Beef Creator Lee Sung Jin Makes Emmy History with 16 Noms
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- "Beef" Season 2 earned 16 Emmy nominations, the most of any limited or anthology series this year.
- Lee Sung Jin became the first Asian television creator to receive multiple nominations in writing, directing and producing for the same series — twice.
- Lee said his first calls after the nominations were to Finneas and Cailee Spaeny, who were snubbed; he counted their absence before allowing himself to celebrate.
- Lee wrote and directed the 33-minute episode "The Inexpressible Comfort," set entirely in an ER waiting area, after spending 10.5 hours in an LA hospital taking notes on real patients and extras.
- Lee cited industry context on nominations morning: networks produced 46 fewer shows in 2026, DEI initiatives are being rolled back across Hollywood, and limited series supporting acting categories were moved off the main telecast.
- Lee shelved a potential Season 3 idea about a New York Giants family plotting to rob Tom Brady, saying he needs something "rumbling on a spiritual level" to write again.
- Lee said he'd love to see rival Netflix series "Widow's Bay" and director Hiro Murai take home an Emmy.
Why it matters: Lee's milestone — first Asian TV creator to earn multiple Emmy noms in writing, directing and producing for the same series twice — lands as networks produced 46 fewer shows in 2026 and DEI initiatives rolled back, shrinking the on-ramps for first-time creatives of color to be noticed.
Ask SkimNews
