72nd Primetime Emmy Awards

Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold:[12][lower-alpha 2]

Eugene Levy, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series winner

Catherine O'Hara, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series winner

Jeremy Strong, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series winner

Zendaya, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series winner

Mark Ruffalo, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie winner

Regina King, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie winner

Dan Levy, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series winner, Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series co-winner, and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series winner

Annie Murphy, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series winner

Billy Crudup, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series winner

Julia Garner, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series winner

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie winner

Uzo Aduba, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie winner

The "Informational Series or Special" award category was renamed to "Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special".[13] On June 17, 2020, it was announced that the number of nominees in the Outstanding Comedy and Drama Series categories had been increased to 8, while the number of nominees in the remaining categories would depend on the number of submissions in each category.[14]

On July 29, 2020, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced that the ceremony would be held in a remote format, rather than take place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, as originally planned.[2] While host Jimmy Kimmel presented the ceremony from nearby Staples Center, no in-person festivities (such as a red carpet or audience) at the venue took place.[15] Celebrity guests still made on-stage appearances, including Jennifer Aniston and Anthony Anderson.[16]

The broadcast used live feeds from each nominee (with television series being represented by one of their producers; the cast and crew of Schitt's Creek appeared together from a viewing party in Toronto);[17] to maintain a high-quality presentation, the use of video-conferencing was avoided, with producers sending "professional" cameras to each nominee's location, as well as an operator, if they so chose. Co-executive producer Reginald Hudlin stated that they wanted to maintain a live broadcast, while his partner Ian Stewart (of Done and Dusted) argued that "we're not trying to make the Zoomies, we're trying to make the Emmys".[15] Staples Center was chosen as venue to ensure that appropriate social distancing could be practiced among crew members, and because it could support the infrastructure needed for the large number of remote feeds that would be used (estimated to be around 140).[15]

A number of comedy gags acknowledged the pandemic and the format of the ceremony: Kimmel's monologue featured a laugh track and footage of audience reactions from past Emmy ceremonies. After using a clip that depicted Kimmel himself as an audience member, he revealed the empty arena, and seats with cardboard cut-outs of nominees (except for the real Jason Bateman, whom Kimmel told could stay if he promised to laugh at his jokes; Bateman left).[18][19] Kimmel was also seen disinfecting the envelope for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series with Lysol spray; after Aniston commented that it was "a little extreme", Kimmel proceeded to throw it in a trash can and set it on fire instead.[16][20] Some awards were delivered to winners via presenters in themed Hazmat suits designed to look like formalwear.[21]

The ceremony was watched by 6.1 million viewers in the United States, making it the least-watched Emmys telecast in history, and marking a 12% decline in viewership from the previous year.[1]

Following the nomination announcement, the Academy was criticized for its lack of transgender nominees. Affiliates of the FX drama Pose, which is set in New York City's queer ballroom scene, criticized the Academy for nominating Billy Porter,[28] but excluding its many transgender stars from the acting categories in addition to series writers Janet Mock and Our Lady J.[29][30] There was similar criticism from affiliates of the HBO series Euphoria, many of whom believed that transgender actress Hunter Schafer was worthy of a nomination for her performance in the series. Both series were notably missing from the Outstanding Drama Series category, a decision that was heavily criticized.[31] However, Zendaya was nominated for her lead role in Euphoria; she ultimately won, becoming the youngest actress to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.[32][33]

Further criticism came from Latinos, with no major nominations for Latin performers despite the Emmys publicizing their improved diversity in 2020. While there was a record number of Black nominees, there was only one individual Latin nomination. Hispanic and Latino representation groups said the greater diversity referred only to more African American nominees.[34][35] When the Los Angeles Times reported the criticism using the term "Black", it was itself criticized for erasing Afro-Latinos, a discussion that then prompted more investigation into this under-represented minority ethnic group in Hollywood.[36] John Leguizamo boycotted the Emmys because of its lack of Latin nominees.[37] Members of the Pose team again criticized the fact that their show's trans Afro-Latina actor Mj Rodriguez was not nominated, with Porter suggesting that because of Rodriguez's diverse background the Television Academy "don't know how to adjudicate the performance" and so simply exclude it.[38][39]

The Emmys also faced criticism from the Asian American community, leveled because Asian Americans only made up 1% of the nominees. It was argued that this is disproportionately low contrasted with increased representation.[40] Mindy Kaling, creator of Never Have I Ever, criticized the Emmys for not nominating the series for any Emmy categories, despite it being a critical success. Kaling suggested that it was overlooked because of its ethnic diversity and, in particular, for having a South Asian character as the series lead. She said: "Sometimes a show like ours will always seem ethnic or niche to a certain group of people."[41]

• 2020 in television
• 2020 British Academy Television Awards

• 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards at IMDb
• Emmys.com list of 2020 Nominees & Winners
• Academy of Television Arts and Sciences website