Even Rosemary can’t help cracking a grin over all the Widow’s Bay love.
Dale Dickey is the actor behind the perpetually grouchy mayor’s office employee who provides one of the most verbose and hilarious exposition dumps in TV history in episode 9 of Apple TV’s acclaimed horror-comedy series starring Matthew Rhys. The gravely-voiced Rosemary’s genealogy presentation, delivered with bone-dry wit and an antiquated overhead projector, was Dickey’s showcase Widow’s Bay scene, and no doubt played a key role in garnering her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Overall, the show snagged an eye-opening 19 Emmy noms, cementing it as one of 2026’s best.
In an interview with ScreenRant’s Tatiana Hullender, Dickey addressed the adoration being heaped upon Widow’s Bay, including the praise sent its way by a pair of horror heavyweights, saying it feels “great” to be loved by the likes of Stephen King and Guillermo Del Toro, but adding that “it’s hard for it to sink in.”
The Emmy nominee then sent some love back to the famous Widow’s Bay boosters. “I’m a huge fan of Guillermo Del Toro. Love his movies and also, of course, Stephen King. I think his movie that scared me the most was probably The Shining. It was one of the first things that I saw that really terrified me.”
Dickey then talked a little about the show’s unique mix of supernatural horror and witty comedy, saying, “Oh, I think it’s wonderful. I didn’t realize how perfect a blend the show was going to be until I saw it. I saw the whole thing unfold, particularly Loftis’s journey through season 1 and how you could see him become more and more and more shocked about, ‘This s–t is real!’ But I think it’s cool to be a horror classic.”
Del Toro shared his take on the Emmy-nominated Apple TV series on social media back in May, saying, “If I may, in my estimation, Widow’s Bay may very well be the best streaming series in a long time… and hands down one of the most mesmerizing acts of narrative prestidigitation in Horror.”
King’s own positive review, shared on social media in June, was not as effusive, and indeed came as the preface to a more glowing assessment of a different Apple TV show. “Widow’s Bay is good. Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed is even better.”
ScreenRant’s own April 2026 review of Widow’s Bay was itself very positive, saying in part, “Creator Katie Dippold presents Widow’s Bay almost like a Stephen King-style collection of chilling New England ghost stories. Just about every horror trope is accounted for, and they are masterfully woven together through the eyes of several of Widow’s Bay’s most quirky residents.” The review continues, “This is where the Apple TV show finds its comedy, as stars like Rhys, Kate O’Flynn, Stephen Root, and Dale Dickey effortlessly inspire laughs without compromising suspenseful horror.”
Widow’s Bay has already been renewed for season 2.
