“The Crown” took the Best Drama crown, while the Jason Sudeikis comedy “Ted Lasso” had a winning first season and nabbed the award for Best Comedy at the 2021 Emmy Awards Sunday night.
Meanwhile, multiple nominee “The Queen’s Gambit” took home the gold for Outstanding Limited Series, as well as Outstanding Director for a Limited or Anthology Series.
The ceremony, featuring first-time host Cedric the Entertainer, was held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles and aired live on CBS and streamed on sister network Paramount+.
Two big winners of the night were “Ted Lasso” star Sudeikis and “Hacks” lead Jean Smart, who took home their respective awards for Best Actor and Best Actress in a Comedy Series.
An emotional Smart, 70, mentioned the support of her late husband, Richard Gilliland, who died in March at age 71. “I would not be here without him putting his career on the back burner so that I could take advantage of all of the incredible opportunities I had,” she said before also thanking her children. (Smart was also nominated in the Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her role in “Mare of Easttown,” but lost to co-star Julianne Nicholson.)
Meanwhile, Sudeikis, 46, found a real-life comparison to his sports-themed sitcom. “Heck of a year. I would say this show’s about family, this show’s about mentors and teachers, this show’s about teammates — and I wouldn’t be here without those three things in my life,” the dapper-dressed actor said.
In an early poignant moment, presenter and Emmy-winner Kerry Washington paid tribute to 54-year-old “Lovecraft Country” star Michael K. Williams, who unexpectedly died Sept. 6 in Brooklyn and was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama.
“Michael was a brilliantly talented actor and a generous human being who has left us far too soon,” Washington said. “Michael, we know you’re here; you wouldn’t miss this.
“Your excellence, your artistry will endure. We love you,” she added before announcing the category winner, “The Crown” star Tobias Menzies.
Be sure to check out The Post’s other Emmys 2021 coverage:
- ‘Queen’s Gambit’ director Scott Frank roasted for long 2021 Emmys speech
- Emmys’ In Memoriam honors Alex Trebek, Cicely Tyson and Michael K. Williams
- Jean Smart earns 2021 Emmys’ first standing ovation for ‘Hacks’ win
- 2021 Emmys open strong with Cedric the Entertainer’s rap monologue
- Kerry Washington honors late Michael K. Williams at Emmys 2021
- Emma Corrin rocks black claws and a ‘swim cap’ on Emmys 2021 red carpet
- Emmys red carpet 2021: See all the celebrity looks
- 5 times Emmy awards have been revoked or withdrawn: Cuomo and more