‘Shogun’ Sets Record with 14 Emmys; Jamie Lee Curtis Earns Her First

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Creative Arts Emmy Awards held on Sunday night recognized a historic achievement as “Shogun” captured a remarkable 14 trophies, setting a record for the most Emmys won in a single season of a television series. In contrast, “The Bear” secured seven awards, with Jamie Lee Curtis taking home the honor for best guest actress in a comedy series.

The atmosphere at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles buzzed with excitement for “Shogun” on the second night of the Creative Arts Emmys, an event devoted to acknowledging various categories not featured in the main Primetime Emmy ceremony. “Shogun” has now eclipsed the previous record of 13 Emmy wins held by the 2008 limited series “John Adams.” This achievement was reached even before the main Emmy ceremony on September 15, where “Shogun” could potentially add up to five more awards to its tally.

“Shogun,” an FX series delving into the intricate political dynamics of feudal Japan, excelled across nearly all possible categories, winning 14 out of a possible 16 awards on Sunday night. The accolades included honors for costumes, makeup, editing, stunts, and cinematography, in addition to a best guest actor in a drama award for Néstor Carbonell.

During his acceptance speech, Carbonell expressed his gratitude to the team behind the series, sharing his surprise at the sheer number of crew members present in the audience. “You’re all here! You’re all nominated!” he exclaimed, celebrating the collaborative effort involved in the production.

Jamie Lee Curtis delivered an emotional speech as she celebrated her first Emmy win, adding to her recent Oscar win for “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” “I’m the luckiest girl in the world,” she expressed backstage, reflecting on the profound depth and complexity of her recent work. “It’s been the thrill of my creative life these last couple of years.”

When asked about the possibility of completing an EGOT by winning a Grammy and a Tony, Curtis humorously dismissed the notion. “I can’t sing at all,” she admitted, “and I’ve never been on stage.”

In a notable achievement, composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul joined the ranks of the elite EGOT club as they received their first Emmy for a song co-written for “Only Murders in the Building.” Previously honored with an Oscar for “La La Land,” and a Grammy and a Tony for “Dear Evan Hansen,” they became the 20th and 21st inductees into this prestigious group.

Curtis was recognized for her role in a “Bear” episode titled “Fishes,” where she portrayed the mother of star Jeremy Allen White during a chaotic family holiday gathering. Jon Bernthal, who played White’s older brother in the same episode, was awarded best guest actor in a comedy series.

In another surprising twist, Michaela Coel also received the award for best guest actress in a comedy series for her role on “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.”

“Shogun” impacted the Emmy nominations earlier this year when it transitioned from the limited series category to drama series in May. It led all nominees with a total of 25 nominations when they were revealed in July.

The impressive winning streak of “Shogun” made it difficult for competitors to avoid acknowledging its dominance. Siddharta Khosa, who won best music composition for a series for “Only Murders in the Building,” humorously remarked, “I didn’t write a speech because there was no way I was beating ‘Shogun’ tonight.”

Eric André, after winning his first Emmy for his talk show, lightheartedly commented, “Sorry I’m not on Shogun!” when he was posed a single question in the media room.

The awards from Saturday night, which highlighted reality and variety television, included victories for Maya Rudolph and Angela Bassett. Rudolph earned her sixth career Emmy for her voice-over work in the animated series “Big Mouth,” while Bassett won her first Emmy for narrating the National Geographic wildlife documentary series “Queens.”

Both nights of the Creative Arts Emmys will be condensed into a single 2.5-hour show that is set to air on FXX on September 14 and will be available for streaming on Hulu the following day. The Primetime Emmy Awards, hosted by Dan and Eugene Levy, will also take place at the Peacock Theater and will air on ABC on September 15.