Japanese filmmaker Hiro Murai made Emmy history as the first Asian director to win Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series, taking home the honor for his work on Apple TV’s ‘Widow’s Bay’.
This milestone also marked Murai’s second Emmy win and 10th nomination, following his first victory as a producer of ‘The Bear’.
Murai shares historic moment with team
Behind Murai’s historic win is the peculiar world of ‘Widow’s Bay’, a horror-comedy that follows Matthew Rhys as the mayor of a struggling New England island town, where his plans to attract tourists collide with locals’ warnings that the island is cursed.
The show’s unusual mix of humor and horror helped showcase Murai’s Emmy-winning direction, but in his acceptance speech, he shifted the credit to the people who helped bring that world to life.
“I always say my job isn’t to make the show. It’s just to let the right people in the room. And we just had the most beautiful, kindest, most gifted people in our room on show,” Murai said.
He thanked the cast, crew and post-production team, with a special mention for “Widow’s Bay” writer Katie Dippold, before thanking his family and partner, Emma.
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A big win for ‘Widow’s Bay’
Murai’s directing victory was one of many for “Widow’s Bay,” as the comedy-horror series made Emmy history with a record 14 wins.
The series surpassed the record set the previous year by fellow Apple TV comedy series “The Studio,” which collected 13 Emmys.
‘Widow’s Bay’ won six awards during the main ceremony, adding to the eight it had already secured at an earlier Emmy ceremony.
Along with Outstanding Comedy Series, Matthew Rhys won lead actor, Kate O’Flynn took supporting actress and Stephen Root won supporting actor.
Meanwhile, Katie Dippold earned the award for writing.
Asians breaking Emmy barriers
Murai’s victory now adds to a growing list of Asian filmmakers and performers who have broken barriers at the Emmys.
In 2022, South Korean filmmaker Hwang Dong-hyuk became the first Asian to win Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for Netflix’s ‘Squid Game’.
The series also delivered a milestone for Lee Jung-jae, who became the first Asian actor to win Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
Two years later, Korean American filmmaker Lee Sung Jin won Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Netflix’s “Beef.”
The series also saw Steven Yeun and Ali Wong take home the lead acting honors in their respective categories.
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