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American actress Jean Smart claimed her fifth Primetime Emmy Award on Monday for her role as a tenacious stand-up comic in “Hacks,” making history as the first performer to win best comedy actress for every season of a show’s run.
“What a ride this has been!” Smart told the audience as she accepted the award for the HBO Max series’ final season.
Meanwhile, Noah Wyle secured his second consecutive Emmy for portraying a traumatised emergency room physician on “The Pitt,” describing the honour as “overwhelming” and adding, “This is the only club I’ve ever wanted to join. Thank you for accepting me.”
The ceremony delivered several notable surprises and first-time triumphs across major categories.
Stephen Root of “Widow’s Bay” pulled off an upset over favourite Harrison Ford to win best supporting actor in a comedy.
Rhea Seehorn captured her first Emmy for best drama actress for her role in Apple TV’s “Pluribus,” taking a moment to honour her fellow nominees with a quote from the late feminist activist Gloria Steinem: “We are linked, not ranked. I feel that way about all you women.”
“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” star Mariska Hargitay hosted the NBC live broadcast, breaking the traditional mould of hiring a comedian as emcee.
“It’s a lot of pressure, but it is so reassuring to see so many familiar faces out there, and I’m not just talking about how many of you I’ve arrested on SVU,” Hargitay joked to the audience.
The evening offered the television industry a brief celebration amidst ongoing sector anxiety over production cutbacks, artificial intelligence, and corporate media mergers.
