Emmy Winners 2020: "Schitt's Creek" clean sweep and more...
Monday, September 21, 2020 at 10:17AM by Nathaniel R
It was both a usual Emmy night (Regina King + HBO dominance) and a very unusual one. In fact, last night's Primetime Emmy Awards were historic in many more ways than just being held in a nearly empty building during a pandemic. Zendaya became the youngest winner ever for Best Drama Actress (she turned 24 three weeks ago). It was a clean sweep for Schitt's Creek with all seven Comedy awards which has literally never happened before. After the jump the full list of winners with more commentary...
Comedy Series Schitt’s Creek
Comedy Directing Andrew Cividino & Daniel Levy, Schitt's Creek "Happy Ending"
Comedy Writing Daniel Levy, Schitt's Creek "Happy Ending"
Comedy Actress Catherine O'Hara, Schitt's Creek
Comedy Actor Eugene Levy, Schitt's Creek
Comedy Supporting Actress Annie Murphy, Schitt's Creek
Comedy Supporting Actor Daniel Levy, Schitt's Creek
Frasier, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and Cheers with 38, 29, and 28 Emmys respectively, are the all time leaders for Outstanding Comedy Series but none of them ever took ALL the awards on a single night. Consider the Schitt's Creek sweep a byproduct of television's cacophonous contemporary landscape where there are more content providers than ever and it can be difficult to stand out. But then once you're discovered, people can binge the entire series like its brand new -- sometimes literally years after its begun! That couldn't / didn't happen pre-streaming. Back in the day when there weren't hundreds of shows, Schitt's Creek wouldn't have swept because the love wouldn't have been so pent up, it would have already taken some Emmys here and there over its run. Daniel Levy, who created the show, won four Emmys himself: acting, directing, writing, and producing.
It'll be interesting to see what happens to the Best Comedy Series competition in 2021. The last two years have been dominated by shows in their final seasons (Fleabag, Schitt's Creek) in terms of wins but a good number of the nominations have also been for shows that were ending (Veep, The Good Place)
Drama Series Succession
Drama Directing Andrij Parekh, Succession "Hunting"
Drama Writing Jesse Armstrong, Succession "This is Not For Tears"
Drama Actress Zendaya, Euphoria
Drama Actor Jeremy Strong, Succession
Drama Supporting Actress Julia Garner, Ozark
Drama Supporting Actor Billy Crudup, Morning Show
While Succession literally couldn't sweep as it had no lead actress nomination, despite having a lead actress (she competed in supporting) it did very well for itself. One fun thing about the drama group is that, with the exception of actress Julia Garner and writer Jesse Armstrong, who both won last year for these same shows, all of these winners were first time Emmy nominees. Emmy was eager for fresh blood!
Billy Crudup now has both a Tony and an Emmy. Will he eventually triple crown?
Limited Series Watchmen
Limited Series, Directing Maria Schrader, Unorthodox
Limited Series, Writing Damon Lindelof & Cord Jefferson, Watchmen "This Extraordinary Being"
Limited Series Actress Regina King, Watchmen
Limited Series Actor Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much is True
Limited Series Supporting Actress Uzo Aduba, Mrs America
Limited Series Supoprting Actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Watchmen
Regina King wins her fourth Emmy, which means she's now tied Alfre Woodard for most Emmy wins for a black performer. But it's another black woman I was thinking of in terms of awards trivia, when she won. Regina King has become to the Emmys what Audra McDonald is the Tonys, in that the awards body in her medium of choice cannot get enough of her. For those who don't follow the Tonys, Audra McDonald is nominated almost every time she works and almost always wins when she is. Regina King has (so far) been up for 5 Emmys and has won 4 times. Audra has been up for 8 Tonys winning 6 times. Nobody does this at the Oscars (Meryl does the first part, nominated almost every time she works, but has only one thrice) but the Emmys and the Tonys have no such inhibitions about throwing love in the shape of trophies at the same performer repeatedly.
Mark Ruffalo's win must be considered a surprise, yes? His show was not well loved by Emmy voters but he managed to beat Hugh Jackman (whose Bad Education won Best TV Movie during the pre-ceremony Emmys) and the year's most exciting discovery Paul Mescal (Normal People). This is Ruffalo's second Emmy having previously won for producing The Normal Heart. Though he's previously been nominated for Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, and Globes, this is only his second major award for individual acting (he previously won the SAG for male lead via The Normal Heart).
Competition Program RuPaul's Drag Race
Variety Talk Series Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Last Week Tonight has won its category 5 years consecutively now and since the category has only existed in its current form for 6 years it is the all time leader. RuPaul's Drag Race has won its category 3 years consecutively now but it's a long ways away from being the top champ in its category since The Amazing Race won this prize 10 times.
Previous Emmy winners (they have so many awards they can't possibly give them all out in one night) are listed here in case you missed them.
Reader Comments (30)
In terms of the quality of the awards themselves, these are the best Emmys I can recall. It is evident that the voters actually watched the nominees, which has not always been true in the past. I am especially happy that Jeremy Strong won, as I think his performance is one of the best I have ever seen on tv.
The show was quite good as well and enjoyed seeing nominees in their homes/off-site. There was a fair bit of carping on social media, but I thought the program was pulled together well in tough circumstances (ensuring that Emmys were delivered to the winners was a nice touch).
Dan Levy and Zendaya are both adorable. I love Dan's pride in his dad.
So happy for Succession. The best show in TV by far.
Of course they would go for Ruffalo. He played two people in the show.
So bored at all these Regina King wins.
At least Mrs. America wins something, and Othiefia didn't win.
Titus Andromedon is forever robbed.
Seriously, I am hoping that some service acquires the rights for Schitt's Creek here for Spain. I know he is a supporting player, but I got interested in this, the moment I learnt Chris Elliott was co-starring (big fan of Get a Life! and Eagleheart)... the sweep just kind of confirms to me, that I should definetively check it out?
Called it!
I really don't care about any of these awards
I'm really happy Unorthodox took home an emmy. The series was incredibly strong, taking (most) viewers into a world they didn't really understand while getting some really interesting performances out of the actors. I'm also happy to see Crudup rewarded for his performance. Very deserving.
As someone who doesn't love schitt's creek, this wasn't as exciting of a broadcast, but it's incredible to think about a show - six seasons in - taking in so many awards after having been ignored. Even though the wins go to poptv, this is definitely a win for Netflix.
Overall, these wins feel buzzier than usual for the emmys. I suppose with voters not really being forced to watch episodes anymore, we'll continue to see more emmys like this one.
Very pleased for Uzo.
OMG f. What a totally fetch and kewl opinion. Othiefier lmao, are you a comedian cause you could do standup. You've got that fetch quality.
Regina Kng has two wins each in lead and supporting, but all of them are in Limited Series/Movie. To be in Audra's league, she'd need at least one win in one of the Comedy series categories, which I don't see ever happening, unless she pulls off a genius turn if/when she hosts SNL.
I'm very happy for the Schitt's Creek folks, although I hate it came at the expense of The Good Place. Of all the wins SC got, TGP at least deserved the writing emmy for its finale - one of the most beautifully-written episodes of television ever. And while I'm throwing around hyperbole, I still am ecstatic that Annie Murphy was recognized for creating the most memorable supporting female in a TV comedy since Phoebe Buffay.
SUCCESSION and JULIA GARNER wins are my favorite, love her, love the show; Zendaya on the other hand got me by surprise, I mean, she's really good in Euphoria but I thought Jennifer Aniston had this one in the bag ( and she's superb in TMS) the only one I could've seen given a run for her money was Laura Linney, equally spectacular in Ozark.Go figures....
I would add that the voting format also played a role in the sweep. Unlike the past where different groups voted for each award, now that all voters are allowed to vote for all categories, like the Oscars, it's easier for the big darling of the year to swoop in and carry with it more trophies when the passion is there. Even when the episode submissions don't quite match up.
Since the voting changed the Emmys have seen some of the biggest sweeps in its history in consecutive years (Big Little Lies, Handmaid's Tale, Fleabag). The comedy category saw its biggest sweep ever in 2018 by Maisel, then matched by Maisel again the next year and now trumped only 2 years later by Schitt's.
The show was fresh and fun and had great respect for our current climate.
The awards were almost perfect - Paul Mescal didn't win.
The Emmys went full Globes with that Zendaya win. I don't mind because Laura Linney has plenty of Emmys and Olivia Colman has enough awards in general. I feel a little bad for Sandra Oh.
Very happy for Regina and Zendaya. The two wins I wanted the most actually happened and that's such a rarity for me at the Emmys! At some point I'll try to give Schitt's Creek another try, but 6 episodes into the first season I found myself only mildly amused and moved onto other things.
I saw Mark Ruffalo's win and how his wife was next to him just made it even more special. Ruffalo is awesome and I hope he continues playing Banner-Hulk for a few more MCU projects. He is perfect for that role.
Zendaya winning was awesome. Plus, it is a true milestone as here is someone known for being in a show on the Disney Channel and then slowly doing other things and then becoming a major name. Now this as I think she's just getting started.
I’m going to get my gay ass handed to me...but I don’t get the Creek love.
I love Regina, but she is nowhere close to being analogous to Audra at the Tony's. Regina king has been in so much television, and really only broke through with American Crime. Audra got her first tony nomination and win in the first role she was eligible for in 1994 and has been going strong ever since. Regina has been working since the 80s, and went through some years in her career with the smallest of roles in films and as a sitcom guest star.
However, it's hard to deny the fact that, at this moment, she's well loved.
Biased but...I don't know how you give directing of a comedy to anyone other than ASP for Mrs. Maisel's Miami episode. (It won for Cinematography competing against Dramas and Comedies). But the Schitt's pent up love was wildly strong.
I love that Best Actress in a Drama has gone to six different first-time winners in the last six years. They have a good instinct to spread the wealth. Really glad Foy got recognized in the brief window she was able to be.
But they've let some big ones slip by—especially Keri Russell who would deserve a Drama Actress Emmy in any year against any competition.
Linney on Ozark is another great performance that might go Emmy-less if they're jumping from new toy to new toy. Nothing against Zendaya but I hope Laura keeps bringing it and I hope she ends up with an Emmy for Wendy Byrde.
Soo fckin stoked for Zendaya. Euphoria should've had way more nominations, in my opinion. Morning Show was very messy from what I saw, and I was afraid Jennifer Aniston was going to get it. I would've been happy for Laura Linney if she won. I really thought Zendaya earned it with her performance, but I knew she was the dark horse. Thank god they watched the submissions!
That was my favorite win of the night.
Thought it was the best Emmy telecast in years.
As far as I'm concerned, the Schitt's Creek sweep was one of the best things to happen in 2020.
The joy bursting forth in Toronto as the emmy's rolled in was wonderful to watch.
Shout out to Diva Catherine O'Hara, who was deprived of a massive standing ovation due to the pandemic. However watching her accept her Emmy from a person in a hazmat suit was perfect in the circumstances. And Moira's vocabulary was let loose in her acceptance speech.
Could we just have the Schitt's Creek cast give out all the Emmy's next year, they would be far better at hosting than Jimmy Kimmel.
Glad Succession, Mrs. America, and Euphoria won some stuff too.
I'm tired of Regina King winning an Oscar and an Emmy for, nevertheless, solid performances while superlative ones from Weisz and Blanchett being left unrewarded.
Annie Murphy won so I'm not going to bitch about all that I didn't like.
Jesús, Schitt's Creek has been available in Spain since the beginning (Movistar)
Finally some long overdue recognition for Catherine O'Hara.
The opening with the audience fooled me for awhile.I loved that Regina King won, and her acceptance speech. I'll also never forget her crying scene in "If Beale Street Could Talk."
Peggy Sue, you know what we that is? Growth. (It's a lighthearted Insecure quote.Actually fairly big as a meme for a while. Don't be a philistine editor!)
I have watched the "Schitt's Creek" wins 10 times now. The first hour of the show was a complete joy to every fan out there (and there are many). I had to ice my hands from applauding so much.
I actually wasn't mad about any of the wins. Ruffalo over the best performance of the year, Mescal, was the only one that slightly stung. But Mescal is a star and will have been more opportunities to shine. And Ruffalo is one of the nicest guys in Hollywood, and his wife's joy was one of the highlights of the show.
As for Kimmel himself, I don't find him funny at all. But he is reliable. This was not the year for the brilliant Ricky Gervais. Kimmel kept things moving and proved why he is one of the go-to hosts, even those he isn't a great comedian. That is not a ding. Comedy is hard and hosting awards shows is a thankless gig. So good for him.