Period epic is first non-English language series to win for best drama as Netflix’s controversial breakout hit takes home four awards
Shōgun has made Emmys history as the first ever non-English language series to win for best drama.
The historical epic, based on the 1975 novel, picked up four awards during the evening, including Emmys for lead stars Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai, the first Japanese actors to win their respective awards.
Sanada said the show taught him that “when people work together, we can make miracles, we can create a better future together”.
Earlier this month, Shōgun made history at the Creative Arts Emmys, where many technical and guest acting trophies are given, winning 14 awards in one night, the most a series has ever won in a single year.
It’s the second Emmys in the same year after last year’s ceremony was postponed as a result of the dual Hollywood strikes. In January, the final season of Succession dominated the awards.
Hacks was the surprise winner of best comedy series, beating out previous winner The Bear and Abbott Elementary. Star Jean Smart took home the award for lead actress, her third win for the role. The HBO show, about two female comedians working together, also won for best writing for a comedy series.
The Bear took the majority of the comedy awards winning four Emmys including acting trophies for Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Liza Colón-Zayas who beat out Meryl Streep and Carol Burnett to win her first Emmy. “To all the Latinas that are looking at me, keep believing and vote,” she said during an emotive speech. “Vote for your rights.”
The combined wins from last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys and tonight have made the second season of The Bear the most awarded comedy season in Emmys history. Hosts Eugene and Dan Levy joked about the categorisation of the show, which has come under fire in recent months. “Now, I love the show, and I know some of you will be expecting us to make a joke about whether The Bear is really a comedy but in the true spirit of The Bear, we will not be making any jokes,” Eugene said.
