For the second time in a row, it was no surprise when Jason Sudeikis’ Ted Lasso took home some of the big trophies in the comedy categories at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, which were held on Monday, September 13. Sudeikis’ London-set comedy for Apple TV+ claimed four Emmys, including best comedy, lead actor (Sudeikis) and supporting actor (Brett Goldstein). The show follows the misadventures of an American college football coach-turned-Premier League coach.
It was also no surprise that Succession reigned in the Emmys’ drama categories. The HBO saga about the fight for power within the billionaire Roy family took four Emmys this year — best drama, supporting actor (Matthew Macfadyen), writing and casting — but it wasn’t the only drama series to shine during the Television Academy’s big party.
The White Lotus took the main award in the increasingly most contentious category at the Emmys — Outstanding Limited Series. Incidentally, Mike White’s satire for HBO was the only limited series nominated this year that wasn’t inspired by, or based on, true events. It also didn’t feature a true crime/true con component — unlike Dopesick, The Dropout, Inventing Anna and Pam & Tommy. The White Lotus won 10 Primetime Emmys — including miniseries, writing, directing, casting, supporting actor (Murray Bartlett) and supporting actress (Jennifer Coolidge).
But besides the big three winners, a few other shows took home some of the Television Academy’s accolades, and are definitely worth checking out if you haven’t done so yet.
At a moment when there’s more and more TV to watch, award shows can help you pick out must-watch series during these very prolific Peak TV times.
Abbott Elementary
This workplace comedy created by and starring Quinta Brunson is one of our favorite shows of the year, and the ABC mockumentary also won big at the Emmys. The show, set in a public school in Philadelphia, debuts its second season on September 21. But you can catch up on its first season on Hulu now.
Abbott Elementary won three Emmys for its first season — including casting, writing (Quinta Brunson) and supporting actress (Sheryl Lee Ralph — who had a show-stopping acceptance speech).
Dopesick
Michael Keaton won the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Emmy for this Hulu show based on the nonfiction book of the same name. The series spotlights America’s opioid addiction problem and prescription drug epidemic as well as the Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family’s involvement.
The Dropout
Also very much taken from the headlines is this other Hulu miniseries created by Elizabeth Meriweather and based on the ABC News podcast of the same name. The Dropout portrays the behind-the-scenes story of Theranos as well as founder Elizabeth Holmes’ role in deceiving investors, making false claims and pushing for patient trials using prototypes she consciously knew didn’t work.
Amanda Seyfried took the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie statuette for totally transforming herself into Holmes, from the black turtleneck to the vocal fry.
Hacks
Even if the reign of Ted Lasso remains strong when it comes to the Emmys and comedies — with the exception of the very deserved awards for Abbott Elementary — we’re glad to see the HBO Max series Hacks getting some love from the voters. Emmy wins went to Jean Smart as lead actress and Laurie Metcalf for her guest turn in the show’s second season.
The series is an excellent watch if you’re into the politics of standup comedy and all things zeitgeisty.
Squid Game
Considering that this Korean title is Netflix’s most popular TV show to date — at least when it comes to hours viewed in the first 28 days since its release — maybe its inclusion here feels a bit unnecessary. Odds are, you’ve probably already watched Squid Game.
But it’s still worth mentioning the six-time Emmy-winning show, which nabbed awards for directing, lead actor (Lee Jung-jae) and guest actress (Lee Yoo-mi), among others. Not to mention, the show made Emmys history. Jung-jae is the first person in a foreign-language show to claim the best actor in a drama award.
Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls
If you’re into reality TV and competition programming — and why shouldn’t you be? — you might be curious about Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls. The Prime Video reality competition took home the Outstanding Competition Program award. It finds the “About Damn Time” singer looking for women who look like her to join her upcoming tour as dancers.
Yellowjackets
This Showtime coming-of-age horror show, which is partially set in the ‘90s, was nominated for seven Emmys — and sadly didn’t win any of them. But you should still most definitely give it a watch, especially if you’re in the mood for some Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, Christina Ricci and Juliette Lewis’ fixes.
Reservation Dogs
Ok, this is technically cheating because not only did one of the best comedies from last year not win a single Emmy, it wasn’t even nominated. That didn’t deter the Television Academy from title-dropping Reservation Dogs during the Emmys though as an example of representation and Indigenous-led storytelling. So, yes, definitely give this FX-made coming-of-age show a watch on Hulu. You won’t regret it.
List of Primetime Emmy Award Winners
Here’s the list of Primetime Emmy Award winners from Monday, September 12, 2022:
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary)
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso)
Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie: Jennifer Coolidge (The White Lotus)
Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie: Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus)
Writing in a Drama Series: Jesse Armstrong (Succession)
Directing for a Drama Series: Hwang Dong-hyuk (Squid Game)
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Julia Garner (Ozark)
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Matthew Macfadyen (Succession)
Variety Talk Series: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Variety Sketch Series: Saturday Night Live
Writing for a Comedy Series: Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary)
Directing for a Comedy Series: MJ Delaney (Ted Lasso)
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Jean Smart (Hacks)
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso)
Competition Program: Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls
Directing for a Limited Series or TV Movie: Mike White (The White Lotus)
Writing for a Limited Series or TV Movie: Mike White (The White Lotus)
Lead Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or TV Movie: Amanda Seyfried (The Dropout)
Lead Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or TV Movie: Michael Keaton (Dopesick)
Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Zendaya (Euphoria)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Lee Jung-jae (Squid Game)
Comedy Series: Ted Lasso
Drama Series: Succession
Miniseries: The White Lotus
You can check out the full list of winners and nominees for the 2022 74th Emmy Awards here.
