Emmys 2020: Schitt’s Creek & Zendaya make history on TV’s biggest night

September 21st 2020, 8:24am

Television's biggest night was celebrated at the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards and history was also made in the process.

Pop TV's Schitt's Creek was the true winner of the night, taking home 7 awards and completely sweeping the comedy categories including Best Comedy Series. Catherine O'Hara won for actress in a comedy series, Eugene Levy claimed the actor win in the same category, Annie Murphy won for supporting actress, while Dan Levy took home honors for supporting actor in a comedy series as well as honors for writing and directing in a comedy series, with Andrew Cividino. The show was also the first series to sweep all categories during the main telecast while Dan Levy tied the record for most wins by an individual in a single season with four wins, joining Moira Demos in 2016 and Amy Sherman-Palladino in 2018. Earlier this week, it also won Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series for Jon Comerford and Lisa Parasyn and Outstanding Contemporary Costumes for Debra Hanson and Darci Cheyne.

HBO's Succession picked up four wins, including best drama series. Jeremy Strong won in the actor category, Jesse Armstrong won for writing and Andrij Parekh won for directing the drama. HBO's Watchmen also picked up four honors, including Best-Limited Series. Regina King won for Actress in a Limited Series, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II won Supporting actor, while Damon Lindelof and Cord Jefferson won for writing for a Limited Series.

Zendaya pulled out one of the night's most surprising wins with her victory in the Best Actress in a Drama Series category for her riveting turn on HBO's Euphoria. With her win, Zendaya also made history as the youngest person to take home the award at the age of 24. The category was highly competitive with Laura Linney being the favorite to win for Ozark and Jennifer Aniston also being a contender for her role on Apple TV+'s The Morning Show.

With her second win for Ozark, Julia Garner also surprised, with many anticipating Succession’s Sarah Snook would be recognized this year for her role as Shiv, Logan Roy’s only daughter. Billy Crudup of The Morning Show also beat Succession for supporting actor in a drama – three Succession nominations in fact for Kieran Culkin (favored, along with Giancarlo Esposito for AMC’s Better Call Saul), Matthew Macfadyen, and Nicholas Braun – which likely split the Succession vote. Crudup pulled out the first Emmy win for Apple TV+.

Jimmy Kimmel emceed the Emmys from the Staples Center, which were produced remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic. Considering the odds that were stacked against them by presenting a live virtual awards ceremony, the forced limitations of the broadcast actually made the Emmys fresh and new again. This is going to be the new normal for award ceremonies moving forward in the near future and other award shows will likely look to how the Emmys pulled this off without skipping a beat.

Did YOU watch the Emmys last night? Check out the full list of winners below!

DRAMA SERIES

Succession

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Julia Garner, Ozark

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Billy Crudup, The Morning Show

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

Succession • Hunting
HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with Project Zeus, Hyperobject Industries and Gary Sanchez Productions
Andrij Parekh, Directed by

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

Succession • This Is Not For Tears
HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with Project Zeus, Hyperobject Industries and Gary Sanchez Productions
Jesse Armstrong, Written by

LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Zendaya, Euphoria

LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Jeremy Strong, Succession

COMPETITION PROGRAM

RuPaul’s Drag Race

LIMITED SERIES

Watchmen

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

Uzo Aduba, Mrs. America

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Watchmen

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A LIMITED SERIES, MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL

Unorthodox • Netflix • Studio Airlift and RealFilm
Maria Schrader, Directed by

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A LIMITED SERIES, MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL

Watchmen • This Extraordinary Being
HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with White Rabbit, Paramount Television, Warner Bros. Television & DC Comics
Damon Lindelof, Written by
Cord Jefferson, Written by

LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much Is True

LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

Regina King, Watchmen

VARIETY TALK SERIES

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver

COMEDY SERIES

Schitt’s Creek

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Annie Murphy, Schitt’s Creek

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Daniel Levy, Schitt’s Creek