“Widow’s Bay” swept all 6 categories it entered Monday night, bringing its single-season total to 14 Emmys and passing the comedy record of 13 set by “The Studio” last year. The Apple TV series had already collected 8 awards at an earlier ceremony.
The first-season show follows a New England island community confronting a centuries-old curse, with Matthew Rhys playing the mayor. Creator Katie Dippold called it a “crazy, creative swing” while accepting best comedy series, adding, “They truly just let us do this weird show.”
Rhys won lead actor in a comedy and lead actor in a limited series for “The Beast in Me,” making him the first man to win 2 leading actor categories in the same year. He earned a third trophy as an executive producer of “Widow’s Bay.”
The show also won comedy writing for Dippold and directing for Hiro Murai. Stephen Root and Kate O’Flynn took the supporting acting awards, giving both performers their first Emmys. At 74, Root became the category’s oldest winner.
Apple TV has now won best comedy series in 4 of the past 6 seasons across “Widow’s Bay,” “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso.”