Apple TV+'s "Widow's Bay" swept the 78th Emmy Awards on Monday, winning six trophies at the main ceremony in Los Angeles, adding to eight it had already collected at the Creative Arts Emmys for a total of 14. The ceremony also paid tribute to Hollywood stars who died over the past year, including Dolly Parton, Rob Reiner and Catherine O'Hara.
The horror satire, which was making its Emmy debut, won best comedy series, beating out its closest rival, "Hacks." Its star, Matthew Rhys, took home the award for best actor in a comedy series.
"Widow's Bay" also swept the supporting acting categories, with Kate O'Flynn winning best supporting actress and Stephen Root best supporting actor. The show also picked up the awards for best writing and best directing in a comedy series.
The medical drama "The Pitt," the miniseries "DTF St. Louis" and Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show each finished tied with seven awards apiece.
"The Pitt" won best drama series for the second consecutive year, with Noah Wyle again winning best actor in a drama series. HBO's "DTF St. Louis" won best miniseries. Vince Gilligan won best writing for a drama series, and Rhea Seehorn won best actress in a leading role in a drama series for "Pluribus."
Historic wins
The night included several milestones. Rhys became the first actor in Emmy history to win in two lead actor categories in the same year, taking best actor in a comedy for "Widow's Bay" and best actor in a limited series for "The Beast in Me."
Jean Smart won her fifth Emmy, and the eighth of her career, for playing comedy diva Deborah Vance in "Hacks," becoming the first female performer to win a best actress award for every season of a comedy series.
Sally Field won best actress in a limited series or movie for "Remarkably Bright Creatures," becoming the oldest winner in that category.
Tributes to Hollywood stars
The ceremony paid tribute to Parton, O'Hara and Reiner, who died over the past year, honoring their memory with segments led by Field, Macaulay Culkin and Jamie Lee Curtis.
Michael J. Fox provided one of the most emotional moments of the night when he received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award, which recognized his work raising awareness and funding for Parkinson's disease research.
Snubs for major series
Series that made a bigger splash in past years came away largely empty-handed this time. "Euphoria" and "Stranger Things," both airing final seasons, passed through the ceremony without notable wins.
"The Bear" fared little better. Its fifth and final season had been nominated for eight Emmys but won just one, for best guest actor, awarded to the late Rob Reiner.
Latin talent was also shut out of the major prizes. Guatemalan-American actor Oscar Isaac, nominated for best actor in a limited series for "Beef," lost to Rhys for "The Beast in Me." Colombian actor Carlos Manuel Vesga, nominated for "Pluribus," lost in the best actor in a drama series category.
Politics and star turns
Political statements were rare on stage. The most notable came from Alan Cumming, who, after winning best reality competition series for "The Traitors," urged viewers to register to vote ahead of November's U.S. midterm elections.
Guests included British actor Tom Holland, who attended alongside Zendaya, and Colombian actress Sofía Vergara, who presented one of the awards.
One of the biggest surprises of the night came when Taylor Swift appeared on screen for a parody sketch with members of the cast of "Law & Order."
