(Los Angeles) The Emmy Awards opened Sunday in Los Angeles, with the fresco on feudal Japan Shogun and its 25 nominations as a big favorite: it is widely expected to become the first non-English-language soap opera to win the award for best drama series.
“We didn’t even give out a single award tonight, and yet, Shogun has already made Emmy history,” said actor Daniel Levy, opening the 76the ceremony alongside his father Eugene.
Produced by Disney’s FX network, the series has won 14 awards in secondary categories even before Sunday’s ceremony. That’s already Shogun the most awarded drama series for a single season.
She added to her list of achievements with the award for best achievement, received during the second half of the ceremony.
The adaptation of James Clavell’s novel, a best-selling work from the 1970s that explores feudal power struggles in the Land of the Rising Sun, has been a hit in the United States despite its many subtitled dialogues.
Shogun is the second non-English soap opera nominated in the Best Drama Series category, after the South Korean series Squid Game two years ago.
In addition to the top award, actors Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai are also expected to be honored.
The Bear dominates the comedy side
In other drama categories, the first half of the ceremony notably crowned Elizabeth Debicki, elected best supporting actress, thanks to her portrayal of Princess Diana in the last season of The Crownthe saga about the British royal family.
But the start of the evening was especially marked by the domination of The Bear in comedies.
PHOTO FX, PROVIDED BY ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Bear dominates nominations for second consecutive year
The second season of this grueling dive into the back kitchen of a Chicago restaurant sees the early sandwich shop transform into a high-end establishment in pursuit of a star.
Nominated 23 times, this series with rather dark themes, such as mourning and addiction, won the prize for best direction and saw its cast accumulate trophies.
Jeremy Allen White and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who play childhood friends turned chef and maître d’, won best actor and best supporting actor respectively for the second year in a row.
“This series changed my life,” Jeremy Allen White said. “It instilled in me the belief that change is possible.” […] If you are able to reach out, you are never truly alone.”
Liza Colon-Zayas, who plays a gruff cook, won the award for best supporting actress.
Also produced by FX, The Bear is the favorite for the best comedy award.
But cable channel HBO has pointed out that competition exists thanks to Hackschronicle of an unlikely duo between an aging American stand-up star and a young comedian tasked with renewing his jokes.
Its star Jean Smart was voted best actress and the series won awards for its writing.
The feeling Baby reindeer
In the best miniseries or anthology category, it’s the Netflix series Baby reindeer who dominates the forecasts.
The story of a London bartender harassed by a woman suffering from mental illness, this series presented as a “true story” is based on the misadventures of its author, the Scottish comedian Richard Gadd.
He was voted best actor in the category, facing heavyweights like Andrew Scott (Ripley) and Jon Hamm (Fargo).
“No matter how bad it is, it always gets better,” Mr. Gadd said, recalling his years of doubt onstage in a kilt. “So if you’re struggling, keep moving forward.”
Jessica Gunn, who plays his on-screen stalker, received the award for best supporting actress.
In real life, the British woman who is said to have inspired the character was trolled on social media and filed a defamation suit against Netflix, seeking $170 million in damages.