Joshua Jackson was surprised at the 2024 Emmy Awards with a bombshell from his past.

When Jackson went on stage with Matt Bomer to present the Emmys Governor’s Award to screenwriter Greg Berlanti, he was presented with the Dawson’s Creek: The mysterious setting The theme song “I Don’t Want to Wait” by Paula Cole was playing in the background. He immediately laughed out loud and Bomer laughed next to him.

“Oh yeah, that song,” joked Jackson, 46, as he stepped up to the microphone as the crowd clapped at the throwback.

The couple then honored Berlanti, the showrunner at Dawson’s Creek, He was credited with facilitating the first gay kiss between Jack (Kerr Smith) and Ethan (Adam Kaufman) on prime time television in the final episode of season three.

“Television history was written on Dawson’s Creek: The mysterious setting because Greg was the first writer and producer – thank you very much – to show a gay kiss between two teenagers in prime time, and that was in 2000,” Jackson said. “I remember being so proud – thank you again – to be a part of that show, and at the same time I didn’t understand how big it was.”

“Greg has given us a beautiful, relatable and yes, the first portrait of a gay teenager pursuing his desires with the same fear that everyone has before their first kiss,” he added.

Bomer, 46, called the scene a “great moment,” and Berlanti, 52, has much more to say about it.

“Greg always gave us great moments that challenged us to be better versions of ourselves,” he said.

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The actors took the opportunity to recognize Berlanti’s work outside of the entertainment industry, mentioning his charity, the Berlanti Family Foundation, which primarily benefits cancer research and LGBTQ+ organizations.

“In everything he does, his impact on the LGBTQ community, on our industry and on humanity is immeasurable,” Bomer said.

“And like all visionary producers, he keeps his shows one step ahead of the audience,” Jackson added. “He opens the door and as we walk through, we find ourselves more comfortable with characters who are having real experiences than we ever could have imagined.”

As Berlanti accepted the award, the theme song of another of his shows played – Everlane — played. “There is no thank you that could ever be enough,” Berlanti said before sharing his story about the support he received as a young gay boy who didn’t see many examples of people like him on television.

“To have come this long way, from that frightened child years ago to being on this stage with my husband in the audience and our two beautiful children Caleb and Mia watching at home – go to bed as soon as this is over,” he laughed. “When I think about how much the world had to change to make the life I lead now possible, it’s unimaginable to even me in retrospect.”

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Watch PEOPLE’s full coverage of the 76th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, broadcast live from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on ABC.