Historic Night for FX at the Emmys
When Justin Marks, the talented writer and producer of “Shogun,” made his way to the stage during the Emmy Awards on Sunday night, he was overwhelmed with emotion as his show clinched the coveted title of Best Drama. His first words were a heartfelt acknowledgment of the executive team at FX, the network that took a bold gamble on his ambitious project.
“How did you ever approve a show that was not only going to be incredibly expensive but would also feature a significant amount of dialogue in Japanese?” he asked, clearly astonished. “I have no idea why you did that, but thank you for believing in this remarkable team,” he expressed with genuine gratitude.
For nearly two decades, FX has earned a reputation as a critical darling, showcasing a plethora of acclaimed series such as “American Horror Story,” “The Americans,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” and “Atlanta.” Despite its impressive portfolio, the network had never previously secured television’s most prestigious accolade, the Best Drama award, until this momentous Sunday night.
“Shogun,” a gripping adaptation of the bestselling novel from 1975, transports viewers to 17th century feudal Japan, a nation on the cusp of civil war. The series not only marked a historic win for FX but also shattered records by taking home a staggering 18 Emmy Awards in total, the highest number ever achieved by a single show in one year. Additionally, it made waves as the first foreign-language series—approximately 70% of its dialogue is in Japanese—to win the Best Drama award, a category traditionally dominated by English-language shows from the United States, the United Kingdom, or fantasy realms like Westeros.
In the midst of this historic evening, another FX gem, “The Bear,” also shone brightly, garnering several major Emmy Awards, including three for outstanding acting. However, in a surprising twist, Max’s “Hacks” triumphed over “The Bear” to claim the title of Best Comedy Series, adding an unexpected twist to the night’s celebrations.
