The Emmy Awards on Sunday night didn’t offer up one single show that outperformed all the rest. Instead, a few shows split most of the major categories, without too many surprises (there was perhaps one). Hosts Eugene and Dan Levy did their best to keep things moving, and as always, everyone was very thankful. Here are a few takeaways from the ceremony and the Emmy season.
Shōgun was the sweeping historical drama that swept the top categories. More could follow.
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The team from Shogun accepts the Emmy award for outstanding drama series.
Shōgun is the biggest Emmy winner this year, after 14 awards last weekend at the Creative Arts ceremony and four on Sunday night: the show took home outstanding drama series, in addition to awards for lead actor Hiroyuki Sanada, lead actress Anna Sawai, and director Frederick E.O. Toye. Sweeping historical epics are not as popular as they once were, and over and over, FX and Hulu were praised for being willing to support an expensive period piece that was largely in Japanese with subtitles. It’s going to be interesting to see whether there is any effort in the next couple of years to pursue these sweeping epic series like the ones that used to air in the ’70s and ’80s, like North and South or The Thorn Birds.
It’s hard to make an exciting awards show when it’s too soon after the last show.
The last Emmy Awards were only in January of this year, after being delayed by the actors’ and writers’ strikes. Thus, we just did all of the celebrating of beloved shows, the saluting of people who are in The Bear and Hacks, and discussions of how important television is to people. It might seem like the difference between a year and 8.5 months isn’t that much, but it did indeed feel like we just did this, and it felt a little lifeless as a result. Not because there’s anything wrong with the winners, but just because … you know, we just did this.
Baby Reindeer cleaned up, and its creator hopes it will prove a point.
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Richard Gadd, winner of the outstanding limited or anthology series for Baby Reindeer.
The Netflix series created by Richard Gadd won awards for lead actor, supporting actress, writing, and outstanding limited series. It may be in the middle of a lawsuit from the woman who says she inspired the stalker played by Jessica Gunning, but that didn’t bother Emmy voters, who gave Gadd three opportunities to make speeches. He took the opportunity to point out that the show didn’t have established intellectual property, didn’t have established stars, and became a hit anyway. It would be lovely to think that Netflix – and other outlets – will take the lesson that risks can pay off.
Hacks came up big, and The Bear may have run into a category problem.
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Jean Smart won the Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for her performance in Hacks.
The Bear, which was a sensation at the Emmys in January,did very well in the comedy categories. It won for lead actor (Jeremy Allen White), it won for supporting actor (Ebon Moss Bachrach), it won for supporting actress (Liza Colón-Zayas), and it won for directing, for the episode “Fishes.” (Keep in mind that these are awards for season two, not the most recent season.) The one acting category in which The Bear didn’t win was lead actress, where Ayo Edebiri lost to Jean Smart after winning in the supporting actress category last year.
It was a bit of a sign of things to come during the ceremony: Hacks also picked up the critical award for comedy writing (for the episode “Bulletproof”). And then, unlike at the most recent Emmys, The Bear did not win outstanding comedy series; Hacks did. Given that there was a biting joke in the monologue from hosts Eugene and Dan Levy about the widespread sense that The Bear doesn’t belong in the comedy category in the first place, and given the laugh it got, it may be that some people who were perfectly happy to reward the wonderful performances on the show were ultimately hesitant to give the award for outstanding comedy series to something they don’t consider a comedy.
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The shtick between awards was … fine?
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TV dads Damon Wayans, left, George Lopez and Jesse Tyler Ferguson presented the Emmy Award for Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series.
As with many awards shows, Emmys night featured a recurring bit between awards presentations. This evening featured a series of groups of actors who had some connection to each other: TV moms, TV dads, TV doctors, TV lawyers, TV coaches. There was even a pairing of Ron Howard and Henry Winkler to mark the 50th (!!) anniversary of Happy Days. But these moments always seem to be somehow less than the sum of their parts, and this year was no exception. There are a lot of TV dads; just picking three and having them present together on a set that looks like a living room to deliver patter that sounds exactly like the patter on every other awards show doesn’t really celebrate anything except whoever booked the talent for the telecast. One point for having Winkler punch the jukebox on the diner set to get it to play, though, just like Fonzie used to do. That was fun.
Windham players celebrate a 3-pointer during a preseason game against Edward Little at South Portland High School game on Nov. 29, 2025. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer)
This is the sixth Varsity Maine boys basketball poll of the season, and the No. 1 ranking has changed each time. Windham is back at No. 1 after a big win over No. 4 South Portland. The Eagles, who have won 12 straight, were previously ranked No. 1 in the winter’s first poll.
Windham and last week’s No. 1, Camden Hills, have both topped the poll twice. Sanford and South Portland have each spent one week in first.
The team responsible for this week’s No. 1 switch, Cony, jumped three spots to No. 6 after dealing Camden Hills its first loss on Saturday and upending No. 8 Gardiner last Tuesday.
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Medomak Valley rejoins the poll after a few weeks away, and Hermon is ranked for the first time this season.
The Varsity Maine boys basketball poll is based on games played before Jan. 27, 2026. The top 10 teams are voted on by the Varsity Maine staff, with first-place votes in parentheses, followed by total points.
BOYS BASKETBALL
1.
Windham (6)
86
2.
Sanford
77
3.
Camden Hills (3)
76
4.
South Portland
56
5.
York
49
6.
Cony
43
7.
Brunswick
30
8.
Gardiner
22
9.
Medomak Valley
12
10.
Hermon
10
Poll compiled by Assistant Sports Editor Bob Aube.
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Lee Horton is the Varsity Maine Editor for the Maine Trust for Local News. He joined the Sun Journal as assistant sports editor in July 2016, then served as sports editor from May 2018 to May 2024. Prior…
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One of Maine’s two casinos is suing the state’s gambling control unit director over legalizing online casino games exclusively for the Wabanaki Nations.
Gov. Janet Mills decided earlier this month to allow Maine’s four federally recognized tribes to offer “iGaming.” Oxford Casino is challenging that decision in Maine’s U.S. District Court, accusing the state of unlawfully granting a monopoly for online casino gaming.
“Promoting iGaming through race-based preferences deals a gut-wrenching blow to Maine businesses like Oxford Casino that have heavily invested in the State and its people,” the lawsuit reads.
The casino is accusing the state of violating the Equal Protection Clauses of both the United States and Maine Constitutions, against discrimination based on race, according to the lawsuit, which was filed Friday.
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The lawsuit also states that the casinos could lose millions in revenue and hundreds of employees after the law goes into effect.
Oxford Casino and Hollywood Casino in Bangor opposed the iGaming bill, citing the potential for job losses. Other opponents included the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the chair of the state’s gambling control board.
The law will take effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns this year, but state officials say there is no concrete timeline for when the new gambling options will become available.
This is a developing story.
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Morgan covers breaking news and public safety for the Portland Press Herald. Before moving to Maine in 2024, she reported for Michigan State University’s student-run publication, as well as the Indianapolis…
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The attorney wife of an elite Texas law-firm partner and a pilot who joined the company less than a year ago were among six people killed when a private jet flipped over and burst into flames at a Maine airport over the weekend — just after a voice over the radio said, “Let there be light.’’
Tara Arnold — a 46-year-old powerhouse lawyer who lived with her two kids and mega-wealthy husband in a Houston mansion — was en route to Paris with those on board the plane when it crashed Sunday evening, killing everyone, according to records and reports.
Tara Arnold was killed when the plane registered to her husband Kurt Arnold’s personal-injury firm — Arnold & Itkin Law — crashed Sunday evening in Bangor, Maine. Arnold & Itkin LLP
The plane was registered to Tara’s husband Kurt Arnold’s successful personal-injury firm — Arnold & Itkin Law — where she also worked. The other five fatal victims aboard the jet have not yet not publicly identified.
“I am close friends with Kurt and Tara Arnold,” said Lesley Briones, a local Texas lawmaker, to WMTW on Monday.
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The twin-engine Bombardier Challenger 600 was taking off from a snow-covered runway at Bangor International Airport when it crashed and exploded, killing everyone on board, officials said. @Turbinetraveler/X
“My heart hurts for them and their children and their families,” Briones said. “I worked at Arnold & Itkin for a time and so I know them well. This is just a tragedy and in particular Tara, she is just a phenomenal person, a bold leader and somebody who had a heart of service.”
Jacob Hosmer, a 47-year-old Houston-area pilot who was the captain of the flight, also died during the wreck, his father confirmed to KPRC2.
“He’s in Heaven now with Jesus,” grieving dad Gary Hosmer told the outlet.
Hosmer has been working as a pilot for Arnold and Itkin since May 2025. He has held previous positions with Wing Aviation, Apollo Aviation and Priester Aviation, all of which frequently run private charter jets, according to his LinkedIn.
Friends of Hosmer described him as a loving and kind father and husband.
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“I would describe him as a great pilot, a loving husband, and a phenomenal father,” a longtime friend told the outlet.
“He was always kind. He was always laughing.”
The plane — a twin-engine Bombardier Challenger 600, which can seat up to 11 people — was taking off from a snow-covered runway at Bangor International Airport around 7:45 p.m. when it crashed back into the runway and exploded, killing everyone on board, officials said.
A moment before take-off, a voice was eerily heard over the flight’s radio communications saying, “Let there be light,” although it’s unclear what that meant.
“All traffic is stopped on the field!” an air-traffic controller then quickly shouted.
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“Aircraft upside down, we have a passenger aircraft upside down,” a controller added as emergency crews rushed to the wreck.
Arnold was part of a prominent Texas family known for multimillion-dollar donations to Lone Star State Republican causes, as well as to the Texas Longhorns football program. LinkedInThe crash occurred as Winter Storm Fern was battering Maine and much of the East Coast. FAA
Kurt Arnold and his law partner Jason Itkin — as well as both their wives — were known to make multimillion-dollar donations to Lone Star State Republican causes, as well as to such things as the Texas Longhorns football program, which they pledged $40 million to.
Tara, a Louisiana native, worked at the firm, specializing in offshore workplace injuries after graduating with high honors from Tulane Law School.
She and her husband and kids lived together in an $11 million Houston home.
The doomed jet’s flight had landed in Bangor around 6 p.m. for apparent refueling after taking off from Houston and then was taking off again in the blizzard en route to Paris when the tragedy struck, KHOU reported.
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The Arnolds with their children. KNOWAutism FoundationKurt and Tara Arnold with Kisha and Jason Itkin. Kurt and Jason founded the Arnold and Itkin Law Firm. Arnold & Itkin LLP
It remains unclear what role the ongoing Winter Storm Fern may have played in the wreck.
Several other planes were taking off before the wreck, but the airport was also de-icing aircraft waiting on the tarmac — and it remains unclear whether the ill-fated jet had been a part of those procedures.
It remains unclear what role the ongoing Winter Storm Fern may have played in the wreck.
Several other planes were taking off before the wreck, but the airport was also de-icing aircraft waiting on the tarmac.
The private jet had landed in Maine just after 6 p.m. after departing Houston, and had been sitting in the cold since then — and it remains unclear whether it had been a part of the de-icing procedures.
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Bombardier Challenger 600s have had a history of takeoff troubles during inclement cold-weather takeoffs — with small ice accumulations being known to affect the craft, according to aviation consultant Jeff Guzzetti.
“Given the weather conditions at the time and the history of wind contamination with this particular aircraft, I’m sure that’s something the NTSB is going to look into immediately,” he said.
“If there was any kind of precipitation at all, freezing precipitation, they would have needed to clean off those wings before they took off,” Guzzetti added.
The wreck left the airport closed, and it is not expected to reopen until Wednesday.
