In an unprecedented feat at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards held on Sunday night, the FX series ‘Shogun’ has set a new benchmark by winning a record-breaking 14 Emmys in a single season. The accolades poured in at the prestigious ceremony, hosted at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, setting a historic milestone ahead of the main ceremony on September 15. Notably, ‘The Bear’ also made waves, clinching seven awards, including Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Jamie Lee Curtis.
The night at the Peacock Theater was abuzz with the name ‘Shogun’ echoing through the venue as presenters called out winners in multiple categories during the second night of the two-night event. The Creative Arts Emmys, which present awards that don’t make it to the main Primetime Emmys ceremony, witnessed the historical sweep from the dramatic portrayal of political machinations in feudal Japan. ‘Shogun’ surpassed the long-standing record of 13 Emmys won by the 2008 limited series ‘John Adams,’ even before reaching the Primetime Emmy Awards, where it stands a chance to bolster its record with as many as five additional awards.
The FX series dominated the awards night, claiming all but two of the 16 possible trophies it could have received. The breadth of its victory spanned categories such as costumes, makeup, editing, stunts, and cinematography. Additionally, Néstor Carbonell won an Emmy for Best Guest Actor for his compelling performance in the series.
Carbonell, receiving his award, expressed his gratitude towards the crew and marveled at the collective talent present. He remarked, “You’re all here! You’re all nominated!” emphasizing the camaraderie and team spirit that contributed to the show’s success. “I love the team sport of this,” he added.
Jamie Lee Curtis, a household name in Hollywood, took home her first Emmy for her role in ‘The Bear,’ marking a notable victory 18 months after winning her first Oscar for ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once.’ An emotional Curtis, backstage after her win, stated, “I’m the luckiest girl in the world. I just never thought I would get to do work at this level of depth and complexity and intelligence. It’s been the thrill of my creative life these last couple of years.
.” Despite her recent accolades, Curtis humbly dismissed the possibility of achieving an EGOT—an honorary title for winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony—citing her inability to sing and lack of stage experience.
Meanwhile, the songwriting duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul joined the exclusive EGOT club after winning their first Emmy for the song they co-wrote for ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ The duo previously garnered an Oscar for ‘La La Land’ and both Grammy and Tony awards for ‘Dear Evan Hansen,’ marking their entry as the 20th and 21st members of this elite group.
Curtis’ win for ‘The Bear’ was for her role in an episode titled ‘Fishes,’ where she portrayed the mother of the series’ protagonist, played by Jeremy Allen White, during a tense family holiday gathering. Her co-star, Jon Bernthal, who played White’s elder brother, also won Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in the same episode.
Additionally, Michaela Coel’s performance in ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith’ earned her the title of Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, underscoring her versatile talent.
Despite the staggering wins, ‘Shogun’ did face competition. It lost in two music-composition categories, which were won by Siddharta Khosla for ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ Khosla, asserting the dominance of ‘Shogun,’ mentioned, “I didn’t write a speech, because there was no way I was beating Shogun tonight.”
The nominations had already set ‘Shogun’ on a high pedestal since its decision to move from the limited series to the drama series category back in May. Leading all nominees with 25 nods in July, ‘Shogun’ maintained a relentless pace in accruing wins throughout the night.
In a lighter vein, Eric André, upon winning his first Emmy for his performance on his eponymous talk show, humorously quipped in the media room, “Sorry I’m not on Shogun!” when asked only one question.
The anticipation now builds for the Primetime Emmy Awards, set to air on September 15, and will be hosted by Dan and Eugene Levy at the Peacock Theater. Fans and industry insiders alike await to see if ‘Shogun’ will further extend its record-breaking run.
