On Sept.15, the 76th annual Primetime Emmy Awards took place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles for a night of glitz, glamour and laughs. Hosted by Eugene and Dan Levy, the beloved father-son duo of “Schitt’s Creek”, this event was highly anticipated by comedy fanatics everywhere. 

The Levys were a smart choice for the awards show, as ratings and views have plummeted in the last 10years. Formerly hosted by late-night stars like Jimmy Kimmel, Colin Jost and Stephen Colbert, jokes and monologues became stale, leaving the audience bored. In 2001, the Emmys boasted 17 million viewers, and in 2023, it fell to just 4.6 million.

The attempt to change the show’s tone and feel was very needed following the strike of The Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild. From July 14 until Nov. 9 of last year, the writers and actors of Hollywood stopped production following a labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. As a result, the 2023 Emmys had to be held in 2024. This postponement of the 2023 Emmys allowed for the much-needed revamp. 

The casual tone of the evening was set in the opening monologue. Right off the bat, Dan Levy cleared the air and said, “I wouldn’t even really call us hosts. We’re more like actors acting like hosts.”  

The pair even got sentimental when Eugene Levy took time out of his speech to pat his son on the back and express his pride. “I’ve played a lot of dad roles, but without question, the most rewarding role ever has been being your dad.” It was a refreshing change from the often-stale opening bit.  

In addition to the bold change of hosts, the shows and actors nominated this year were forces to be reckoned with. 

The most nominated show this season was “Shōgun,” which topped the list with 25 nominations and a record-breaking 18 wins. The historic drama swept the major categories, winning outstanding directing for a drama series and outstanding drama. Based on the novel written by James Clavell, the show follows a power struggle in war-torn Japan that leads to the founding of the Tokugawa shogunate. Written by James Clavell, the show follows a power struggle in war-torn Japan that leads to the founding of the Tokugawa shogunate.  

The passion the “Shōgun” team had for their limited series show was palpable. Not a dry eye was left in the crowd when Hiroyuki Sanada became the first Japanese actor to win the best actor in a drama award. During an emotional speech, he expressed his love and pride for the cast and crew, saying, “I am so proud of you. ‘Shōgun’ taught me that when people work together, we can make miracles.” 

Close behind was the fan-favorite Hulu series “The Bear,” which received 23 nominations, including a lead comedy actor nomination for Jeremy Allen White. Much to the joy of “Shameless” fans, White beat out comedy legends Steve Martin and Martin Short for the coveted award.  

This is now the second year White has won lead actor in a comedy series, and watchers of “The Bear” could not be more thrilled. The show has been officially renewed for a fourth season, and with White leading the cast, more Emmys are sure to be in store.  

Watching the Emmy Awards this year was an entirely new experience compared to the previous five years. The pacing, the jokes and the outfits reinvigorated what was once a difficult watch. It renewed the hope that the 76-year-old glamour has not gone out of style and is here to stay. Perhaps viewership will be on the rise — if not for the awards, at least for Jeremy Allen White.