ABOVE: Fan favorite comedy series “Schitt’s Creek” is won nine Primetime Emmy Awards for its final season. (Photo via “Schitt’s Creek’s” Twitter)
The quirky Canadian comedy “Schitt’s Creek” made history at the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards Sept. 20 when it swept all seven of the major comedy categories. The show not only set a record for the most Emmys for a comedy series in one year but also became the only show — comedy or drama — to win in every acting category within the same year.
“The internet is about to turn on me,” actor-director-writer-show creator Dan Levy said as he accepted his third trophy of the night. Levy won a total of four Emmy Awards himself: Outstanding Writing and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (shared with co-director Andrew Cividino) for the series finale, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Comedy Series.
Levy accepted Outstanding Comedy Series with father and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series winner Eugene Levy, both of who produced the series. Series stars Catherine O’Hara and Annie Murphy won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, respectively.
“Schitt’s Creek” won two other Emmy Awards, awarded last week during the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, for casting for a comedy series and contemporary costumes bringing the show’s total Emmy Awards for its final season to nine.
HBO’s critically acclaimed limited series “Watchmen” was the only show to score more Emmy Awards, winning a total of 11 statues including Outstanding Limited Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for Regina King, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for Yahya Adbul-Mateen II and Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special. The series won another seven awards at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
HBO added to its total awards for the evening with “Succession” winning Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Jeremy Strong, Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series and another three Emmy Awards last week, for a total of seven trophies for the series’ second season.
Zendaya took home Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for HBO’s “Euphoria,” making her the youngest performer and only the second Black actress to win in that category.
The paid cable channel also picked up Outstanding Variety Talk Series for “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for Mark Ruffalo’s performance in “I Know This Much Is True.”
Another big Emmy winner, VH1’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race” won six Emmy Awards including Outstanding Competition Program for the third year in a row (the award in 2018 was called Outstanding Reality Show Program) and Outstanding Host for Reality/Competition Program for RuPaul, who won for the fifth year in a row.
Rounding out the evening’s other acting categories, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series went to Billy Crudup for “The Morning Show,” Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series went to Julia Garner for “Ozark” and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie went to Uzo Aduba for “Mrs. America.”
The socially-distanced ceremony was hosted by late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel. All winners accepted their awards virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
