LOS ANGELES: The Steve Carell Emmy bid for HBO’s “Rooster” fell short at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 14. Instead, Matthew Rhys won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for “Widow’s Bay.”
Carell was nominated for his performance as author Greg Russo in “Rooster.” The other contenders were Yahya Abdul-Mateen II for “Wonder Man,” Jason Segel for “Shrinking” and Martin Short for “Only Murders in the Building.”
The result means Carell remains without a Primetime Emmy despite 12 career nominations, according to the Television Academy. Six of those acting nominations came for his portrayal of Michael Scott in NBC’s “The Office.”
1.
Matthew Rhys did something that’s NEVER happened in 78 years of Emmy history.
He won two lead acting trophies in ONE NIGHT. Best Actor Comedy for “Widow’s Bay,” then an hour later, Best Actor Limited Series for “The Beast in Me.” Same guy, same night.…
— Digital Crave (@Digital_Crave) September 15, 2026Rhys’ win formed part of a major night for Apple TV’s “Widow’s Bay,” which also won Outstanding Comedy Series. Rhys separately won Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for “The Beast in Me.”
Carell nevertheless drew attention on the Emmy red carpet when E!’s “Live From E!: 2026 Emmys” asked him about being labelled a “zaddy” online. He joked that he “really buy[ies] into the whole thing.”
Read: Emmy Nominations 2026: The Pitt Leads With 25 Nods
“Rooster,” created by Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses, premiered on HBO in March. HBO renewed the college-set comedy for a second season on April 9. They renewed it after its first four episodes averaged 5.8 million US viewers.
