Father-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy host the Emmy Awards, as the year’s most acclaimed TV series compete for glory
It’s reasonable to expect that this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards may well be the most Canadian ever.
After all, the hosts for Sunday’s Emmys — the 76th — will be none other than SCTV legend Eugene Levy and son Dan, known for his films Happiest Season and Good Grief.
Of course, the duo are even better known for their six seasons of Schitt’s Creek, the Canadian comedy that has gone on to become just as beloved on the other side of the border.
The show has brought the elder Levy two of his four Emmys (the other two for SCTV), while his son’s four Emmys are all courtesy of Schitt’s Creek.
“For two Canadians who won our Emmys in a literal quarantine tent, the idea of being asked to host this year in an actual theatre was incentive enough,” the Levys said in a joint statement, referring to winning awards during the Television Academy’s virtual Emmy celebration back in 2020. “We’re thrilled to be able to raise a glass to this extraordinary season of television and can’t wait to spend the evening with you all on September 15.”
While the comedy hijinks those two have in store will remain to be seen (fingers crossed they’ll have an onstage Schitt’s Creek reunion with Catherine O’Hara and Annie Murphy), they’ll be hosting a show celebrating an exceptionally excellent year of television.
So far, one series has dominated: FX drama Shōgun, which raked in an astonishing 25 nominations. In addition to nods in the Outstanding Drama Series categories, other Shōgun nominations include Anna Sawai for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, as well as Hiroyuki Sanada for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Also see our previous article on Shōgun here.
According to series co-creator Justin Marks, the recognition for Sanada — who serves as both star and producer on the series — is long overdue.
“He’s been acting since he was seven years old,” Marks told Variety. “To see him where he is now and getting in the awards conversation? This should have happened 40 years ago . . . but here he is, finally.”
Hot on Shōgun’s heels is another FX series, The Bear, which garnered 23 nominations, although there continues to be much debate about whether the series — starring Jeremy Allen White as a tortured chef who transformed his family-owned Chicago sandwich shop into a fine-dining establishment — is actually more of a drama, despite dominating the comedy categories. Also see our previous article on The Bear here.
Other high achievers in nominations include Disney+ comedy Only Murders in the Building (21 nominations), HBO’s True Detective: Night Country (19) and NBC’s Saturday Night Live (18) — not too shabby for a show that will be kicking off its landmark 50th season later this month.
Netflix also demonstrated a show of force with a total of 107 nominations this year, with top series including The Crown (with 18 nominations), Ripley (13) and Baby Reindeer (11).
Other series likely to be winning statues include Prime Video’s post-apocalyptic Fallout, HBO’s acclaimed comedy Hacks, Apple TV+ drama The Morning Show and Prime Video espionage hit Mr. & Mrs. Smith, all tied at 16 nominations apiece.
For the aforementioned Only Murders in the Building, this marks the first year that all three of its stars — Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez — have been nominated in the lead acting categories, with Martin and Short competing against each other.
If Gomez does win her first-ever Emmy at this year’s ceremony, she’s already previewed what viewers can expect from her acceptance speech.
“I was just honoured to be on such a show that was recognized,” she said in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “I feel so lucky, because there are so many great shows, and to even be considered, to have an opportunity like this, is such an honour. In my mind, I feel like I already won.”
76th Primetime Emmy Awards, airing Sunday, September 15 on CTV2 & ABC