TV Talk: 'Hacks,' 'Shogun,' 'Baby Reindeer' dominate Emmys; Jonasi advances to 'AGT' finals

January’s strike-delayed Emmys telecast succeeded by giving viewers what they want: A celebration of the medium and its most successful shows, including cast reunions of “Ally McBeal,” “Cheers” and “Martin” among others.

Sunday’s telecast of the “76th Emmy Awards,” honoring programs that aired/streamed between June 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024, leaned further into nostalgia reuniting TV dads (Damon Wayans, George Lopez, Jesse Tyler Ferguson), TV moms (Meredith Baxter, Connie Britton, Susan Kelechi Watson), TV coaches (Brendan Hunt, Jane Lynch), TV cops (Jimmy Smits, Don Johnson, Niecy Nash Betts), TV lawyers (Viola Davis, Gina Torres, Christine Baranski) and TV antagonists (Antony Starr, Kathy Bates, Giancarlo Esposito). But those collections of stars didn’t hit the same sweet spot as cast reunions, although this Emmy telecast had a few of those, including “Saturday Night Live” (Maya Rudolph, Seth Meyers, Kristen Wiig, Bowen Yang), “Happy Days” (Ron Howard, Henry Winkler) and “The West Wing” (Janel Moloney, Dule Hill, Martin Sheen, Richard Schiff, Allison Janney).

Max’s “Hacks” was somewhat of an upset, beating out Hulu’s “The Bear” as best comedy. FX’s “Shōgun” dominated the drama categories as expected. Netflix’s “Baby Reindeer” won repeatedly in limited/anthology series, barreling over the deserving “Fargo” and “Fellow Travelers.”

The tone of this Emmys didn’t have the zip of the January telecast. It was fine but it didn’t display the same buoyant joy and love of TV.

Father-and-son hosts Eugene and Dan Levy kicked off the telecast with an OK but unexceptional 9-minute opening. Perhaps the best quip was when they raised the question of whether Hulu’s “The Bear” should be in the drama or comedy category (it’s in the comedy category) with Eugene Levy saying, “In the true spirit of ‘The Bear,’ we will not be making any jokes.” Dan Levy accurately quipped that the Emmys are “also known as broadcast TV’s biggest night for honoring movie stars on streaming services.”

And while there were a few surprises (“Hacks” over “The Bear” for best comedy; “The Traitors” over “RuPaul’s Drag Race” for best reality competition), there were many repeats, including another win by “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.” Perhaps grasping for something new to say, Oliver dedicated his win to his dead dog and all “you very good girls and very good boys, you all deserve a treat!”

Some additional Emmy moments worth noting:

— In ABC’s pre-show, “Good Morning America” host Robin Roberts interviewed her boss, Disney CEO Bob Iger which was … a choice. A brown-nosing, obsequious choice.

— Among presenters, Candice Bergen (“Murphy Brown”) brought down the house with her comic timing. Remarking that her famous character was once slammed by then-Vice President Dan Quayle, Bergen quipped, “Today a vice presidential candidate would never attack a woman for having kids, so as they say, my work here is done,” before waiting a beat and deadpanning, “Meow,” in reference to vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance’s comments on “childless cat ladies.”

— Smart move to put the names of people the winners wanted to thank on screen.

— Billy Crystal told a great anecdote about his first time on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and then read from his diary about his supposed memories of his appearances on all the nominated late-night talk shows (most of the hosts dissed him after he appeared on their show).

— Best rich people diss: “Scrubs” star Zach Braff said before he landed that role, “I was waiting tables and serving the universally gracious people of Beverly Hills.”

— Best past awards show reference: “Slow Horses” writer Will Smith — not the actor who hit Chris Rock at the Oscars — took to the stage and said, “First of all, relax, despite my name, I come in peace.”

— The Emmys gave a speaking slot to John Leguizamo, who earlier this year took out an ad in The New York Times urging the Television Academy to recognize a more diverse group of performers. It was a baller move to bring a critic inside the tent, aided, of course, by the more inclusive slate of Emmy nominees this year. Although it would have been better to leave it at that, rather than the self-congratulatory back-patting spree that followed from Television Academy chairman Cris Abrego.

— Congrats to writer/director/producer Greg Berlanti, recipient of the 2024 Governor’s Award, who has always been kind to me over the 28 years I’ve covered TV and has even remembered my name (very rare!). And I learned something new in Berlanti’s speech that we have in common: He wanted to be the next Jim Henson, same as me at age 7.

Emmy winners list

Drama series: “Shōgun” (FX).

Comedy series: “Hacks” (Max).

Limited or anthology series: “Baby Reindeer” (Netflix).

Actor in a drama series: Hiroyuki Sanada, “Shōgun.”

Actress in a drama series: Anna Sawai, “Shōgun.”

Actor, comedy: Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear” (Hulu).

Actress, comedy: Jean Smart, “Hacks.”

Supporting actor, comedy series: Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear.”

Supporting actress, comedy series: Liza Colón-Zayas, “The Bear.”

Supporting actress, drama: Elizabeth Debicki, “The Crown” (Netflix).

Supporting actor, drama: Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show” (Apple TV+).

Lead actress, limited/anthology series: Jodie Foster, “True Detective: Night Country” (HBO).

Lead actor, limited/anthology series: Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer.”

Supporting actor, limited/anthology series: Lamorne Morris, “Fargo” (FX).

Supporting actress, limited/anthology series: Jessica Gunning, “Baby Reindeer.”

Talk series: “The Daily Show” (Comedy Central).

Reality competition program: “The Traitors” (Peacock).

Scripted variety series: “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (HBO).

Writing, drama: Will Smith, “Slow Horses” (Apple TV+).

Writing, comedy: Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky, “Hacks.”

Writing, limited/anthology series: Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer.”

Writing, variety: Alex Edelman, “Just For Us” (HBO).

Directing, drama: Frederick E. O. Toye, “Shōgun.”

Directing, comedy: Christopher Storer, “The Bear.”

Directing, limited/anthology series: Steven Zaillian, “Ripley” (Netflix).

Jonasi in ‘AGT’ finals

Last week Pittsburgh-based comedian Learnmore Jonasi advanced to the “America’s Got Talent” finals.

He will be one of 10 acts in the finals and will perform during Tuesday’s show (8-10 p.m., WPXI-TV), vying for the $1 million grand prize. The winner will be announced during the “AGT” season finale at 8 p.m. Sept. 24.

Channel surfing

Melissa Gilbert (“Little House on the Prairie”) will guest star in two episodes of Hallmark Channel’s “When Calls the Heart” when it returns for its 12th season next year. … Mary Elizabeth Mastriano will have a recurring role as a figure from Stabler’s (Meloni’s) past on “Law Order: Organized Crime” when it returns for its fifth season on Peacock.

You can reach TV writer Rob Owen at rowen@triblive.com or 412-380-8559. Follow @RobOwenTV on Threads, Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky and Facebook. Ask TV questions by email or phone. Please include your first name and location.