Shogun Makes Emmy History, Hacks Surprise Party

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Shogun Makes Emmy History With Record Number of Awards

income Japanese series “Shogun” The Emmy Awards made history on Sunday by winning a record 18 awards, including best series, becoming the first non-English-language production to win the top prize on the evening dubbed the “TV Oscars.”

This adaptation of a novel by James Clavell, which explores the struggle for power in 17th-century Japan, also won Best Director.

The series’ screenwriter, Justin Marks, emphasized the creative bet that FX, the show’s producer and owner, Disney, made with this project.

“I have adapted a very expensive translated Japanese series, the main part of the plot of which revolves around a poetry competition,” he said.

The series’ star, Hiroyuki Sanada, won the Emmy Award for Best Actor.

Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada wins Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role in “Shogun” (AFP)

Hiroyuki, the first Japanese actor to win the award, said, Amy Thanks to his portrayal of a seasoned feudal lord, “it was a wonderful project where East meets West.”

His co-star Anna Sawai, who brilliantly portrayed the daughter of a deposed samurai who converts to Catholicism, also won best actress for her performance in what she called “the role of a lifetime.”

South Korean productions “Parasite,” which won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2020, and “Squid Game,” which won multiple Emmys in 2022, paved the way for this new Asian win. Shogun’s coronation confirms that American audiences are embracing foreign-language series with their different cultural perspectives.

About 70% of the dialogue in Shogun is in Japanese, while the protagonist, an English sailor stranded in the Japanese archipelago, fades into the series in favor of stories of intrigue and deadly rivalries.

“Hax” surprise party

In other drama categories, Elizabeth Debicki was named Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Princess Diana in the final season of The Crown, a series about the British royal family.

HBO’s “Hax” surprised everyone by winning the Emmy for best comedy series, beating out the expected favorite “The Bear.”

The comedic twist in “Hax” centers on an unlikely duo between an American stand-up comedy star, played by Jean Smart, and a young comedian tasked with updating her comedic style, played by Hannah Einbinder.

US actress Jean Smart shines in the press room with the award for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in “Hax” (AFP)

The series won Best Screenplay for its third season, and Jean Smart was named Best Actress in a Comedy Series.

“I appreciate it because I don’t get enough attention, really,” the 73-year-old actress said.

Despite being denied major awards, “The Bear” won 11 Emmys, including several for its cast, thanks to its dive into the back kitchen of a Chicago restaurant whose owners are seeking a Michelin star.

Jeremy Allen White and Ebon Moss-Bachrac, who play childhood friends turned chefs, won best actor and best supporting actor for the second year in a row.

Lisa Colon-Zayas, who plays a tough cook, won Best Supporting Actress.

Baby Reindeer crowned

The evening also witnessed the crowning of the Netflix series “Baby Reindeer” with the award for Best Limited Series, a category reserved for one-season series.

The series, which centres on a London bartender who is constantly harassed by a mentally ill woman, is presented as a “true story” inspired by the adventures of its creator, Scottish comedian Richard Gadd.

Scottish actor Richard Judd, winner of Best Limited Series or Anthology for his novel “Baby Reindeer” (AFP)

Gad won the Best Actor award in this category, and the series won the Best Screenplay award.

“The one constant to any success on television is good storytelling, a good story that speaks to our times,” said Gad, who wore a traditional Scottish kilt on stage.

English actress Jessica Janning won the award for best supporting actress in a limited series, anthology or a movie for her role in “Baby Reindeer” (AFP)

Jessica Gunn, who plays the on-screen harasser, won Best Supporting Actress.

In real life, the British woman who is said to have inspired the character has been harassed on social media and has sued Netflix for defamation. She is seeking $170 million in damages.

The miniseries category also includes anthologies, which are series that maintain the same subject matter but change the characters each season.

In this context, the fourth version of the series “True Detective” allowed Jodie Foster to win the award for Best Actress in a Limited Series, which is the first of its kind in the career of the 61-year-old actress who has won two Oscars.

Here are the top winners at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards held Sunday evening in Los Angeles: