TV’s biggest night was a mix of predictable wins and a few surprises.
The 2024 Emmys are officially the second ceremony to be held this year, as the 2023 ceremony runs from September to January after last summer’s actor and writer strike ends.
Father-son duo and “Schitt’s Creek” stars Dan and Eugene Levy prepare for the night, broadcast live on ABC (8 p.m. ET), Saturday, September 15 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
This year’s crop of nominated shows includes “Baby Reindeer,” “The Bear,” “The Crown,” “Fallout,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Abbott Elementary” and “Fallout.”
Nominated stars include Jeremy Allen White, Quinta Brunson, Ayo Edebiri, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Jon Hamm, Larry David and “Baby Reindeer” star Richard Gadd.
Here are all the best and worst moments from the 2024 Emmys.
Best – Eugene and Dan Levy roast ‘The Bear’
During the opening monologue, which is both unsettling and heartwarming, Eugene and Dan Levy get a great zinger on “The Bear.”
Now in Season 3, the FX/Hulu series continues to dominate the Emmys and Golden Globes in the comedy category despite being a workplace drama with themes of suicide, depression, divorce and death, and featuring characters who are constantly stressed.
“‘The Bear’ is nominated for 23 Emmys tonight, making it the most nominated comedy in history,” Eugene said during the monologue.
“Now I love the show, and I know some of you might be expecting us to make a joke about whether ‘The Bear’ is really a comedy… ,” he joked.
Best – Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenney ceverything Meryl Streep is “jockstrap”
The real-life couple and co-star of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” presented the category for Supporting Actress in a Comedy.
After McElhenney spoke of the show “holding everything together and showing significant support,” Olson said, “What you’re describing is like a jockstrap.”
McElhenney protested that he didn’t think it was true. As she continues to speak and begins to describe how “the whole package falls apart” without this supporting role, she pauses and admits that her husband is right.
Olson said, “What do you call Meryl Streep a jockstrap? Do you call Carol Burnett a jockstrap?”
This is a fun way to give an award; it does not drag on too long – and shows off his comedy chops (showing how stupid it is “It’s Always Sunny” has never been nominated).
Worst – Jeremy Allen White wins for “The Bear”
Jeremy Allen White is a talented actor, and his performance in “The Bear” is good. However, it is absurd that he has swept the award in the “comedy” category for this role. This year especially, it is particularly egregious, because there are many worthy comedy actors are also up for awards, including Matt Berry for “What We Do in the Shadows.” It was also Larry David’s last chance to win for “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai’s last chance to win for his stellar work in “Reservation Dogs.”
Not White’s fault. But at this point, it doesn’t make sense that his win shuts down a comedic actor who deserves credit for an actual comedic role.
Best – Liza Colón-Zayas makes Emmys history
This is one “The Bear” victory that is worth it. Liza Colón-Zayas, who won the Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy, made Emmy history as the first Latina to win in that category.
“Thank you to my husband, David Zayas,” she began, referring to her actor husband, best known for “Dexter.”
Looking emotional, she added, “They told me to write a speech and I didn’t, because I didn’t think it was possible. How could I think that it was possible to be in the presence of Meryl Streep and Carol Burnett and Janelle and Sheryl Lee Ralph?
Best – Jessica Gunning won for “Baby Reindeer”
First-time nominee and first-time winner Gunning, 38, took home the trophy for Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her dramatic role in “Baby Reindeer,” in which she played a stalker.
She appeared emotional as she thanked star and creator Richard Gadd for “trusting me to be your Martha.” During his speech, Gunning said he had “tried several times to” tell me what he did on the show.
But because he couldn’t find the words, “I’ll sing!” He quickly clarified that he was joking, earning a laugh from the crowd. It’s a perfect mix of heartfelt and funny, with the result of shining the spotlight on a new star.
Best – John Oliver’s rambling speech
After John Oliver won for the best scripted variety series for “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver,” he soon lost control of his acceptance speech with funny results.
He thanked the family, saying, “I want to thank my wife and my husband – Hudson,” only to interrupt himself, correcting the flub, “His name is Hudson,” referring to his son. The comedian took the opportunity to make a joke at his own expense, saying, “Oh, it’s going to come back to haunt me!”
He later admitted to having to put down the beloved family dog. As playoff music started in the background, he said, “F – – k you, I feel like Sarah McLachlan right now,” joking about the famous ASPCA ad, before begging, “Play me now!”
Best – “SNL” roast star Lorne Michaels
“SNL” stars Maya Rudolph, Seth Meyers, Bowen Yang and Kristen Wiig came out to honor their writing for the variety special. Immediately, they started interrupting and talking over each other.
“We heard that our dear friend, our mentor, Lorne Michaels, had been nominated and lost the 85th Emmy,” Wiig said. “He never won.”
Rudolph jumps at Michaels: “Every 85 times you lose, you’re robbed. You hear me! Robbed!”
Meyers then corrected everyone, explaining that the creator of “SNL” has won 21 Emmys — and the show has brought home more than 200. So, nothing he said was true.
“What? 200? Too much,” Wiig said, as her co-stars “turned on” Michaels.
The whole thing is a bit funny.
The worst – Ebon Moss-Bachrach commercial in the middle of the ceremony
“The Bear” star Ebon Moss-Bachrach and “Red White and Royal Blue” star Taylor Zakhar Perez do one of their nonsensical sketches. In it, the two met “backstage” at a bar when Moss-Bachrach assured Zakhar Perez that they were drinking at the Emmys. “The Bear” star also asked the bartender for information about the drink. It felt like a commercial for whiskey, and it turned out to be. Talk about cringe.
Moss-Bachrach is an Emmy-winning actor; this is rude!
The actor (and the Emmys) are on top. Skip ads to commercial breaks. Two actors then came out on stage and commented, “That’s good.” No, no.
Worst – The Emmys drew attention to how they ignored Greg Berlanti
The super producer, known for shows such as “Dawson’s Creek,” “Riverdale,” “You,” “Supergirl,” “The Flight Attendant” and “Superman & Lois,” was given the Governor’s Award in recognition of his significant influence on TV.
Berlanti gave a great speech about how he went from being a “scared” gay kid when he was young to telling LGBTQ+ stories on TV as an adult. It was a heartwarming speech, and the award was well-deserved because he’s the lead of the show — but the moment also brought attention to the fact that the majority of his shows have been shut out of the Emmys. Many of them air on The CW or are aimed at teenagers. The Emmys show no love to those types of shows. Awkward.
Best – Jodie Foster won her first Emmy
Foster, 61, took home the trophy for Best Actress in a Limited Series for her lead performance in “True Detective: Night Country.”
Although Foster is a Hollywood legend, this is her first Emmy win. It shows that it’s never too late, and even industry icons still get their “firsts.”
During her acceptance speech, the “Silence of the Lambs” actress thanked her husband and sons and said, “This was an incredibly emotional moment for me because ‘True Detective’ was a magical experience.”
The “Contact” actress thanked the “indigenous people of northern Alaska.” He said, “He told his story,” saying the experience was “deep and beautiful and older than this place and now. It’s just a message, that love and work are equal to art.