Claire Dodds — Eugene and Dan Levy Are a Hosting Powerhouse
The 76th Emmy Awards on Sept. 15 were a family affair after Eugene and Dan Levy took the stage as co-hosts. This was not the first time the father-son duo has worked together, as the pair are the masterminds behind the award-winning sitcom “Schitt’s Creek,” which ran for six seasons from 2015-2020. The comedic relief that the duo brought to the awards show was refreshing for many fans, as hosts in recent years have been labeled as anything from “stale” to downright flops.
Most notably disastrous was the performance of comedian Jo Koy at this year’s Golden Globes in January. His hosting was remarked as one of the worst the entertainment industry has seen after his jokes fell flat and the audience — both in-person and on-screen — was left unamused.
The Levys, on the other hand, brought a unique energy to the stage as two people who are not only comedians and performers but who know each other in a way that only a father and son can, a connection that shone throughout the night. Furthermore, their difference in age and perspectives made them fun to watch for all viewers, making the awards show even more accessible to fans. But, by far, the best part of their night of hosting was the way their jokes actually landed with the audience, combining their unique personalities and witty sarcasm with the feeling of intimacy that they brought to the ceremony that no other host could.
“It’s good to be back by your side,” Eugene Levy said to his son. “You know this is a very special night for me. I’ve played a lot of dads in my day. I was a dad in ‘American Pie.’ I was the dad in ‘Finding Dory,’ our show ‘Schitt’s Creek.’ But, without question, my most rewarding dad role ever has been being your dad…in ‘Schitt’s Creek.’ Because that got me my first acting Emmy.”
Olivia Miller — “The Bear” Wins 11 Trophies
A familiar favorite, “The Bear” follows a high-brow chef, Carmy, as he navigates life running his family’s unassuming sandwich shop after his brother commits suicide. The show is tense and focuses on the hectic and angry environment of Carmy’s kitchen. “The Bear” surpassed its own record for wins in a single comedy season, one-upping their 2023 ten-win sweep with an astonishing 11 awards.
Although “The Bear” lost Outstanding Comedy Series to “Hacks,” the rather serious show won plenty of other awards in the comedy category. Jeremy Allen White, who plays the tortured Carmy, won Lead Actor in a Comedy, and his co-stars Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Liza Colón-Zayas won Supporting Actor and Actress in a Comedy, respectively. Although they certainly deserved to be recognized for their enthralling performances, viewers felt that traditional comedy shows had been placed at an unfair disadvantage when compared to “The Bear,” which few would describe as light or laughable. Even hosts Dan and Eugene Levy noted the peculiar placement of “The Bear” in the Comedy category.
“Some of you might be expecting us to make a joke about whether ‘The Bear’ is really a comedy, but in the true spirit of ‘The Bear,’ we will not be making any jokes,” Eugene Levy said.
Joshua Repp — “Shōgun” the First Non-English Language Series to Win Outstanding Drama Series
The first season of “Shōgun” won 18 of its 25 nominations at the 2024 Emmys, a new record for the most awarded single season of television. It was notably the first non-English language series to win the Outstanding Drama Series award, and the second to be nominated for it after the Korean-language “Squid Game” during the 2022 Emmys.
The series is a piece of historical fiction, and follows English sailor John Blackthorne, Japanese daimyo Lord Toranaga and Lady Mariko. It was based on the 1975 novel of the same name by James Clavell.
The series was an unlikely success, as it made several “firsts” at the Emmys. Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai, for example, were the first Japanese actors to win Emmys. Executive producer Justin Marks thanked those who invested into the series despite its atypical characteristics.
“You guys greenlit a very expensive, subtitled Japanese period piece whose central climax is a poetry competition,” Marks said. “I have no idea why you did that.”
