A TOTAL SCHITT’S SHOW

Virtual Emmys was full of surprises, from the Canadian comedy’s sweep to Zendaya’s win

Was that a tribute to “Schitt’s Creek” or the 72nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards? The Canadianproduced Pop TV sitcom sailed away on an ocean of statuettes across several major categories at Sunday night’s first-ever virtual awards telecast. Job well done for a series that deserved all the accolades (heck, it even won “two Peabody Awards … and a Soul Train Award,” host Jimmy Kimmel joked.)

Speaking of Kimmel, he and the telecast’s home network, ABC, did the near impossible, given the unprecedented circumstances. In short, they nailed it: no audience in the Staples Center? No problem.

The in-person presenters, including Jennifer Aniston, Zendaya, Jason Sudeikis and Tracee Ellis Ross, kept it short and to the point. Even the winners were more entertaining, perhaps because they were in the comforts of their own homes. I could’ve done without the political posturing from some of the winners — but that was about the only familiar element in a very different telecast.

HBO’s “Watchmen” also walked with an armful of Emmys, no surprise given both its social timeliness and its success earlier this week at the Creative Arts Emmys.

The network’s “Succession” also took home awards for outstanding drama and lead actor (Jeremy Strong).

Billy Crudup’s late-in-the-telecast win for outstanding supporting actor in a drama was nice, but fell short of what Apple TV+ had hoped for its flagship drama, “The Morning Show,” and nominees Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carrell.

Zendaya pulled off a surprise upset with her lead actress in a drama win, for “Euphoria,” beating out Aniston and Laura Linney.

All in all, the telecast overcame huge technical and emotional obstacles and many naysayers to present one of the most entertaining Emmys shows in recent memory — and, in the process, set a high bar for succeeding televised awards shows that will follow during these COVID-restricted times.

HOT MESS: Jennifer Aniston was one of several presenters who joined host Jimmy Kimmel in person at LA’s Staples Center. In one bit, the pair set fire to a winner’s envelope as a COVID-19 precaution before Aniston tried multiple times to extinguish the blaze.

PAL AROUND: Lisa Kudrow (from left), Aniston and Courtney Cox reunite for a streaming “Friends” skit on the telecast.

WELLSUITED: Awards were delivered in Hazmat tuxes.

‘CREEK’ SWEEP: Best comedy winner “Schitt’s Creek” swept all the major comedy categories, taking home the evening’s first seven awards, including statues for Annie Murphy (far left), Catherine O’Hara (second from left), Eugene Levy (center) and his son Daniel (holding Emmy).

PARTY PEOPLE: Reese Witherspoon (left) is so over 2020, she had a New Year’s Evethemed Emmys watch party for her “Little Fires Everywhere” co-star Kerry Washington (right) and pals.

KINGS’S A QUEEN: It’s the fourth Emmy for Regina King, 49, who took home the award for best actress in a limited series or television movie for HBO’s “The Watchmen.” Though she

GOLDEN GIRL:“Black-ish” nominee Tracee Ellis Ross rolled out a mini red carpet at her LA home to show off her ruffled Alexander Vaulthier Couture gown. “Can’t say I miss the frenetic energy of the red carpet or wearing high heels,” she wrote on Instagram. “But boy do I miss a pretty dress!”

A EUPHORIC WIN: At 24, Zendaya is the youngest ever to win for lead actress in a drama — for gritty coming-of-age show “Euphoria.” “There is hope in the young people,” she said in her acceptance speech. “I know that our TV show isn’t always a great example of that, but there is hope in the young people.”

DRAMA LLAMA: Randall Park and Isabella the Alpaca present an outstanding writing award to Damon Lindelof and Cord Jefferson of the “Watchmen.”

wore a Breonna Taylor t-shirt and pink power suit to accept the award remotely, she posed in a cerulean jewel-studded Schiaparelli gown for her own virtual red carpet.

SON RISES: Jeremy Strong won best actor in a drama for his portrayal of Kendall Roy, the jilted firstborn heir to a media empire in “Succession,” which also nabbed the Emmy for best drama series.