“Watchmen’s” Regina King accepts the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie.
Invision/AP
Always a bridesmaid, rarely a bride.
The Television Academy handed out 23 awards during Sunday’s Primetime Emmy Awards, and streaming networks won only three of them.
Leading up to the show, streaming networks had the edge in nominations, with Netflix NFLX , Amazon AMZN Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+ and Apple AAPL TV+ combining for an impressive 253 nods.
In fact, Netflix edged perpetual top dog HBO to lead all nominations, 160-107, and Disney+ and Apple TV+ received more than a dozen nods apiece in just their first years, outpacing the likes of Fox, Comedy Central and BBC America.
But Sunday night, streaming was an afterthought. Prestige TV—the high-minded shows that air on traditional television, such as HBO, FX and AMC—came away the big winner, despite having fewer nominations.
Pop TV’s Schitt’s Creek swept every category it was nominated in, taking home seven awards, including four for star/writer/producer/director Dan Levy. The program became the first comedy or drama ever to sweep all four major acting awards in a single season.
But while Creek’s performance was impressive, HBO remained the network to beat, once again leading all networks.
HBO’s The Watchmen and Succession cleaned up with eight combined awards (including Regina King’s fourth Emmy). Zendaya became just the second HBO star to win Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for HBO, taking home the prize for Euphoria. She was also the second Black winner ever in the category, joining How to Get Away With Murder’s Viola Davis.
Streaming networks won both best actor and actress in a drama (Billy Crudup in Apple TV+’s The Morning Show and Julia Garner in Netflix’s Ozark). Netflix also earned an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special for Maria Schrader (Unorthodox).
Uzo Aduba captured Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for Mrs. America, which aired on FX on Hulu, but it was produced by FX and listed by the Television Academy as an FX program.
This year, additional streaming networks entered the fray as well. Apple TV+ scored 18 nominations, including in major acting categories for Morning, while Disney+ had 19 nominations, including a surprise nod for Best Drama for The Mandalorian.
While this may not have been the best showings for the streamers, they have scored standout showings before, with programs including Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale earning major awards.
