Emmys 2020: Record-breaking wins and massive celebration of talent

The 72^nd Primetime Emmys concluded on Sunday in a virtual awards ceremony hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.

Kimmel, who previously hosted the 64^th and 68^th editions of the Emmys in 2012 and 2016, and returned for the third time, welcomed everyone to a ‘Pand-Emmys’. His opening monologue hailed the role of television as an antidote to loneliness in the present time. Reaction shots of a joyful audience comprising nominees and television stars were intercut with Kimmel’s monologue and the comic act ended with Kimmel revealing an empty auditorium with a few cardboard cut-outs of nominees.

This year’s Emmys saw some record-breaking wins. Norman Lear became the oldest Emmy Winner at the age of 98, while 24-year-old actor Zendaya created a record as the youngest winner of the Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series category. The latter won the award for her performance as Rue Bennett in HBO’s Euphoria. Zendaya is also the second black woman to win in the category. Viola Davis created history in 2015 as the first black woman to win the Best Lead Actress Emmy for her performance in How to Get Away with Murder.

Watchmen picked up the most Emmys with 11 wins in different categories, followed by Schitt’s Creek and Succession. HBO's Watchmen, a sci-fi fantasy series that dealt with racism and extremism, won the Outstanding Limited Series Emmy. Watchmen is the first comic book adaptation to bag the top award. The series was nominated in 26 categories. Regina King won the Best Actress in a Limited Series Emmy for her pivotal role as Angela Abar in Watchmen. In her acceptance speech, she stressed the importance of voting wisely.

CBC and POP TV’s Canadian comedy series Schitt’s Creek broke the record in the comedy categories. It won a staggering seven primetime Emmys including first wins for lead actors Catherine O Hara and Eugene Levy. The series dominated the category winning accolades for writing, directing, supporting actors, and overall comedy series. Schitt’s Creek catapulted to popularity after Netflix began streaming it in 2017. In an emotional acceptance speech, the creators of the show, father-son duo Eugene Levy and Daniel Levy expressed happiness over the acceptance gained by Schitt’s Creek, a series which was a ‘declaration of the power of love’. In his speech, Daniel Levy urged everyone to register for voting.

Succession won a total of seven Emmys including Best Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. The intense dramedy created by Jesse Armstrong follows a dysfunctional family and the desperate attempts of its heirs to secure the throne of their father’s vast media empire. Other nominees in the category included Better Call Saul, Killing Eve, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Crown, Ozark and Stranger Things. Jeremy Armstrong received the Best Lead Actor accolade for his performance as Kendall Roy in Succession.

Versatile director, actor and writer Tyler Perry was honoured with the Television Academy’s Governors Award.

Here is the list of Primetime Emmy winners:

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES

Schitt’s Creek

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

Regina King as Angel Abar in Watchmen

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

Mark Ruffalo as Dominik Birdsey/Thomas Birdsey in I Know This Much Is True

OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES

Watchmen (HBO)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy in HBO’s Succession

 OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

 Zendaya as Rue Bennett in HBO’s Euphoria

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

 Jesse Armstrong (Succession, This Is Not For Tears)

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

Andrij Parekh (Succession, Hunting)

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

Succession

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Billy Crudup as Cory Ellison in The Morning Show

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Julia Garner as Ruth Langmore in Ozark

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Eugene Levy as Johnny Rose in Schitt's Creek

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES

 Daniel Levy for Schitt's Creek, Happy Ending

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES

 Andrew Cividino and Daniel Levy for Schitt's Creek, Happy Ending

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Daniel Levy as David Rose in Schitt's Creek

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Annie Murphy as Alexis Rose in Schitt’s Creek