provides for dramatic heft, and often some welcomed comedic relief. He is a clear standout in a magnificent cast.
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Winner - Elizabeth Debicki "The Crown"
Runners Up - Fumi Nikaido "Shogun", Greta Lee "The Morning Show", Karen Pittman "The Morning Show"
Commentary - The Crown's last two season lacked a bit of the punch that the first four had, but no one can deny that Elizabeth Debicki's portrayl of Princess Diana was jaw-droppingly good.
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Winner - (TIE) Paul W. Downs "Hacks" and Harvey Guillen "What We Do in the Shadows"
Runners Up - William Stanford Davis "Abbott Elementary", Ebon Moss-Bachrach "The Bear", Tyler James Williams "Abbott Elementary"
Commentary - Paul W. Downs had such a good season, balancing humor and heart. But with every subsequent season of What We Do in the Shadows, Harvey Guillen just radiates with humor and awkwardness. I couldn't decided between the two, so I rewarded both.
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Winner - Hannah Einbinder "Hacks"
Runners Up - Liza Colon-Zayas "The Bear", Janelle James "Abbott Elementary", Sheryl Lee Ralph "Abbott Elementary"
Commentary - Hannah Einbinder really is a co-lead, as she is one who really stands up and stands out against the great Jean Smart. Her humor, her emotion, her irreverence, and her pitch perfect chemistry with her co-stars really showed out in Season 3, and by the end, we can't to see not only happens with Deborah, but Ava's story is almost as compelling.
Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Winner - Nester Carbonell "Shogun"
Runners Up - John Turturro "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" and Jonathan Pryce "Slow Horses"
Commentary - Nester Carbonell has had an excellent career as a character actor, and his role in Shogun was fantastic. I am so happy to see him get some recognition with his Emmy win, and I hope we see more of his talent.
Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Winner - Michela Coel "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"
Runners Up - Sarah Paulson "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", Parkey Posey "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"
Commentary - Coel's character had an incredible bad-ass arch over the course of her guest performance, and I hope that they bring her back in the next season, because she only left us wanting more from her character.
Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Winner - Ryan Gosling "Saturday Night Live"
Runners Up - Jon Bernthal "The Bear", Christopher Lloyd "Hacks", Bob Odenkirk "The Bear", Will Poulter "The Bear"
Commentary - I loved so many of these nominees, but Ryan Gosling on SNL was just pitch-perfect funny, and a reminder of how good he is in these comedic roles.
Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Winner - Jamie Lee Curtis "The Bear"
Runners Up - Olivia Colman "The Bear", Kaitlin Olson "Hacks", Maya Rudolph "Saturday Night Live", Kristin Wiig "Saturday Night Live"
Commentary - So this role is not funny at, but in terms of pure performance, Jamie Lee Curtis is just jaw-droppingly good, and I am so happy that she won her first Emmy award.
Best Directing in a Drama Series
Winner - Frederick E.O. Toye "Shogun - Crimson Sky"
Runners Up - Stephen Daldry "The Crown - Sleep, Dearie Sleep", Nathan Fielder "The Curse - Green Queen", Mimi Leder "The Morning Show - The Overview Effect"
Commentary - Crimson Sky is a masterwork in top-notch direction, brilliantly blending the characters, the excellent technical aspects, and the story.
Best Directing in a Comedy Series
Winner - Christopher Storer "The Bear - Fishes"
Runners Up - Lucia Aniello "Hacks - Bulletproof", Sterlin Harjo "Reservation Dogs - Dig", Yana Gorskaya "What We Do in the Shadows - Urgent Care"
Commentary - Fishes is an incredible flashback episode, whose excellent direction really helped make it soar on screen.
Best Writing in a Drama Series
Winner - Francesca Sloane and Donald Glover "Mr. and Mrs. Smith - First Date"
Runners Up - Peter Morgan and Meriel Sheibani-Clare "The Crown - Ritz", Alice Oseman "Heartstopper - Perfect", Will Smith "Slow Horses - Negotiating with Tigers"
Commentary - The back and forth, the sharpness, and the tension that Sloane and Glover brought to the pilot of Mr. and Mrs. Smith showcases a masterclass in writing.
Best Writing in a Comedy Series
Winner - Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky "Hacks - Bulletproof"
Runners Up - Quinta Brunson "Abbott Elementary - Career Day", Christopher Storer and Joanna Calo "The Bear - Fishes", Devery Jacobs "Reservation Dogs - Elora's Dad"
Commentary - Bulletproof is emotional, incredible funny, tense, and moves the plot and the characters forward at warp speed. An incredible screenplay by Downs, Statsky, and Aniello.
Best Limited Series
Winner - (TIE) Baby Reindeer and True Detective: Night Country
Runners Up - Fellow Travelers, The Sympathizer,
Commentary - After a couple of down years, the Limited Series category really bounced back in 2023-2024. My favorite two (and I couldn't pick just one) were Baby Reindeer and Night Country. Baby Reindeer is a traumatic piece of storytelling that is funny and sad, compelling yet frightening, and is impeccably acted. Night Country is the best True Detective since the original, boosted by a new take with Issa Lopez, and a set of excellent performances led by Jodie Foster and Kali Reis. Both are fantastic, and elevate the form.
Best TV Movie
Winner - Red, White, and Royal Blue
Runner Up - The Great Lillian Hall
Commentary - My favorite of the year was Red, White, and Royal Blue. I loved the book, and was hopefully the filmmakers would capture is charm and humor. Sure it was cheesy, predictable, etc. It is a romantic comedy. But it is bursting with so much heart, love, and joy that you can't help but be swept up in this beautiful and needed story.
Best Actor in a TV Movie/Limited Series
Winner - (TIE) Nicholas Galitzine "Red, White, and Royal Blue" and Taylor Zakhar Perez "Red, White, and Royal Blue"
Runners Up - Richard Gadd "Baby Reindeer", Matt Bomer "Fellow Travelers", , Andrew Scott "Ripley"
Commentary - At the center of RWRB's charm is the dynamic pair of Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Zakhar Perez. Perez's exuberance and Galitzine's quiet determination are a perfect match and we immediately get swept up in their whirlwind romance.
Best Actress in a TV Movie/Limited Series
Winner - Jodie Foster "True Detective: Night Country"
Runners Up - Brie Larson "Lessons in Chemistry", Juno Temple "Fargo"
Commentary - I have really enjoyed the last year of the Jodie Foster Renaissance. In particular, I thought she was just jaw-dropping in Night Country. Her fierce determination to her role proves why she is one of the greats.
Best Supporting Actor in a TV Movie/Limited Series
Winner - Jonathan Bailey "Fellow Travelers"
Runners Up - Finn Bennett "True Detective: Night Country", Robert Downey Jr. "The Sympathizer", Lewis Pullman "Lessons in Chemistry"
Commentary - Bailey is a showstopper in a transformative role that is magnetic on screen.
Best Supporting Actress in a TV Movie/Limited Series
Winner - Jessica Gunning "Baby Reindeer"
Runners Up - Aja Naomi King "Lessons in Chemistry", Kali Reis "True Detective: Night Country", Sarah Shahi "Red, White, and Royal Blue"
Commentary - Gunning is terrifying in this role. Not outwardly terrifying, but a slow burn mix of innocence on the one hand and a compelling horror on the other. A worthy winner.
Best Directing in a Limited Series/TV Movie
Winner - Issa López "True Detective: Night Country"
Runners Up - Weronika Tofilska "Baby Reindeer - Episode 4", Lulu Wang "Expats", Matthew López "Red, White & Royal Blue"
Winner - True Detective is a visual treat, and its mix of horror, thriller, and emotional human drama blend beautifully on screen. Also, it is a huge departure from recent seasons, and a much needed facelift. That is because the talented Issa Lopez breathed incredible new life into a dying franchise, and made us all hooked on her gaze.
Best Writing in a Limited Series/TV Movie
Winner - Richard Gadd "Baby Reindeer"
Runners Up - Ron Nyswaner "Fellow Travelers - You're Wonderful", Issa Lopez "True Detective: Night Country - Part 6"
Commentary - Richard Gadd's work here is quite stunning, blending humor, real life trauma, horror, and intrigue in one of the most unique stories of the year.
Best Variety Series
Winner - The Daily Show
Runners Up - Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Saturday Night Live
Commentary - The return of Jon Stewart brought back some nostalgia to The Daily Show, and it was worth the return.
Best Variety Special
Winner - Dick Van Dyke 98 Years Of Magic
Runners Up - Alex Edelman: Just For Us, The Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Starring Usher, A Grammy Salute To 50 Years Of Hip Hop, The Oscars
Commentary - What a stunning, fun night, with a great direction, great moments, and a bittersweet, nostalgic look at one of our most iconic performers.
Best Directing of Variety Series/Special
Winner - Russell Norman "Dick Van Dyke 98 Years Of Magic"
Runners Up - Hamish Hamilton & Dontae Raymon Ivory "The Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Starring Usher", Marcelo Gama "A Grammy Salute To 50 Years Of Hip Hop", Hamish Hamilton "The Oscars", Liz Patrick - Saturday Night Live - Host: Ryan Gosling"
Commentary - See Best Variety Special
Best Writing in a Variety Series/Special
Winner - Alex Edelman "Alex Edelman: Just For Us"
Runners Up - The Daily Show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Saturday Night Live
Commentary - Alex Edelman's Just For Us was hilarious, heartfelt, and unique.
Best Animated Program
Winner - X-Men '97
Runners Up - Archer, Bob's Burgers, Star Wars: The Bad Batch
Commentary - I remember when I was sick as a kid, my mom or dad would take me to Shows to Go (this was before we got our Blockbuster), and I would rent VHS tapes of the original X-Men animated series. I loved that show, and wore out those tapes. To return to that world in Disney +'s X'Men '97 was going to be great no matter what, but the fact that it also perfectly captured the original series' brilliance and magic was nostalgic icing on the cake.
