There was no curse on Widow's Bay at the 2026 Emmys.

Already an eight-time winner heading into the main ceremony hosted by Mariska Hargitay from L.A. Live's Peacock Theater on Sept. 14, the Apple TV+ horror comedy vanquished the competition for Outstanding Comedy Series, while stars Matthew Rhys, Kate O'Flynn and Stephen Root took home acting trophies.

All told, the freshman darling won a record 14 Emmys between tonight and last weekend's Creative Arts Emmys to give it the most ever wins for a comedy in one year.

In other words, there was a lot to lament for the show's star.

"You want to be the slow burn," Rhys exclusively quipped to E! News backstage. "You don't want this much attention in season one. You want to build to season five, like The Diplomat."

Letting that shout-out to partner Keri Russell's critically acclaimed drama sink in for a few seconds, he added, "It's all the pressure now, isn't it? It's downhill from here, this is the apex."

Rhys also, incidentally, needed both hands for his history-making haul, having also won for lead actor in a limited series for his far darker performance in The Beast in Me. And presumably Russell is still going home with him. 

Meanwhile, The Pitt, the most-nominated series headed into the night with 25 nods, repeated as Outstanding Drama Series and Noah Wyle also won his second statue for lead actor in a drama for a grand total of six wins for the HBO hit's sophomore season.

But the stars came out to celebrate each other, win or lose.

And, despite the Emmys being a celebration of all things TV, whether you stream your shows or watch them via something called a network, a lot can happen during a commercial break. Or at the tables, or backstage, or at the bar, let alone after the celebs have moved on to the after-parties.

So stick with us here and keep scrolling for charming, funny, surprising and heartwarming moments you didn't see on TV:

What is this, the Oscars?! Well, it could be a preview of the 2027 ceremony, but for now it's a celebration of the odyssey that was Zendaya's journey starring on three spread-out seasons of Euphoria, which landed her another nomination for lead actress in a drama alongside The Testaments' Chase Infiniti. 

The Witcher's Anya Chalotra captured the moment for Widow's Bay producer-director Hiro Murai and his partner Emma Barrie.

Kaley Cuoco was up to the, er, task of sitting between her fiancé Tom Pelphrey and his Task costar Mark Ruffalo

They may have gone home without statues in 2026, but Ayo Edebiri, Zendaya and Quinta Brunson still have four Emmys between them.

Hacks was knocked aside by the Widow's Bay tidal wave, but the much-decorated sitcom's final season was still a triumph to celebrate for the show's nominated supporting stars.

Someone was happy for the Pluribus star's long-deserved first Emmy for lead actress in a drama, even though Rhea Seehorn's statue made for a less gilded evening for her fellow nominee Carrie Coon.

You'd have to be soulless not to be shook by Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz's Buffy the Vampire Slayer reunion.

Cary Mulligan, Oscar Isaac, Youn Yuh-jung, Charles Melton & Cailee Spaeny

Beef was winless Sept. 14, but no need to take it up with the TV Academy. The Netflix anthology's second season won three trophies during the Creative Arts Emmys the previous weekend.

Kate O'Flynn either won an Emmy or she's actually holding some cursed deer antlers, but in any case, she's going home with a smile on her face.

The Six Feet Under alums enjoyed a rare reunion in the flesh.