In May of 2023, a strike involving nearly 11,000 writers in film and television took place. Subsequently, in July, tens of thousands of actors initiated a strike, marking the first instance of simultaneous walkouts by actors and screenwriters since 1960.
The organizers of the Emmy awards that year determined that the ceremony would need to be postponed until the following January, allowing the industry sufficient time to address labor disputes. Screenwriters officially ended their 148-day strike in late September, while actors ratified their new agreement with their studios in December.
Over the past few years, the Emmy’s have seen a decrease in both ratings and viewership.The 2024 award show marked a record low for the fifth time in just six years. With the exception of the 2021 ceremony, the ratings have been steadily falling every year since 2018, when it had an audience of 10.2 million watchers. With 7.83 million viewers, the 2021 event experienced a significant increase—1.4 million more than the 2020 ceremony.
This year, Succession, The Bear, and Beef each nearly dominated their respective categories in drama, comedy, and limited series. Succession and The Bear tied for first place with six wins each, and Beef came in second with five prizes. With Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook, and Matthew Macfadyen taking home individual honors in their respective categories, Succession won the outstanding drama series prize.
In addition, director Mark Mylod and writer/creator Jesse Armstrong received recognition for their work on the episode Connor’s Wedding, which featured the passing of Waystar Royco CEO Logan Roy.
The Bear secured the outstanding comedy award in its inaugural season, as Jeremy Allen White claimed the lead actor in a comedy prize, Ayo Edebiri won lead actress in a comedy, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach earned recognition as supporting actor in a comedy. Beef clinched the outstanding limited series award, with Steven Yeun receiving recognition as lead actor and Ali Wong as lead actress. Additionally, creator Lee Sung Jin was honored for both writing and directing.
Despite the challenges and declining ratings, the 74th Emmy Awards showcased outstanding achievements and performances, leaving a mark on the television industry. The ceremony highlighted TV and film from both 2022 and 2023, and while it was a fierce competition, many awards were presented.
