The 2024 Emmy Awards: Widow's Bay and The Pitt at the top of the favorites

The Emmy Awards, the equivalent of the Oscars for American television, began Monday in Los Angeles, for an evening where the horror comedy Widow's Bay and the medical series The Pitt are the big favorites.

The mistress of ceremonies, Mariska Hargitay, opened this 78th edition with a musical number proclaiming her love on television, by modifying the lyrics of the hit I Love Rock N' Roll. “I am incredibly proud to be the first woman to present the Emmys in 15 years,” said the actress popularized by the series New York Special Unit.

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On the comedy side, the evening is a duel between Widow’s Bay, which has 19 nominations, against 24 for its main rival Hacks. Widow’s Bay follows a New England mayor trying to revive tourism on his island, which is reputed to be haunted. Matthew Rhys, who plays this whimsical councilor, is favorite for the award for best actor in a comedy. The Apple TV series got the evening off to a good start, with Best Supporting Actor awards for Kate O’Flynn and Stephen Root. If the predictions are true this evening, it could break the record for the number of awards won by a comedy, previously held by the Hollywood satire The Studio with 13 awards in one ceremony.

The double for The Pitt?

Its rival Hacks also started the party under good auspices. Its star Jean Smart, who plays an aging stand-up star forced to collaborate with a young screenwriter to revive her career, won a fifth consecutive Best Actress Emmy for the role. Enough to bring her total to eight Emmys in her career, which allows her to join the circle of the most successful actresses with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Cloris Leachman and Allison Janney. “Thank you all so much! What an adventure it was!”, thanked the 75-year-old actress.

Already crowned best drama series last year, The Pitt, halfway between Urgences and 24 Heures Chrono, is aiming for the double. The series, which follows hour by hour the day of emergency workers at a hospital in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), addresses subjects as sensitive as the right to abortion, migration policy or shootings. With 25 nominations, a record this year, the series has already won four awards during the preliminary ceremonies, including that for best casting. Its star Noah Wyle, who plays the head of the department, won the award for best actor in the “drama series” category. “It’s overwhelming,” thanked the 55-year-old actor. “I grew up in Los Angeles. I am a child of Hollywood. I was raised in front of television, and cinemas were my place of worship,” he added. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, and it’s the only club I’ve ever dreamed of being a part of. Thank you for accepting me among you.” Seven of his co-stars from The Pitt are named in supporting roles.

The Pluribus phenomenon

The expected triumph of The Pitt did not prevent the “Pluribus” phenomenon from shining. The new series from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan caused a sensation this year thanks to its dystopian storyline. Rhea Seehorn, who plays a misanthropic novelist alone in an ocean of happiness because she is immune to a virus that makes humanity entirely blissful, was voted best actress. “Thank you, Vince Gilligan, for not only giving me the role of my life, but also for creating sets where we can all collaborate, and where we are truly allowed to feel safe to take risks, to improve as artists,” said the 54-year-old actress.

In the categories reserved for mini-series, DTF St. Louis (HBO Max), chronicle of a love triangle gone wrong, is among the main contenders. The series has already won six awards last week during a preliminary ceremony, including two for its performers David Harbor and Linda Cardellini. In addition to the usual trophy presentations, the 78th Emmy Awards ceremony will notably honor country singer Dolly Parton, who died at the end of August.