{
  "id": 3597829,
  "title": "Will 24 be the last network show to win the Emmys’ top prize?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/will-24-be-the-last-network-show-to-win-the-emmys-top-prize",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-26T18:00:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The A.V. Club",
    "slug": "the-a-v-club",
    "url": "https://www.avclub.com/24-emmys-2006-last-network-best-drama"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2006, Fox's 24 won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series, marking the first time a network show had ever claimed the prestigious award. This victory came after four previous nominations, as the show had consistently been in contention but never emerged triumphant. Co-creator Joel Surnow noted that the acceptance speech was brief, recognizing the hard work of the cast, crew, and viewers. However, the ceremony also highlighted a unique milestone—no other network show had won the top Emmy prize in the past 20 years.\n\n24 reached this milestone by besting competitors such as NBC's The West Wing, HBO's The Sopranos, ABC's Grey's Anatomy, and Fox's House. The show's success was attributed to its strong chemistry between lead actor Kiefer Sutherland and supporting cast members Gregory Itzin and Jean Smart. The 2006 season also saw the show reaching new heights, with a record-breaking audience of over 17 million viewers for each episode and an average of 14 million viewers per week.\n\nSince 24's victory, the trend has continued, with only streaming and cable shows claiming the Outstanding Drama Series award in subsequent years. In fact, 60% of the 40 shows nominated for the award over the last five years have been from streaming platforms, while cable claims the remaining 40%. This shift in nominations may be attributed to the larger budgets, commercial-free content, and edgier programming offered by cable and streaming networks. However, executive producer Howard Gordon remains uncertain if a network drama will ever again have a chance at the Emmy trophy, citing the unique challenges and stigma associated with broadcast offerings.",
  "summary": "Twenty years on, showrunner Howard Gordon remembers the night the real-time thriller made a curious type of history.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}