What happened at the 2023 Emmy Awards

Jan. 15, 2024 Updated 8:06 PM PT

The 75th Emmy Awards are here — four months after the ceremony had been set to air, thanks to the actors’ and writers’ strikes. But, hey, absence makes the heart grow fonder. And some of the shows expected to clean up tonight — “Succession,” “Beef,” the first season of “The Bear” (which aired in 2022!) — have been absent from our hearts for a very long time.

The Times will have you covered throughout TV’s biggest night with our Emmys live blog. Join awards columnist Glenn Whipp and staff writers Meredith Blake and Tracy Brown, who is in the press room at the show doing on-the-ground reporting, as they break down the highlights and lowlights of Monday’s telecast on Fox, beginning at 5 p.m. Pacific. Keep it here for live updates throughout the night.

The complete winners list

8:00 P.M. Television 2023, to recap: “Succession,” “The Bear” and “Beef.” That’s all folks. And, like Matty Matheson, I love restaurants! I plan on going to one right now to celebrate the end of our Emmy coverage, or, at least, my part of it. Goodnight! — G.W.

7:59 P.M. Brian Cox may not have won an Emmy for his indelible portrayal of Logan Roy, but Jesse Armstrong acknowledged the pivotal role the actor played in making “Succession” as great as it was by thanking him first in his acceptance speech. — M.B.

7:57 P.M. “The Bear” wins for comedy series and Ebon Moss-Bachrach celebrates by pulling an Adrien Brody and planting a very unexpected kiss on his co-star, Matty Matheson. — M.B.

7:54 P.M. Early Emmys 2024 (part 2) headline: “The Bear” sweeps — again! — G.W.

7:49 P.M. “Succession” cast members who have now won Emmys: Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Matthew Macfadyen, Kieran Culkin, Cherry Jones. All deserved! But who’s missing from that list? Brian Cox for playing the family patriarch, Logan Roy. That’s … unfortunate. Good on Emmy voters for all the recognition. But for that omission? F— off. — G.W.

7:44 P.M. Hopefully “Succession’s” Kieran Culkin wins a lot more awards because he always gives an entertaining speech. On the Emmys stage, accepting for lead actor in a drama, he thanks his kids and his wife, Jazz Charton — then tells her, “I want more.” (Kids, that is.) It was either totally inappropriate, or completely adorable. I’ll go with the latter. — M.B.

7:38 P.M. Kieran Culkin and Brian Cox. Dad finally gives his approval! — G.W.

7:37 P.M. Note to “Ted Lasso” fans: The show won’t come away completely empty-handed from its leading 21 nominations. At the Creative Arts Emmys, held earlier, Sam Richardson won comedy guest actor for his turn as tech billionaire Edwin Akufo. And the show won the Emmy for original music and lyrics. Small consolation. But not a shutout. — G.W.

7:35 P.M. For those keeping track at home, Rob Reiner is the first presenter to speak in Yiddish. Onstage with his “All in the Family” co-star Sally Struthers, he calls the late producer Norman Lear a “kochleffel,” a ladle who stirred the pot and “wound up changing American culture.” Lear leads the In Memoriam segment, which feels especially stacked with legends this year, from Barbara Walters and Bob Barker to, of course, Matthew Perry. — M.B.

7:19 P.M. Thanks, Tracy! I thought it was shrimp. The orange hue threw me off! — G.W.

7:14 P.M. So what was Paul Walter Hauser eating when he got on stage to accept his Emmy for supporting actor in a limited series? Dried mango.

“The origin of the inside joke is way too long and you get annoyed if I explain to you,” Hauser said in the press room. “But we love mangos. So my agent at CAA, Ryan Abboushi, came up and handed me a bag of dried mango as a good luck charm. And then I was like, whether I win or not, I’m going to eat this on camera.” — T.B.

7:07 P.M. “Beef’s” winning streak continues as Steven Yeun and Ali Wong take the Emmys in their respective categories — lead actor and actress in a limited or anthology series or movie. I have no beef with this. (Sorry, no more puns, I promise.) My only complaint is there’s no category for “outstanding use of Hoobastank and O-Town in a TV soundtrack,” because “Beef” would be a lock. — M.B.

7:05 P.M. Again, when the Emmys love a show, they really LOVE a show. Judging from tonight, you pretty much only needed to watch three series this past year: “Beef,” “Succession” and “The Bear.” But I like both the “Beef” leads — Steven Yeun and Ali Wong, winners for limited series lead acting — because they were sensational in roles that showcased the actors’ comedic and dramatic range. — G.W.

6:55 P.M. After his win for variety special for “Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium,” Sir Elton has earned the coveted EGOT. In case you were wondering how:

Grammys: He has five, but since it’s the Grammys, not for any of his best material.

Oscars: Best original song for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from “The Lion King.”

Tonys: He won in 2000 for the score to “Aida.” — G.W.

6:45 P.M. To the surprise of exactly no one, Jesse Armstrong wins for writing “Connor’s Wedding,” the episode of “Succession” that was about pretty much everything except the perpetually overlooked eldest Roy sibling. Armstrong gives a gracious speech that delicately broaches the issue of immigration. He notes that even though he’s a foreigner, he’s always been welcomed by Americans. “We’ve always been met with generosity and good faith … it’s very nice and for some reason the name of Australian-born media mogul Rupert Murdoch comes to mind,” he says. “I’m very grateful for the generosity I’ve been shown working in this country.” — M.B.

6:41 P.M. Let’s pause a moment here to deliver an early R.I.P. to “Better Call Saul,” the most-nominated television program to never win an Emmy, going 0 for 53 over the course of six brilliant seasons. — G.W.

6:39 P.M. One of the most rousing moments in the press room happened thanks to supporting actress in a limited series winner Niecy Nash, who was asked about the importance of giving yourself recognition for your work.

“I’m the only one who knows what it costs me,” said Nash, who explained that the award was especially meaningful because it was in recognition for a dramatic role. “I’m the only one who knows how many nights I cried because I couldn’t be seen for a certain type of role. I’m the one who knows what it’s like to go through divorce on camera and still have to pull up and show out … I’m proud of myself. I’m proud that I did something that people said I could not do because I believed in me. And sometimes people don’t believe in themselves and I hope my speech was a delicious invitation for people to do just that. Believe in yourself and congratulate yourself.” — T.B.

6:33 P.M. Not sure what was more impressive: Paul Walter Hauser delivering that rap read off his phone. Or Paul Walter Hauser eating what looked to be shrimp (?) as his name was announced as the winner for his supporting turn as the psycho killer in the limited series “Black Bird.” — G.W.

6:28 P.M. “Beef” picks up the first of what could be several awards this evening. Creator Lee Sung Jin accepts the prize for directing a limited or anthology series for the twisty road-rage drama, which was inspired by his own encounter on the freeways of L.A. Lee recalled moving here as a broke aspiring writer with 60 cents in his checking account. “I wasn’t sure of anything back then,” he says. He can probably be sure the series will do well tonight. — M.B.

6:25 P.M. Noah joked that the only reason his show won for variety talk series was because the television academy moved “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” to scripted variety series. He’s … right. Oliver is an Emmy lock year in, year out. The good news (in addition to Noah’s long-deserved Emmy win): Oliver taking scripted variety series means “Saturday Night Live” doesn’t win another undeserved Emmy. — G.W.

6:24 P.M. In light of his acclaimed turn as Kerry Von Erich in “The Iron Claw,” lead comedy actor winner Jeremy Allen White was asked in the press room if he’d ever consider appearing in an actual pro wrestling match.

“I would need so much warning if that is something that they’d want me to do,” said White. “I’d be so excited, but only if Zac [Efron] and Harris [Dickinson] were there.” — T.B.

6:20 P.M. “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” wins for talk series — the show’s first win in this category since Jon Stewart stepped down in 2015. Noah, who left as host more than a year ago, gives a nod to his predecessor, whose now-canceled show “The Problem With Jon Stewart” was also nominated: “Wherever you are my friend, thank you for calling me up.” — M.B.

6:13 P.M. Only down note for “The Bear” tonight: Ebon Moss-Bacharach told Vanity Fair that the show’s creator Christopher Storer, who won Emmys for writing and directing, isn’t at the ceremony because he tested positive for COVID. — G.W.

RuPaul and the cast of "RuPaul's Drag Race."

6:09 P.M. Accepting the prize for outstanding reality competition program for “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” RuPaul strikes a gently topical note. “If a drag queen wants to read you a story at a library, listen to her because knowledge is power,” he says. — M.B.

6:04 P.M. Fondly remembering Quinta Brunson’s win for “Abbott Elementary.” The only comedy Emmy tonight that won’t go to “The Bear.” — G.W.

6:03 P.M. Back in the press room, supporting drama actor winner Matthew Macfadyen was asked if he’d ever do a “Succession” spinoff. “Never say never, but it’s highly unlikely,” he said. — T.B.

5:59 P.M. The cast of “Cheers” reunites on yet another expertly recreated set. As someone who spent many, many hours contemplating the layout of the Keaton family residence on “Family Ties,” I am just loving all the retro set replicas. — M.B.

Ayo Edebiri, winner for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for "The Bear."

5:57 P.M. The first winner to make it into the press room is Ayo Edebiri, who took the award for supporting comedy actress. A number of folks wanted to hear more about her parents, whom she mentioned during her acceptance speech. Edebiri said that like many immigrant parents, hers probably wanted her to pursue a career in medicine, but “I feel like they are happy with the results at the present moment ... My parents were always taking me to see shows, always supporting me. When I told my parents I was going to art school, they [weren’t surprised.] ‘You know that we’ve been raising you, we do know who you are.’” — T.B.

5:56 P.M. Yes, Meredith, Nash deserved to win for her work in “Dahmer.” But that speech demonstrated another reason she prevailed: How do you not love Niecy Nash? “I’m a winner, baby!” She was before this show. Now it’s official. — G.W.

Niecy Nash wins for supporting actress in a limited series, anthology series or drama.

5:55 P.M. Niecy Nash wins for supporting actress in a limited series, anthology series or movie for her moving turn as Glenda Cleveland in “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” and gives a powerful speech, dedicating her prize to Black women who’ve been “unheard yet overpoliced,” like her character, Breonna Taylor and Sandra Bland. “My job is to speak truth to power, and I’m gonna do it to the day I die,” she said. — M.B.

5:50 P.M. Stephen Colbert and Taylor Tomlinson — whose late night show “After Midnight” just so happens to premiere tomorrow — present the award for scripted variety series, which goes to “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver.” Oliver, who has won many, many Emmys by now, manages to keep his speech amusing, asking for advice on where to buy Pokemon cards in L.A. for his kids back at home. Quick, someone help a desperate dad! — M.B.

5:43 P.M. The crazy (stupid) thing about the Emmys is that once voters decide they love a show, there are no half measures. So it wins everything. Moss-Bacharach was terrific in the first season of “The Bear,” but James Marsden was absolutely brilliant playing a heightened version of himself in “Jury Duty.” Spread the love, Emmys. The Academy Awards know how to do this. You should too. — G.W.

5:42 P.M. And now we get a reunion of the cast of “Martin” — including Martin Lawrence and Tisha Campbell — who note that the popular ’90s sitcom was never exactly an Emmys favorite. — M.B.

5:38 P.M. And they weren’t going to reward Moss-Bacharach and Edebiri without saluting the star of “The Bear,” Jeremy Allen White, for comedy lead actor. — G.W.

5:37 P.M. “Ted Lasso” pulled in the most Emmy nominations with 21. But Ebon Moss-Bachrach winning for “The Bear”? Wow. “The Bear” really is going to win comedy series this year. Again: Technically, it’s for its first season, the one that premiered a year and a half ago. But its second season dropped while Emmy voters were considering this year’s awards, and they were clearly impressed. — G.W.

5:29 P.M. Another win for Tom Wambsgans. Never underestimate a cornfed basic from Hockeytown! — M.B.

5:28 P.M. Matthew Macfadyen won “Succession.” And now he won the Emmy for supporting actor drama. Good that he gave a shout-out to his actual wife, too. Kept the winning streak going. — G.W.

5:27 P.M. “White Lotus’” Jennifer Coolidge shouting out “all the evil gays” when accepting the award for supporting drama actress is exactly why we gays love her back. — T.B.

5:26 P.M. Sitting in a surprisingly convincing replica of Dr. Melfi’s office — props to the show’s set designers — Anderson pays tribute to “The Sopranos,” which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and introduces Lorraine Bracco and Michael Imperioli, who remember the great James Gandolfini. My question: Where’s Edie? — M.B.

5:25 P.M. Anthony Anderson’s mom needs to be at every awards show moving forward. — G.W.

5:22 P.M. There was only one person capable of stopping a “Succession” sweep tonight and that’s the woman who played a self-absorbed heiress who shot her way out of trouble in a death-defying blaze of glory and then executed a perfect comic pratfall that took her to her final resting place. R.I.P. Tanya. Long live Jennifer Coolidge, winner for supporting actress drama for “The White Lotus.” — G.W.

5:18 P.M. Oh man, I loved that Quinta Brunson win for comedy lead actress for “Abbott Elementary,” a show that didn’t get nearly as much respect from voters as it should have. And that speech … the “Carol Burnett of it all.” She didn’t expect to be standing there. I adored the recovery … when in doubt, always fall back on “I love my mom, my dad...” — G.W.

5:13 P.M. The superb second season of “The Bear” ended with a glorious last image of a beaming, validated Edebiri. It’s not the season that’s up for this year’s Emmys. But I know that image was firmly lodged in voters’ brains. — G.W.

5:12 P.M. Christina Applegate gets a standing ovation when she takes to the stage. The actor, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and was using a cane, joked, “Body not by Ozempic.” She presented the supporting actress in a comedy award to Ayo Edebiri — a first of probably many wins for “The Bear.” — M.B.

5:09 P.M. If the low bar for an opening monologue is to leave the stage with the audience not actively hating you, Anthony Anderson has succeeded. — G.W.

5:08 P.M. Five minutes into the show and for some reason Travis Barker is here, playing Phil Collins’ famous drum break from “In the Air Tonight.” — M.B.

5:04 P.M. Anthony Anderson and a choir singing “Good Times.” Good start. Thinking he’s saving “The Jeffersons” theme for the closer. — G.W.

4:59 P.M. One more pre-show note: The evening’s first Emmy will be comedy supporting actress, the category that was hardest for me to predict. If Ayo Edebiri wins for “The Bear,” it could be the beginning of a big night for that show. — G.W.

4:57 P.M. Speaking of important people, my kids keep barging into the living room where I am watching from my couch and, well, they have some opinions on the red carpet fashion. (Juliette Lewis got two thumbs up for her disco-ready Moschino gown, and I got a lot of questions about Suki Waterhouse’s look.) They’re also thrilled to see Jenna Ortega, star of their favorite show “Wednesday,” but keep asking me why Taylor Swift isn’t there. Excellent question, kids. — M.B.

4:38 P.M. “Surprises” and “Emmys” are not words usually used in the same sentence, but one can hope, Tracy. And to Meredith’s point, I would imagine that the strikes will be mentioned a few times tonight by both presenters and winners, particularly when the writing awards are handed out. After all, it’s the show’s writers who create the presenters’ patter. You think they’re going to miss the chance to note their own importance? — G.W.

4:20 P.M. Hello from the Emmys’ press room, where I definitely got lost more than once trying to walk here from the parking lot while dressed in formalwear. I’m stationed in a hotel ballroom that the winners are eventually shuffled towards after accepting their awards and getting played off stage. After making their way through some photo ops and video interviews, the winners take to the (much smaller) stage in the press room to field a few questions from the reporters who are assembled elbow-to-elbow and hunched over their laptops. I anticipate seeing many faces from “Succession” in this room over the course of the night, but maybe the Emmy voters will surprise us! — Tracy Brown

4:15 P.M. Wow, 60 degrees. Glenn, be careful out there! Greetings from New York where it’s a blustery 28 and I, too, am feeling disoriented by these weird, belated Emmys — taking place the same day as the Iowa caucus, the outcome of which also feels like a foregone conclusion.

Skepticism aside, I am genuinely looking forward to some things tonight, including saying one last farewell to my favorite toxic TV family, the Roys, who left a hole in my heart that no show has been able to fill since. I’m curious to see who will finally become CEO — excuse me, who will win in the three-way race between Kieran Culkin, Brian Cox and Jeremy Strong.

“Succession” can’t win every award tonight, and I’m curious to see if “Beef” will dominate the limited series categories as you predicted.

But it’s hard to deny the fact that, even without the delay, these Emmys arrive at a deeply unstable moment in TV-land, after dual strikes that called attention to the painful disruption caused by the streaming revolution and amid industry-wide layoffs. We’ll see how that affects the mood this evening.

Glenn, do you think the strikes will come up in any acceptance speeches or has everyone politely decided to move on? —Meredith Blake

4:11 P.M. The 2023 (even though it’s 2024) Emmys are here — and not a moment too soon. If this ceremony had been delayed any longer, I’m not sure I could still retain the scattered pictures of the smiles all these long-over shows have left behind. (Sorry. I’m in the middle of the 992-page Barbra Streisand memoir.)

Usually, the Emmys are held in September and the red carpet feels like it’s on fire. Tonight, L.A. is shivering. The temperature might drop below 60 before the show begins. So I’m grabbing an extra blanket, enjoying some Irish coffee in honor of Cillian Murphy, nominated … wait, he’s up for an Oscar, not an Emmy. The timing of this awards season is so messed up. (Maybe I’d better hold the whiskey.)

Tonight is going to be all about seeing and celebrating all our dearly departed friends from “Succession.” And seeing if “The Bear” will topple “Ted Lasso.” What are you looking forward to, Meredith? — Glenn Whipp

‘Succession,’ ‘The Bear’ and ‘Beef’ dominate 2023 Emmy Awards

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