Martin Short Hilariously Rips Up Speech After Losing to Matthew Rhys

How Matthew Rhys Really Feels About Keri Russell’s Infamous Felicity HaircutThere weren't only cheers in the building for Matthew Rhys on Emmys 2026 night. Martin Short pretended to be outraged by the Widow's Bay star's win in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series category, with cameras catching the 76-year-old hilariously ripping up what would've been his acceptance speech when Rhys took to the stage at Los Angeles' Peacock Theater on Sept. 14. (Click here for a complete list of winners.) And Steve Martin later shared a look at what remained of his Only Murders in the Building costar's destroyed note. As seen in a photo of a torn piece of paper posted to Instagram during the Mariska Hargitay-hosted award show, the speech included a shoutout to Martin and a person who Short said was "kind enough to hire me." Other parts of Short's list of recognitions also included a nod to a "brilliant" friend and "so many" other people. Short was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series alongside Rhys, as well as Rooster's Steve Carell, Shrinking's Jason Segel and Wonder Man's Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.Rhys' victory in the category helped him make Emmys history as the first man to win two lead acting trophies in a single night, having also nabbed the prize for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie for his work in The Beast in Me.Steve Martin/InstagramWith his impressive double wins, Rhys—who took home the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2018 for The Americans—now holds the record as the first performer to have received an Emmy across all three genres. But, unlike Short, the Welsh actor admittedly "didn't really prepare anything" in terms of an acceptance speech for his big night.Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images"Which is why I vomited that speech," he told E! News backstage. "These events are kind of incredible and incredulous—and kind of bizarre—and everything in between. I think a healthy sense of humor always helps." To see who else won big at the 2026 Emmys, keep reading...Outstanding Drama SeriesThe Diplomat The Gilded Age A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Paradise WINNER: The Pitt Pluribus Slow Horses Your Friends and NeighborsOutstanding Lead Actress in a Drama SeriesCarrie Coon, The Gilded Age Keri Russell, The Diplomat WINNER: Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus Zendaya, Euphoria Chase Infiniti, The TestamentsOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama SeriesSterling K. Brown, Paradise Gary Oldman, Slow Horses Mark Ruffalo, Task WINNER: Noah Wyle, The Pitt Rufus Sewell, The DiplomatOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesFiona Dourif, The Pitt Taylor Dearden, The Pitt WINNER: Allison Janney, The Diplomat Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt Sepideh Moafi, The Pitt Julianne Nicholson, Paradise Karolina Wydra, PluribusOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesPatrick Ball, The Pitt Billy Crudup, The Morning Show Shawn Hatosy, The Pitt Jack Lowden, Slow Horses WINNER: Tom Pelphrey, Task Carlos Manuel-Vesga, Pluribus Gerran Howell, The PittOutstanding Comedy SeriesAbbott Elementary The Bear Nobody Wants This Hacks Margo’s Got Money Troubles Only Murders in the Building Shrinking WINNER: Widow’s BayOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy SeriesQuinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary Ayo Edebiri, The Bear Elle Fanning, Margo’s Got Money Troubles Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback WINNER: Jean Smart, HacksOutstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesSteve Carell, Rooster WINNER: Matthew Rhys, Widow’s Bay Jason Segel, Shrinking Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Wonder ManOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesDale Dickey, Widow’s Bay Hannah Einbinder, Hacks Janelle James, Abbott Elementary WINNER: Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay Megan Stalter, Hacks Michelle Pfeiffer, Margo’s Got Money Troubles Jessica Williams, ShrinkingOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy SeriesColman Domingo, The Four Seasons Paul W. Downs, Hacks Nick Offerman, Margo’s Got Money Troubles WINNER: Stephen Root, Widow’s Bay Michael Urie, Shrinking Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary Harrison Ford, ShrinkingOutstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy SeriesLeslie Bibb, Hacks Jamie Lee Curtis, The Bear WINNER: Betty Gilpin, Widow's Bay Cherry Jones, Hacks Laurie Metcalf, Hacks Kaitlin Olson, Hacks Lauren Weedman, HacksOutstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy SeriesChristopher McDonald, Hacks Michael J. Fox, Shrinking Brett Goldstein, Shrinking Hamish Linklater, Widow's Bay WINNER: Rob Reiner, The Bear Connor Storrie, Saturday Night LiveOutstanding Guest Actress in a Drama SeriesTal Anderson, The Pitt Brittany Allen, The Pitt Tina Ivlev, The Pitt Miriam Shor, Pluribus Merritt Wever, The Gilded Age WINNER: Shailene Woodley, ParadiseOutstanding Guest Actor in a Drama SeriesColman Domingo, Euphoria WINNER: Ernest Harden Jr., The Pitt Jeff Hiller, Pluribus Jeff Kober, The Pitt Jonathan Pryce, Slow Horses Bradley Whitford, The DiplomatOutstanding Limited or Anthology SeriesThe Beast in Me Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette WINNER: DTF St. Louis Beef All Her FaultOutstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieClaire Danes, The Beast in Me Sarah Pidgeon, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette WINNER: Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures Carey Mulligan, Beef Sarah Snook, All Her FaultOutstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieWINNER: Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me Riz Ahmed, Bait Jason Bateman, Black Rabbit Charlie Hunnam, Monster: The Ed Gein Story Oscar Isaac, BeefOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieWINNER: Linda Cardellini, DTF St. Louis Constance Zimmer, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette Dakota Fanning, All Her Fault Joy Sunday, DTF St. Louis Youn Yuh-jung, Beef Laurie Metcalf, Monster: The Ed Gein StoryOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieJason Bateman, DTF St. Louis Richard Gadd, Half Man Richard Jenkins, DTF St. Louis WINNER: David Harbour, DTF St. Louis Charles Melton, Beef Nick Offerman, Death by LightningOutstanding Unstructured Reality ProgramAmerica's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders WINNER: Love on the Spectrum RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked Summer House Welcome to WrexhamOutstanding Structured Reality ProgramWINNER: Antiques Roadshow Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Love is Blind Queer Eye Shark TankOutstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition ProgramRuPaul Charles, RuPaul's Drag Race WINNER: Alan Cumming, The Traitors Kristen Kish, Top Chef Ariana Madix, Love Island USA Jeff Probst, SurvivorOutstanding Variety SeriesThe Daily Show Jimmy Kimmel Live! Last Week Tonight With John Oliver WINNER: The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Saturday Night LiveOutstanding Reality Competition ProgramDancing With the Stars RuPaul’s Drag Race Survivor Top Chef WINNER: The TraitorsOutstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable WINNER: The Muppet Show Nikki Glaser: Good Girl Taylor Swift, The Eras Tour, The Final Show Wicked: One Wonderful NightOutstanding Host for a Game ShowSteve Harvey, Celebrity Family Feud Ken Jennings, Jeopardy! Colin Jost, Pop Culture Jeopardy! WINNER: Jimmy Kimmel, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Martin Short, Match GameDon't miss the Emmy Awards 2026 live telecast tonight, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and streaming on Peacock. E!'s red carpet kicks off at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.