Best Drama SeriesWinner - Heated Rivalry
Runners Up - Alien: Earth, The Diplomat, The Pitt, Pluribus
Commentary - Maybe I really do just love Heated Rivalry because its so damn hot? I think that is why it gained so much notoriety. Or maybe I like it because it is so nice to see this level of gay romance to get such traction? Or maybe, once you get past all of the sex, you recognize a surprisingly deep show about the fear of coming out, the romance that can come from the most surprising of places, the impact of family, and fact that true love can exist no matter what. Heated Rivalry is a phenomenon, but more importantly, it was actually a really great show, with great performances, and it deserves the praise, accolades, and buzz it has received.
Best Comedy Series
Winner - Widow's Bay
Runner Up - The Comeback, Hacks, Shrinking
Commentary - I loved the final season of Hacks, but I have been there done that in this category a few times. The Comeback was just as good as ever. But dare I say, I am hopping on the Widow's Bay bandwagon. I don't love horror, but this spooky mix of mystery and laugh-out-loud humor, combined with an incredible cast, make it an irresistible new comedy, that is so worth watching.
Best Actor in a Drama Series
Winners - (TIE) Connor Storrie "Heated Rivalry" and Hudson Williams "Heated Rivalry"
Runners Up - Sterling K. Brown "Paradise", Gary Oldman "Slow Horses", Noah Wyle "The Pitt"
Commentary - At the heart of Heated Rivalry, is the kinetic, hot, awkward, and eventually swooning chemistry between Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams. Their magnetism, surprising depth, and often witty banter, make Heated Rivarly the success that it has become.
Best Actress in a Drama Series
Winner - Rhea Seehorn "Pluribus"
Runners Up - Keri Russell "The Diplomat", Marisa Abela "Industry", Myha'la Herrold "Industry"
Commentary - Rhea Seehorn is so good in Pluribus, a fantastic reunion with Vince Gill. It is so nice to see her get this big leading role, and get the chance to truly show her leading star quality. I hope Emmy voters finally recognize this fantastic and under-rewarded talent.
Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Winner - Matthew Rhys "Widow's Bay"
Runners Up - Tim Robinson "The Chair Company", Jason Segal "Shrinking"
Commentary - Matthew Rhys showcases his comedic chops in Widow's Bay, perfectly blending the weird, the humorous, and the horrific.
Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Winners - Jean Smart "Hacks"
Runners Up - Lisa Kudrow "The Comeback", Quinta Brunson "Abbott Elementary", Elle Fanning "Margo's Got Money Troubles"
Commentary - One last time for the queen.
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Winner - Patrick Ball "The Pitt"
Runners Up - Gerran Howell "The Pitt", Tom Pelphrey "Task", Carlos-Manuel Vesga "Pluribus"
Commentary - Patrick Ball's turn on The Pitt was so good in Season 1, but he continued to build on the trauma, the arrogance, and the surprise vulnerability in Season 2, making him a standout in a standout cast.
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Winner - Katherine LaNasa "The Pitt"
Runners Up - Isa Briones "The Pitt", Taylor Deardren "The Pitt", Supriya Ganesh "The Pitt", Karolina Wydra "Pluribus"
Commentary - One of my favorite Emmy wins last year was Katherine LaNasa, a hardworking actor who finally got their due on one of the biggest stages. Her character Dana is not often given the biggest moments, or the flashiest cases. She is instead, the often quiet, always caring heartbeat of The Pitt, whose presence is always felt. That is the mark of an incredible actor and incredible performance, and what a worthy career recognition.
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Winner - Harrison Ford "Shrinking"
Runners Up - Paul W. Downs "Hacks", Nick Offerman "Margo's Got Money Troubles", Michael Urie "Shrinking"
Commentary - Harrison Ford is a living legend. And yet, despite that status, he is not actually a frequent winner of awards. He is so good in Shrinking, droll, funny, and a commanding movie-star presence that is hard to forget.
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Winner - (TIE) Kate O'Flynn "Widow's Bay" AND Megan Stalter "Hacks"
Runners Up - Dale Dickey "Widow's Bay", Hannah Einbinder "Hacks", Michelle Pfeiffer "Margot's Got Money Troubles"
Commentary - Okay, so obviously Kate O'Flynn's star turn in Widow's Bay is getting a lot of deserving headlines. She is so good, and so funny, and commands the screen against bigger stars. But Meg Stalter has been doing that on Hacks for years. I hate that when she finally gets her well-deserved Emmy nod, that she is up against another jaw-dropping breakthrough performance. Both are worthy, incredible performers, who I can't wait to see what they do next.
Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Winner - Ernest Harden Jr. "The Pitt"
Runners Up - Jeff Hiller "Pluribus", Jeff Kober "The Pitt", Eric Dane "Euphoria"
Commentary - One of the best Emmy wins at the Creative Arts Emmys was the legendary Ernest Harden Jr. finally getting recognition after decades in the business. Not only did he give a warm and memorable performance, but we got to celebrate one of the best at last.
Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Winner - Shailene Woodley "Paradise"
Runners Up - Brittany Allen "The Pitt", Tal Anderson "The Pitt", Mirian Shor "Pluribus"
Commentary - An incredible turn that in the old tape system would have easily won an Emmy. Luckily it is clear that voters watched the show, and agreed even in a more populist voting with bigger shows.
Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Winner - Rob Reiner "The Bear"
Runners Up - Michael J. Fox "Shrinking", Hamlish Linklater "Widow's Bay", Connor Storie "Saturday Night Live"
Commentary - We lost a legend. The Bear was a great turn for him, but most importantly, a final reminder of one of the best.
Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Winner - Kaitlin Olson "Hacks"
Runners Up - Betty Gilpin "Widow's Bay", Cherry Jones "Hacks", Leslie Bibb "Hacks"
Commentary - Kaitlin Olson's Hacks character is such a pivotal part of Deborah's story. She is always the wrench, the thing that can throw off even the diva of divas. That is a testament to Olson's ability to command the screen, and build a flawed, yet funny and emotionally connected character that has been a a key to the success of this legendary series.
Best Directing in a Drama Series
Winner - Andy Muschietti "It: Welcome to Derry - The Black Spot"
Runners Up - Noah Hawley "Alien: Earth - In Space, No One...", Noah Wyle "The Pitt - 12:00 P.M.", Vince Gilligan "Pluribus - We is Us", The Duffer Brothers "Stranger Things - Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up"
Commentary - Okay, so I struggled it It: Welcome to Derry, cause I don't do horror. This episode left me with nightmares, but it was also so brilliantly constructed, that it was jaw-dropping. When you can't stop thinking about it (and not just cause it haunts your dreams), that is the sign of something special.
Best Writing in a Drama Series
Winner - Jacob Tierney "Heated Rivalry - The Cottage"
Runners Up - Jason Fuchs and Brad Kane "It: Welcome to Derry - The Black Spot", Valerie Chu and Mel Herbert "The Pitt - 12:00 P.M."
Commentary - The episode that made me cry. It was so beautiful, and so magical, and a fitting end to a series whose depth surpassed expectations.
Best Directing in a Comedy Series
Winner - Hiro Murai "Widow's Bay - Welcome To Widow's Bay!"
Runners Up - Christopher Storer "The Bear - Bears", Michael Patrick King "The Comeback - Valerie Faces Reality", Lucia Aniello "Hacks - Hacks (Finale)"
Commentary - Hiro is a master of his craft, and his work in the Pilot of Widow's Bay is yet another extraordinary showcase of his talent.
Best Writing in a Comedy Series
Winner - Michael Patrick King and Lisa Kudrow "The Comeback - Valerie Does It All"
Runners Up - Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky "Hacks - Hacks (Finale)", Katie Dippold, Alberto Roldán, and David B. Harris "Widow's Bay - Welcome To Widow's Bay!"
Commentary - The Comeback is hard to watch sometimes, but that is because King and Kudrow have needled their audiences, hit their vulnerable points, and pushed the cringe to a new level of dark comedy that is brilliant.
Best Limited Series
Winner - DTF St. Louis
Runner Up - Beast, The Beast in Me
Commentary - DTF St Louis is an unhinged, darkly comedic exploration of relationships, that also has an incredible dose of poignance. The writing is so sharp and on point, the directing illuminates, and its cast is jaw-dropping. In particular, the incredible turns from now-Emmy winners David Harbor and Linda Cardellini, anchor, center, and explode on the screen in a way that makes you not want to stop watching.
Best Television Movie
Winner - Remarkably Bright Creatures
Runners Up - People We Meet on Vacation
Commentary - Remarkably Bright Creatures didn't quite hit the emotional pull of its source material, but led by the legendary Sally Field, it was still am emotionally deep look at love, family, and loss.
Best Actor in a Limited Series or Television Movie
Winner - Oscar Isaac "Beef"
Runners Up - Riz Ahmed "Bait", Lewis Pullman "Remarkably Bright Creatures", Matthew Rhys "The Beast in Me"
Commentary - For all of the love I have for DTF St. Louis, I want to note that Beef's second anthology was also quite a fantastic series. Led by two magnetic performances from veterans Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan whose chemistry and embrace of the material continues to expand their repertoire range of talent.
Best Actress in a Limited Series or Television Movie
Winner - Carey Mulligan "Beef"
Runners Up - Sally Field "Remarkably Bright Creatures", Sarah Pigeon "Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette", Sarah Snook "All Her Fault"
Commentary - See Best Actor above.
Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Television Movie
Winner - David Harbour "DTF St. Louis"
Runners Up - Richard Gadd "Half Man", Charles Melton "Beef"
Commentary - See Best Limited Series
Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Television Movie
Winner - Linda Cardellini "DTF St. Louis"
Runners Up - Laurie Metcalf "Monster: The Ed Gein Story", Cailee Spaeny "Beef", Yuh-Jung Youn "Beef"
Commentary - See Best Limited Series
Best Directing in a Limited Series or Television Movie
Winner - Steven Conrad "DTF St. Louis"
Runners Up - Lee Sung Jin "Beef - Oh, The Comfort, The Inexpressible Comfort"
Commentary - See Best Limited Series
Best Writing in a Limited Series or Television Movie
Winner - Steve Conrad "DTF St. Louis"
Runners Up - Lee Sung Jin, Niko Gutierrez-Kovner, and Jonnie Park "Beef - All The Things We're Never Going To Have", Richard Gadd "Half Man"
Commentary - See Best Limited Series
Best Variety Series
Winner - The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Runners Up - The Daily Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Commentary - The legend ends up on top. We will miss his voice in late night. But my guess is that he is not giving up, and neither should you.
Best Variety Special
Winner - (TIE) The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny AND The Muppet Show
Runners Up - 83rd Annual Golden Globes, Wanda Sykes: Legacy
Commentary - The Halftime Show is for the haters. It was so much fun. So was The Muppet Show, a great return to a well-used property, that was bright, fun, and worthy a watch.
Best Directing in a Variety Series or Special
Winner - Hamish Hamilton "The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny"
Runners Up - Micah Bickman "Good Night, And Good Luck On Broadway", Yvonne De Mare "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert - The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Series Finale", Alex Timbers "The Muppet Show"
Commentary - See Best Variety Special
Best Writing in a Variety Series or Special
Winner - Albertina Rizzo, Gabe Liedman, Nedaa Sweiss, Kelly Younger, Andrew Williams "The Muppet Show"
Runners Up - The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Daily Show, Nikki Glaser "Nikki Glaser: Good Girl"
Commentary - See Best Variety Special
Best Animated Series
Winner - King of the Hill
Runners Up - Rick & Morty, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord
Commentary - I loved the return of a childhood favorite, Kind of the Hill. It still had that same rhythm, humor, and the characters, who might have aged, have never actually gotten old.
