News24 | Matthew Rhys makes Emmy history with two acting wins as ‘Widow’s Bay’ breaks record with 14

• Quirky horror series “Widow’s Bay” set a new record with 14 Emmys, the most awards won by a comedy in a single year.
• Matthew Rhys won two acting Emmys on the night: best comedy actor for “Widow’s Bay” and lead actor in a limited series for “The Beast in Me.”
• Gritty hospital drama “The Pitt” won its second consecutive Emmy for best drama.

Quirky horror series Widow’s Bay cleaned up at Monday’s Emmys, setting a new record for the most awards won by a comedy in a single year, as gritty hospital show The Pitt won again for best drama.

Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay,”which stars Matthew Rhys as the leader of an isolated New England island that appears to be haunted, emerged as one of the most talked-about debut series of the year, and now has the trophies to back up the buzz.

With 14 total awards, Widow’s Bay bested the previous record for a comedy set just last year by Seth Rogen’s Hollywood satire The Studio, also from Apple.

Rhys, Kate O’Flynn and Stephen Root all claimed acting prizes for their roles in the hit show.

Rhys - a winner for best drama actor for The Americans in 2018 - earned his first comedy Emmy and also triumphed as lead actor in a limited series for his sinister turn in The Beast in Me. He earned the best comedy series prize in his role as producer.

Matthew Rhys at the 78th Emmy Awards Governors Gala held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images

The strong night for Widow’s Bay meant disappointment for Hacks, the already decorated tale of a stand-up comedian trying to revive her career and the dysfunctional millennial assistant who helps her.

But its star Jean Smart repeated as best comedy actress - her fifth award for the series in as many seasons.

“What a ride this has been!” Smart said.

The win was her eighth acting Emmy, tying her with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman for the most ever by a performer.

Minutes later, Allison Janney equalled the record with her win for best drama supporting actress for The Diplomat.

Jean Smart wins the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Award for "Hacks" at the 78th Emmy Awards held at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

Allison Janney wins the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Award for "The Diplomat" at the 78th Emmy Awards held at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

Host Mariska Hargitay, the Law and Order: SVU star, opened the gala with song and dance, belting out a I Love TV Screens parody of Joan Jett’s classic I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.

And she recruited her superstar friends to do pre-taped segments, including New York Knicks basketball champion Jalen Brunson and none other than Taylor Swift.

The pop titan’s taped sketch drew laughs for its insider industry jokes.

‘The Pitt’ repeats as best drama

The Pitt won its second consecutive Emmy for best drama.

The smash series follows stressed workers in a Pittsburgh emergency room, with each episode unfolding in real time.

Tackling everything from abortion rights to immigration crackdowns to mass shootings, the hit had led all shows with 25 nominations, and clocked six statuettes by night’s close.

Star Noah Wyle, who has racked up many awards for his leading role, won his second straight acting prize and took home another statuette for best series as one of its producers.

“I grew up in LA. I’m a Hollywood kid. I was raised on a television, and movie theatres were my place of worship. This is all I’ve ever wanted to do, and this is the only club I’ve ever wanted to join. Thank you for accepting me,” Wyle told the audience.

Noah Wyle with the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and Outstanding Drama Series Award and Outstanding Drama Series Award for "The Pitt" at the 78th Emmy Awards held at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

Pluribus star Rhea Seehorn nabbed the statuette for best actress in a drama.

HBO Max’s DTF St Louis - the tale of a middle-aged love triangle gone wrong - won the night’s top limited series prize, bringing its total to seven.

And Sally Field notched the award for best actress in a limited series or television movie, for her turn in Remarkably Bright Creatures.

The beloved performer gave a fiery speech that offered thinly veiled criticism of efforts to merge Paramount and Warner Bros.

“Our diversity, our unique storytelling matters. We can’t let those voices be silenced or compromised or merged,” Field said.

Sally Field, winner of the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Award for “Remarkably Bright Creatures”, poses backstage for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

John Shearer/WireImage

Dolly tribute

The 78th Emmy Awards gala featured a tribute to late country music icon Dolly Parton, who was also an Emmy winner.

“She was genuine and humble, supportive and blisteringly funny,” said Field, her co-star in the film Steel Magnolias, who then introduced country singer Reba McEntire to sing Appalachian Memories.

Noah Kahan sang Bridge Over Troubled Water during the broadcast’s In Memoriam segment, which included a heartfelt remembrance of Catherine O’Hara, including an onstage appearance by Macaulay Culkin, her co-star in the Home Alone movies, and her Schitt’s Creek castmates Annie Murphy and Dan Levy.

Jamie Lee Curtis delivered a tearful homage to Rob Reiner, calling the late filmmaker and actor - who won a posthumous Emmy for a guest spot on The Bear- “generous and kind and funny as hell.”

The gala was heavy on TV nostalgia, with Buffy the Vampire Slayer stars Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz and Charlie’s Angels legends Kate Jackson, Cheryl Ladd, and Jaclyn Smith among the presenters.

Here is a list of the winners in key categories:

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES: The Pitt

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES: Widow’s Bay

OUTSTANDING LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES: DTF St. Louis

LEAD ACTOR, DRAMA: Noah Wyle, The Pitt

LEAD ACTRESS, DRAMA: Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus

LEAD ACTOR, COMEDY: Matthew Rhys, Widow’s Bay

LEAD ACTRESS, COMEDY: Jean Smart, Hacks

LEAD ACTOR, LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE: Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me

LEAD ACTRESS, LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE: Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures

SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA: Tom Pelphrey, Task

SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA: Allison Janney, The Diplomat

SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY: Stephen Root, Widow’s Bay

SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY: Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay

SUPPORTING ACTOR, LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE: David Harbour, DTF St. Louis

SUPPORTING ACTRESS, LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE: Linda Cardellini, DTF St. Louis