It turned into a very good Emmy season for Steven Conrad. The longtime Chicago-based filmmaker and Northwestern University alum saw his HBO dark comedy DTF St. Louis win Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series Monday night, capping an awards run that had already delivered six Creative Arts Emmys, including acting wins for Linda Cardellini and David Harbour, plus writing and directing trophies for Conrad himself.
The win lands especially well because Conrad has spent years building his career from Chicago, not simply passing through it. He graduated from Northwestern and has long described the city as home, once summing up his relationship with Chicago this way: “You don’t date Chicago, you marry it.”
The seven-episode HBO series follows a love triangle between three adults dealing with middle-age malaise, with one of them eventually ending up dead.
What began as an underdog in the limited-series race gained momentum through the summer and then exploded at the Creative Arts Emmys, where the show won for Picture Editing, Cinematography, Writing, Directing, Supporting Actress, and Supporting Actor.
Cardellini won her first Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
“I’m overcome,” she said during her acceptance speech. “This has just been an unbelievable journey.” She called the moment “a real dream come true” and later reflected backstage on the length of a career in television.
“One of my friends once told me it’s a long life in this business if they’re lucky, and I feel very lucky to be here right now holding this Emmy,” Cardellini said.
Harbour also picked up his first Emmy for the series, taking Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
Then came Monday night’s biggest prize.
When DTF St. Louis was named Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Conrad stepped forward on behalf of the production.
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“I’m so proud to be able to speak on behalf of an extraordinary crew and cast,” Conrad said.
He thanked the families, children, partners and parents who supported the team through the production, then turned his attention to HBO. “Thank you, HBO, for the kind and intelligent guidance,” Conrad said, before acknowledging the scale of the production itself.
“On behalf of the 175 people who worked on DTF St. Louis, we are all grateful.”
The win also ended a three-year Netflix streak in the category and marked HBO’s first victory there since The White Lotus in 2022. For Conrad, the series adds another major chapter to a career that includes Patriot, Perpetual Grace, LTD, Ultra City Smiths, The Weather Man, The Pursuit of Happyness and Wonder.
But the Emmy story feels especially Chicago.
Conrad stayed rooted here, kept writing from here, kept building work with a distinctly Midwestern eye — and now one of television’s biggest awards belongs to a series created by a filmmaker who never had to leave Chicago behind to get there.
