Emmy Awards 2024 recap: Biggest moments from the 76th annual awards show

Famed television creator, producer and writer Greg Berlanti accepted the 2024 Governors Award at the Emmys on Sunday.

Berlanti called receiving the award a "deeply humbling honor of a lifetime" and said he'd wanted to work in television "even before I knew how that was possible."

"There wasn't a lot of gay characters on television back then, and I was a closeted gay kid, and it's hard to describe how lonely that was at the time. There was no internet to connect with other queer kids. No LGBTQ+ advocacy groups in schools. Back then, the only way to tell if another kid might be gay was if he also watched 'Dynasty,' 'Dallas,' and could name all four of 'The Golden Girls.'"

Berlanti also shouted out his husband and "soulmate" Robbie Rogers and their two children.

"When I think about it, to have traveled that distance from that scared kid years ago to this stage, with my husband in the audience and our two beautiful children, Caleb and Mia, watching at home … when I think about how much the world had to change to make the life I'm living now possible, even in hindsight, it's unimaginable to me."

Berlanti spoke of his mother, whom he said he lost to cancer several years ago, for always believing in him.

"The belief she had in me still lingers, long after she's gone," he said. "That's how powerful belief is."

Joshua Jackson and Matt Bomer presented this year's Governors Award to Berlanti.

Christopher Storer won the Emmy for outstanding directing for a comedy series for "The Bear."

“We all know how lucky we are to get to do this,” Storer said in his acceptance speech, expressing his appreciation for audiences and the cast and crew of "The Bear."

The field included Randall Einhorn for "Abbott Elementary," Ramy Youssef for "The Bear," Guy Ritchie for "The Gentlemen," Lucia Aniello for "Hacks" and Mary Lou Belli for "The Ms. Pat Show."

Richard Gadd won the Emmy for outstanding writing for a limited or anthology series or movie for "Baby Reindeer."

“Ten years ago, I was down and out, right?” he said in his acceptance speech. “I never ever thought I would get my life together. I never ever thought I would be able to rectify myself or what had happened to me and get myself back on my feet again, and then here I am, just over a decade later, picking up one of the biggest awards in television."

“I don't mean that to sound arrogant," he continued. "I mean it as encouragement for anyone going through a difficult time right now to persevere. I don't know much about this life, I don't know why we're here, none of that. But I do know that nothing lasts forever. And no matter how bad it gets, it always gets better. If you are struggling, keep going. Keep going. And I promise you, things will be OK.”

Other nominees in the category included Charlie Brooker for "Black Mirror," Noah Hawley for "Fargo," Ron Nyswaner for "Fellow Travelers," Issa López for "True Detective: Night Country" and Steven Zaillian for "Ripley."

"Happy Days" stars Ron Howard and Henry Winkler had an onstage reunion at the 2024 Emmys on Sunday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic sitcom's premiere.

Howard played Richie Cunningham and Winkler played Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli -- aka "The Fonz" -- on the Garry Marshall-created series.

"Happy Days" ran for 11 seasons from 1974 until 1984 and spawned numerous spin-offs, including "Laverne & Shirley," "Mork & Mindy" and "Joanie Loves Chachi," among others.