Commentary: Essential workers saved the Emmys from being completely out of touch
The weirdest Emmy Awards ever provided the perfect forum for television to let loose about the weirdest year ever.
The 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel on Sunday from the nearly empty Staples Center in downtown L.A. and attended by nominees via video conferencing, was a mix of dark quarantine humor, requests for kindness and humanity, jokes about lack of representation, pleas to get out the vote, and poignant commentary about social justice and racial reckoning.
HBO maintains its dominance with 30 awards, beating out Netflix
Never underestimate HBO during awards season. The pay-cable stalwart was the winningest network at the 2020 Emmy Awards Sunday night, topping streaming rivals including Netflix.
Prestigious programming led by “Watchmen” and “Succession” propelled AT&T-owned HBO to 30 trophies, including creative arts Emmys doled out during the week before the main broadcast. The darkly prescient superhero drama “Watchmen” won for limited series and the media mogul saga “Succession” topped for drama series.
Review: Strangest Emmys ever? Sure, but surprising, intimate and delightful too
Good or bad, there was no way the 72nd Emmy Awards, which went on Sunday from the Staples Center in Los Angeles and living rooms around the country and beyond, wasn’t going to be interesting.
And it was good, by and large an elegant, intelligent solution to making ceremonial television in light of Our Great Shared Obstacle. That isn’t to say that every joke worked, and latency does make shtick difficult to do remotely, but the telecast, which mixed live and recorded pieces, felt solid enough to accommodate the occasional technical difficulty. Because most every moment was unprecedented, not merely a slight variation of something we’d seen before, it was minute for minute more interesting than these long nights of self-celebration usually are.
The first ever virtual Emmys were the perfect awards for our times
“Succession,” “Watchmen” and “Schitt’s Creek” were the major winners Sunday at the 72nd Emmy Awards, but the biggest story was the ceremony itself. A mostly virtual celebration of an industry thrown into disarray by the COVID-19 pandemic, the three-hour socially distanced telecast replaced the usual glamorous awards show trappings with a sense of intimacy, uncertainty and, above all, surreality.
Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, it was the first of the major industry awards shows to contend with the complicated logistics of a remotely produced live broadcast. But perhaps an even greater challenge was striking the right tone in a year of dire news, including not only the pandemic but killings by police that sparked widespread racial justice protests and devastating wildfires, which filled the skies of Los Angeles with hazardous smoke days before the ceremony.
Rather than shying away from the awkwardness, the show embraced it.
Column: Jimmy Kimmel skipped the Trump jokes for the first (and, please God, only) ‘pand-Emmys’
What do the Emmys and COVID-19 have in common? You can’t have either without a host.
Apologies to Jimmy Kimmel, who made a similar joke as he opened this year’s first (and please, dear God, only) “pand-Emmys.”
Also, as long as we are addressing the Almighty, let’s be clear that Kimmel hosting the one does not in any way require him to host the other. In fact, in a just world, the chutzpah involved in taking on the task of hosting these awards — often a thankless burden even in the best of times — would somehow generate its own set of coronavirus antibodies.
Zendaya ‘felt this wrapping of love’ in the euphoric reaction to her Emmy upset
“I got through it without letting it take over completely,” the actress said of her “Euphoria” win, which makes her the youngest person ever to take home the lead actress drama Emmy. “But it’s obviously a very emotional moment. Yeah, I still can’t believe it myself. Pretty crazy.”
Issa Rae and ‘Insecure’ cast went big for Emmy viewing party
Issa Rae went big instead of going home.
The actress, nominated for lead actress in a comedy, watched the 2020 Emmys from inside the new SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday.
“This has been such a special night, and I’m so excited to celebrate with my cast and crew,” Rae said on Instagram. “Thank you, SoFi Stadium. Go Emmys!”
‘Pour some champagne’: Go inside Emmy night with ‘Succession’s’ Cousin Greg
“This is crazy,” Nicholas Braun said less than an hour into his experience taking part in the largely remotely produced 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards. “This is actually happening.”
There are a lot of feelings to contend with when you’re a first-time nominee and a cast member on one of TV’s most talked-about shows, “HBO’s “Succession,” which has captured the zeitgeist with a Murdoch-inspired tale of a family’s battle for control of a global media empire.
Emmys 2020: From festive pajamas to serious message tees
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As expected, the fashion at the first virtual Emmy Awards on Sunday ranged from pajama-inspired loungewear looks — including ones worn by “The Good Place” star Jameela Jamil, who showed up in slumber-party chic by L.A.-based JJwinks with a Markarian NYC ombré sequin coat over the top, and Mark Duplass (“The Morning Show”), who wore an actual pajama top under his tux jacket — to full-on red-carpet-worthy formalwear.
Three of the most memorable looks were Shira Haas (“Unorthodox”) beaming in from Tel Aviv in a strapless floral Chanel gown; Yvonne Orji (“Insecure”) in Atlanta in a red, liquid sequin, one-shoulder gown with crepe ruffled detailing from the fall and winter 2020 Azzi & Osta ready-to-wear collection; and Tracee Ellis Ross, one of the few to appear onstage at Staples Center in downtown L.A. alongside Emmys host Jimmy Kimmel. Ross turned out in a stunner of a tiered gold lamé halter gown from the Alexandre Vauthier fall and winter 2020 Couture collection.
‘Succession’ wins drama series Emmy
“Succession” won the Emmy for best drama series, but not before presenter Sterling K. Brown gave an acceptance speech on behalf of “This Is Us” winning. (The show hadn’t even been nominated).
Jesse Armstrong, who earlier in the telecast won the Emmy for drama writing, accepted the drama series award by giving a number of “un-thank-yous.” This involved listing things he was not thankful for.
He “unthanked” the coronavirus, President Trump and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for their failures in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, and the nationalist and “sort of quasi-nationalist governments” of the world, which, Armstrong said, are “exactly what we don’t need right now.”
The other nominees were:
- “Better Call Saul”
- “The Crown”
- “The Handmaid’s Tale”
- “Killing Eve”
- “The Mandalorian”
- “Ozark”
- “Stranger Things”
- “Succession”
HBO’s ‘Succession’ wins top Emmy Award for drama series
HBO’s family conglomerate drama “Succession” took home the top prize at Sunday’s 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards — as expected.
The show won the award for drama series, besting this year’s other nominees: AMC’s “Better Call Saul,” Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” Disney+’s “The Mandalorian,” BBC America’s “Killing Eve” and Netflix’s “The Crown,” “Ozark” and “Stranger Things.”
The HBO drama succeeds HBO’s big winner from last year, “Game of Thrones,” which claimed the top honor with its much-maligned finale.
Julia Garner of ‘Ozark’ wins for supporting actress in a drama series
“Ozark’s” Julia Garner won the Emmy for supporting actress in a drama series.
In accepting the award, she credited her “Ozark” cast mates Laura Linney and Jason Bateman for making her a better actor and person.
The other nominees were:
- Helena Bonham Carter, “The Crown”
- Laura Dern, “Big Little Lies”
- Thandie Newton, “Westworld”
- Fiona Shaw, “Killing Eve”
- Sarah Snook, “Succession”
- Meryl Streep, “Big Little Lies”
- Samira Wiley, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II dedicates ‘Watchmen’ Emmy to ‘the Black women in my life’
“Watchmen” star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II delivered a speech as powerful as Doctor Manhattan himself while accepting the Emmy Award for supporting actor in a limited series Sunday.
“I’m so excited right now,” the actor said via video from his home. “I want to say thank you, first off, to my mommy and my daddy. Man, I’m surprised! To my siblings, my squad, I love y’all. Y’all watching right now on Zoom, and I love y’all so much.
Billy Crudup wins for supporting drama actor
Billy Crudup won the Emmy for supporting actor in a drama series for “The Morning Show.” This marks the first award for new streamer Apple TV+.
Continuing with the evening’s theme of having essential workers present some awards, this category was presented by a couple of actual doctors who also provided some COVID-related tips.
The other nominees were:
- Nicholas Braun, “Succession”
- Kieran Culkin, “Succession”
- Mark Duplass, “The Morning Show”
- Giancarlo Esposito, “Better Call Saul”
- Matthew Macfadyen, “Succession”
- Bradley Whitford, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
- Jeffrey Wright, “Westworld”
Andrij Parekh wins for directing for a drama series for ‘Succession’
“Succession’s” Andrij Parekh won the Emmy for directing a drama series.
“The show has just been a professional dream,” said Parekh in accepting the award.
“I want to dedicate this award to those whose names, like mine, are hard to pronounce,” said Parekh, honoring all other “hyphenate Americans” and others who have been forced to feel different for how they look.
The other nominees were
- Lesli Linka Glatter, “Homeland”
- Alik Sakharov, “Ozark”
- Ben Semanoff, “Ozark”
- Mark Mylod, “Succession”
- Benjamin Caron, “The Crown”
- Jessica Hobbs, “The Crown”
- Mimi Leder, “The Morning Show”
‘Queer Eye’ design expert Bobby Berk rates the rooms of the Emmy winners
The pandemic-era Emmy Awards is presenting the winners’ acceptance speeches virtually, live from their homes. But bringing the public into people’s private spaces — even if they do belong to beloved celebrities — isn’t always a winning strategy.
“Over these last six months, the fact that we’ve all had to virtually open our homes up to people has been interesting,” Bobby Berk, design expert of Netflix’s “Queer Eye,” told The Times. “I understand how hard that can be for people — myself included. Especially in this industry, your home is the last place left in the world that’s really just for you.”
‘Schitt’s Creek’ Emmy haul sets an all-time record
“Schitt’s Creek” entered the 72nd Emmys having never won anything. It left taking everything, becoming the first comedy program to sweep all seven of the major series prize categories.
Cast members Eugene Levy, Daniel Levy, Catherine O’Hara and Annie Murphy won the lead and supporting acting Emmys, the first time that has happened.
Daniel Levy also won Emmys for writing and directing (sharing the award with Andrew Cividino) and took another Emmy as a producer when “Schitt’s Creek” won best comedy series. He shared that prize with his father, Eugene, with whom he co-created the show.
‘Succession’s’ Jesse Armstrong wins for writing, drama series
Jesse Armstrong won the Emmy for writing for a drama series for his work on “Succession.”
Armstrong accepted the award from London, thanking his fellow writers on the show.
The other nominees were:
- Thomas Schnauz, “Better Call Saul”
- Gordon Smith, “Better Call Saul”
- Chris Mundy, “Ozark”
- John Shiban, “Ozark”
- Miki Johnson, “Ozark”
- Peter Morgan, “The Crown”
Zendaya wins for lead actress in a drama series
Zendaya won the Emmy for lead actress in a drama series. She plays Rue Bennett in the HBO series “Euphoria.”
“I know this feels like a very weird time to be celebrating but I just want to say there is hope,” said Zendaya as she accepted the award.
She also acknowledged her peers doing work out on the streets: “I see you.”
The other nominees were:
- Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show”
- Olivia Colman, “The Crown”
- Jodie Comer, “Killing Eve”
- Laura Linney, “Ozark”
- Sandra Oh, “Killing Eve”
Zendaya makes Emmy history as youngest lead actress drama winner
“Euphoria” star Zendaya made Emmy Awards history on Sunday as the youngest actress to win the prize for lead actress in a drama — breaking a record that was set just last year by “Killing Eve” star Jodie Comer during a show that rarely honors its youngest nominees.
At 24, Zendaya pulled off a major upset, besting Comer and her “Killing Eve” costar Sandra Oh, as well as fellow nominees Jennifer Aniston (“The Morning Show”), Olivia Colman (“The Crown”) and Laura Linney (“Ozark”).
Jeremy Strong of ‘Succession’ wins for lead actor in a drama series
Jeremy Strong won the Emmy for lead actor in a drama series for his performance in “Succession.”
After thanking the Television Academy and others, Strong acknowledged his castmate and fellow nominee Brian Cox.
“Brian Cox, I share this with you,” said Strong.
The other nominees were:
- Jason Bateman, “Ozark”
- Sterling K. Brown, “This Is Us”
- Steve Carell, “The Morning Show”
- Brian Cox, “Succession”
- Billy Porter, “Pose”
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ wins for competition program
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” won the Emmy for competition series.
Host RuPaul, who won the 2020 Emmy for host for a reality or competition program during the Creative Arts ceremonies, accepted the award. He told his show’s viewers that they “are loved.”
The other nominees were:
- “Nailed It!”
- “The Masked Singer”
- “The Voice”
- “Top Chef”
Emmy delivers the one thing everyone wants: A ‘Friends’ reunion
Host Jimmy Kimmel briefly checked in with actress Jennifer Aniston in a continuing bit from the beginning of the telecast. But Aniston wasn’t home alone.
“Friends” actresses Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow were also there because, according to Cox, they live together.
It was a brief tease of the “Friends” reunions fans have been waiting for.
‘Watchmen’ began as an ‘experiment.’ It became an Emmy winner for our troubled times
When HBO announced three years ago that Damon Lindelof would be rebooting the celebrated comic book franchise “Watchmen,” hardcore fans greeted the news with equal parts anticipation and skepticism. Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ beloved 1987 graphic novel had been adapted before, and not very well, when Zak Snyder brought it to the screen with a widely panned 2009 film. Snyder had, in fact, been tapped for another go-round, until HBO went with Lindelof instead.
Lindelof, known for his work on “Lost” and “The Leftovers,” realized that expectations would be high. But though he understood it would be risky, he believed his plan to blend the fantastic “Watchmen” superhero universe with volatile issues such as racism, police brutality and the rise of white supremacy could approach the art that Moore and Gibbons created.
‘Watchmen’ wins for limited series
Anthony Anderson had Jimmy Kimmel chant “Black Lives Matter” loudly before announcing “Watchmen” as the winner of the limited series Emmy.
“Thank you to everyone who invested nine hours to watch the show,” said Damon Lindelof, as he accepted the award on behalf of his team. “We dedicate this award to the victims and survivors of the Tulsa Massacre,” a historic event re-created to open his series.
The other nominees were:
- “Little Fires Everywhere”
- “Mrs. America”
- “Unbelievable”
- “Unorthodox”
Uzo Aduba wins for supporting actress in a limited series
“Wow. Wow. Wow. OK,” said Uzo Aduba, as she won the Emmy for supporting actress in a limited series or movie. She portrayed Shirley Chisholm in “Mrs. America.”
“Let’s go change the world,” she said as she concluded her thanks.
Before the award was presented, host Jimmy Kimmel bantered with Tracy Morgan, who had crashed the virtual presentation claiming he had been asked to fill in by Tracey Ullman because “All Tracys stick together.”
The other nominees were:
- Toni Collette, “Unbelievable”
- Margo Martindale, “Mrs. America”
- Jean Smart, “Watchmen”
- Holland Taylor, “Hollywood”
- Tracey Ullman, “Mrs. America”
Yahya Abdul-Mateen wins for supporting actor in a limited series
Yahya Abdul-Mateen won the Emmy for supporting actor in a limited series or movie for his performance in “Watchmen.”
“I want to say thank you first to my mommy and my daddy,” said Abdul-Mateen, who also expressed his love to his siblings.
“I dedicate this award to all the Black women in my life,” he added. “I love you.”
The other nominees were:
- Jovan Adepo, “Watchmen”
- Tituss Burgess, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend”
- Louis Gossett Jr., “Watchmen”
- Dylan McDermott, “Hollywood”
- Jim Parsons, “Hollywood”
On an Emmys sweep, here’s where the ‘Schitt’s Creek’ cast is celebrating right now
The 72nd Emmy Awards have certainly been a success for the cast and creatives of “Schitt’s Creek.” But, uh, where are they, exactly?
While accepting several awards Sunday via video-chat for their hit comedy series, Dan Levy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Annie Murphy and the rest of the “Schitt’s Creek” crew celebrated together — in masks — from a beautifully decorated venue in Toronto.
Maria Schrader wins Emmy for directing a limited series
“Unorthodox’s” Maria Schrader won the Emmy for directing a limited series or movie.
“It’s been adventurous to do this delicate and powerful story,” said Schrader of the series of a young woman who leaves her unorthodox Jewish community and strikes out on her own.
The other nominees were:
- Lynn Shelton, “Little Fires Everywhere”
- Lenny Abrahamson, “Normal People”
- Steph Green, “Watchmen”
- Stephen Williams, “Watchmen”
- Nicole Kassell, “Watchmen”
The cast of ‘Schitt’s Creek’ reacts to its remarkable Emmy sweep
The little Canadian comedy that could, “Schitt’s Creek,” was a cult hit in America for its first several seasons. Then Netflix picked it up, and in its final season, it won some Emmys.
Make that all the Emmys. The show swept all seven comedy series awards announced in the national broadcast, including four acting Emmys, one directing, one writing and one series honor.
The avalanche was kicked off by lead actress Catherine O’Hara. It had been 38 years since the storied comic actress had won an Emmy, for co-writing the landmark sketch show “SCTV Network.” She ended the drought with the prize for lead actress in a comedy as matriarch and thespian Moira Rose in the final season of “Schitt’s Creek.”
‘Watchmen’s’ Damon Lindelof and Cord Jefferson win for writing for a limited series
Damon Lindelof and Cord Jefferson of “Watchmen” won the Emmy Award for writing for a limited series, movie or dramatic special for their work on the HBO series “Watchmen.”
But the winner of the segment may have been Randall Park, who presented the award with an alpaca, despite the related Al Pacino joke he had to deliver.
Jefferson, in the most 2020 moment of the telecast so far, thanked his therapist before acknowledging the rest of the writers room when accepting the award. This was “Watchmen’s” second win of the night.
The other nominees were:
- Tanya Barfield, “Mrs. America”
- Sally Rooney and Alice Birch, “Normal People”
- Susannah Grant, Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman, “Unbelievable”
- Anna Winger, “Unorthodox”
Eugene and Dan Levy become first father-son duo to win Emmys in same year
Like father, like son.
Both Eugene and Dan Levy, who co-created and starred in the Canadian sitcom “Schitt’s Creek,” took home Emmys Sunday.
That makes them the first-ever father-son pair to win Emmy Awards in the same year.
Mark Ruffalo wins for lead actor in a limited series
Mark Ruffalo won the Emmy for lead actor in a limited series or movie for his performance in “I Know This Much Is True.”
“Now we know who wins a battle between the Hulk and Wolverine,” said host Jimmy Kimmel as he announced the winner. (Hugh Jackman, who played Wolverine, was also a nominee.)
Ruffalo, accepting the award from New York, first acknowledged the tribal lands the area once was before devoting much of his speech to encourage people to vote.
“We are stronger together when we love each other and we respect each other’s diversity,” said Ruffalo. “Are we going to be a country of division and hatred? Or are we going to be a country for all of us?”
The other nominees were:
- Jeremy Irons, “Watchmen”
- Hugh Jackman, “Bad Education”
- Paul Mescal, “Normal People”
- Jeremy Pope, “Hollywood”
Regina King wins for lead actress in a limited series
Regina King has won the Emmy for lead actress in a limited series for her performance as Angela Abar (a.k.a. Sister Night) in HBO’s “Watchmen.”
“This is so freaking weird,” said King as she accepted the award. She had been showered with confetti as her win was announced.
King also made a plea to viewers: Vote.
“Have a voting plan,” said King. “Vote up the ballot, please.”
The other nominees were:
- Cate Blanchett, “Mrs. America”
- Shira Haas, “Unorthodox”
- Octavia Spencer, “Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker”
- Kerry Washington, “Little Fires Everywhere”
Regina King ties record for most acting Emmys won by a Black performer
“Watchmen’s” Regina King made history at the 72nd Emmy Awards Sunday.
King’s win for lead actress in a limited series or movie for her portrayal of Angela Abar (a.k.a. Sister Night) in the HBO superhero drama is her fourth career Emmy. This ties the record held by Alfre Woodard for most acting Emmys won by a Black performer.
Created by David Lindelof, “Watchmen” is based on the acclaimed comic book series by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons but is not a direct adaptation. It is more like a sequel that follows new characters such as King’s Sister Night.
‘Last Week Tonight With John Oliver’ wins for variety talk series
“Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” won the Emmy for variety talk series.
Oliver looked hesitantly at his surprise Emmy box as it opened and exploded with confetti.
Emmy host Jimmy Kimmel explained that each of the nominated late-night talk show hosts had been given a surprise box. The winner’s box, which was controlled remotely, would be the only one to open with a trophy.
David Letterman presented the award in a bit that involved an angry Uber driver, some 1986 shtick, and then drove off on the bed of a pickup truck after announcing the winner.
The other nominees were:
- “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah”
- “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee”
- “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
- “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”
Jimmy Kimmel presents Emmys monologue to a full but fake audience
Emmys host Jimmy Kimmel welcomed viewers and stars to what he deemed “the Pand-Emmys.”
Kimmel began his opening remarks Sunday in front of what appeared to be a full audience of celebrities — presumably pieced together with footage from previous Emmys ceremonies.
“Thank you for risking everything to be here,” Kimmel joked. “Thank me for risking everything to be here. You know what they say: ‘You can’t have a virus without a host!’ The big question that I guess we should answer is, ‘Why would you have an awards show in the middle of a pandemic?’
‘Schitt’s Creek’ wins best comedy series
It’s a “Schitt’s Creek” sweep. The show won the Emmy for best comedy series, continuing the streak by the cast and crew who have been honored in all seven of the categories presented so far during the telecast.
Co-creator and star Daniel Levy looked flabbergasted as he was once again called on to accept an award for the beloved and acclaimed comedy series from PopTV.
Extolling the show’s “transformational effects of love and acceptance,” Levy went on to implore viewers to “please, please” vote. “I’m sorry I turned this political but I had to.”
Presenting the award was a team event. Gabrielle Union, Morgan Freeman, Elton John and Lin Manuel Miranda were among those called upon to pay tribute to each of the nominated shows.
The other nominees were:
- “Curb Your Enthusiasm”
- “Dead to Me”
- “The Good Place”
- “Insecure”
- “The Kominsky Method”
- “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
- “What We Do in the Shadows”
‘Schitt’s Creek,’ TV’s little engine that could, pulls off feel-good Emmy sweep
“Schitt’s Creek,” TV’s little engine that could, did.
The series, which premiered here in 2015, a co-production of the CBC and the American basic cable channel Pop, was nominated for 15 Emmy Awards this year, for its sixth and final season. Last year, there were nominations for stars Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara, for the series and for costume design — none won. But 2020 was a matter of Now or Never. And the time was now. In a big way. Really big.
Annie Murphy wins for supporting actress in a comedy series
It’s “Schitt’s Creek” again.
Annie Murphy won the supporting actress in a comedy Emmy for her work on “Schitt’s Creek,” following wins by Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Daniel Levy and director Andrew Cividino.
“I’m so proud to be a part of a show that celebrates inclusivity,” said Murphy as she accepted the award.
The other nominees were:
- Alex Borstein, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
- D’Arcy Carden, “The Good Place”
- Betty Gilpin, “GLOW”
- Marin Hinkle, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
- Kate McKinnon, “Saturday Night Live”
- Yvonne Orji, “Insecure”
- Cecily Strong, “Saturday Night Live”
Daniel Levy wins for supporting actor in a comedy series
“The internet is about to turn on me,” said Daniel Levy as he accepted his third trophy of the evening.
The supporting actor Emmy follows Levy’s wins in the two preceding categories: comedy writing and comedy directing (the last of which he shared with Andrew Cividino).
“This is completely overwhelming,” Levy said as he wrapped up his remarks.
The other nominees were:
- Mahershala Ali, “Ramy”
- Alan Arkin, “The Kominsky Method”
- Andre Braugher, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”
- Sterling K. Brown, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
- William Jackson Harper, “The Good Place”
- Tony Shalhoub, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
- Kenan Thompson, “Saturday Night Live”
The sad moment when the Emmy walks away from your house
Sending a poor hazmat-suited soul to deliver an Emmy to every winner tonight seemed complicated enough.
But apparently, show representatives are not just showing up at the winners homes -- they’re also stationed outside the residences of all losers. After losing out to Eugene Levy in the lead comedy actor category, Ramy Youssef tweeted a video of a costumed trophy-holder standing outside his window, clutching a seemingly legitimate statue and then waving goodbye.
Because to replicate that in-person award show experience, you can’t skimp on contributing to Hollywood’s inferiority complexes! (We’ve asked Youssef for comment on this, uh, special moment, and will report back if we hear from him.)
‘Schitt’s Creek’s’ Andrew Cividino and Daniel Levy win for directing for a comedy series
Will “Schitt’s Creek” sweep the comedy series awards?
Andrew Cividino and Daniel Levy won the Emmy for comedy directing. This was Levy’s second award of the evening. “Schitt’s Creek” has won all four awards presented so far this evening.
The award followed a bit by host Jimmy Kimmel that involved “Barry’s” Anthony Carrigan playing a mail carrier for commentary on the current crisis around the U.S. Postal Service delays and foreign interference related to voting.
The other nominees were:
- Gail Mancuso, “Modern Family”
- Ramy Youssef, “Ramy”
- Matt Shakman, “The Great”
- Amy Sherman-Palladino, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
- Daniel Palladino, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
- James Burrows, “Will & Grace”
Daniel Levy wins for comedy writing for ‘Schitt’s Creek’
“Schitt’s Creek’s” winning streak continues.
Immediately after his father was announced the winner of the lead comedy actor, Daniel Levy was announced the winner for the writing for a comedy series Emmy.
A visibly emotional Levy thanked his father as he accepted the award. He also took time to honor Issa Rae and the writing on “Insecure,” a show that was overlooked in this competitive category.
Tracee Ellis Ross briefly appeared along with host Jimmy Kimmel at Staples Center but jokingly tried to leave before announcing the winner.
And she had a message to all the nominees: “You are loved and I think you are fantastic and you are all winners to me.”
The other nominees were:
- David West Read, “Schitt’s Creek”
- Michael Schur, “The Good Place”
- Tony McNamara, “The Great”
- Stefani Robinson, “What We Do in the Shadows”
- Chris Marcil, “What We Do in the Shadows”
- Paul Simms, “What We Do in the Shadows”
Eugene Levy wins lead actor in a comedy series
“Schitt’s Creek” is two for two.
Eugene Levy and Dan Levy shared an embrace after the former was announced as the winner of the lead comedy actor Emmy.
Levy, who had previously won Emmy Awards for writing in the 1980s, also took time to appreciate how “Schitt’s Creek” was a show that allowed him to work with his children, while Dan Levy appeared very emotional in the background.
Eugene Levy noted the irony that he finally won an award for a comedy while playing his straightest role yet, leading him to question his “last 50 years.”
The other nominees were:
- Anthony Anderson, “Black-ish”
- Don Cheadle, “Black Monday”
- Ted Danson, “The Good Place”
- Michael Douglas, “The Kominsky Method”
- Ramy Youssef, “Ramy”
Catherine O’Hara wins for lead comedy actress for ‘Schitt’s Creek’
“How cool is it that Eugene has a microphone in his bedroom?” said Catherine O’Hara as she accepted the Emmy for lead comedy actress.
The entire “Schitt’s Creek” cast appeared to be assembled in the same place — physically distanced and masked — to celebrate their night together.
O’Hara was a favorite to win for her performance as Moira Rose in “Schitt’s Creek.” The award was presented by Jennifer Aniston, who appeared alongside host Jimmy Kimmel at Staples Center for jokes about physical distancing and other COVID-19 precautions.
The other nominees were:
- Christina Applegate, “Dead to Me”
- Rachel Brosnahan, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
- Linda Cardellini, “Dead to Me”
- Issa Rae, “Insecure”
- Tracee Ellis Ross, “black-ish”
Black power, police misconduct are part of the fashion messaging during the Emmys
Emmys fashion was a mixed sartorial bag on the virtual pre-shows, but messages about Black power and beauty as well as police brutality stood out.
Appearing on E! from Atlanta, “Insecure” star Yvonne Orji showed off a short hairstyle with a raised clenched fist, a reference to the Black power and Black Lives Matter movements, edged into one side of her head.
Along with her hairdo, the Nigerian American actress also stood out with her dramatic one-shoulder dark red gown. A bit of sparkle on her dress was seen on screen but not much else in terms of the full look. (Oh, the constraints of being able to see these Emmy outfits only on TV instead of an actual red carpet.) “I brought my own red carpet,” said Orji, a supporting actress nominee.
“The Good Place” star and supporting actor nominee William Jackson Harper, who’s in L.A. in what appeared on screen to be a backyard, wore a black T-shirt with the words “Good trouble” in white letters. It was a reference to Rep. John Lewis’ words, “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and redeem the soul of America.” Lewis, a civil rights icon, died in July in Atlanta.
Another celebrity with a message was “Watchmen” star Regina King, who’s in Santa Fe, N.M.
The Emmy nominee wore a bright pink Schiaparelli suit with a Breonna Taylor T-shirt. (She also sent E! a video of a bold blue Schiaparelli dress — what she would have worn to the Emmys if it were live this year.)
The “Say Her Name” shirt has appeared dozens of times in Instagram posts and been worn by Hollywood stars and stylists. Taylor, a Black woman, was fatally shot by Louisville, Ky., police in her home in the middle of the night in March.
Also, during the opening of the Emmys, nominee Sterling K. Brown from “This Is Us” could be seen on screen wearing a Black Lives Matter T-shirt.
Jimmy Kimmel kicks off the show, ‘Welcome to the Pand-Emmys!’
Jimmy Kimmel kicked off the 72nd Emmy Awards live from the Staples Center and asked the one question on everyone’s mind: “Why would you have an awards show in the middle of a pandemic?”
His monologue, interspersed with reaction shots of audiences from previous telecasts, also included awkward canned laughter.
In discussing HBO’s much-nominated limited series “Watchmen,” Kimmel said the show was very realistic, “except for the parts where anyone in Oklahoma was wearing a mask.”
Perhaps during the show he will figure out why this was the year that the Emmys was sure it needed a host.
And in case viewers were concerned, he did clarify that there was no actual live audience.
COVID hits the Emmys: Presenters will be wearing hazmat tuxedos. Yes, really
In true 2020 style, the trophy presenters at Sunday’s Emmy Awards are wearing… tuxedo hazmat suits.
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the people handing this year’s winners their golden statuettes will don the “fun and irreverent” suits to preserve health and safety.
“Not only is this a fun and irreverent visual,” a press release said. “But it also ensures the health and safety of all of our winners and the presenter by following all of the health and safety protocols — with a twist.”
The apocalyptic suit, designed and created by executive producer Guy Carrington and costume designer Katja Cahill, is modeled after a formal tuxedo. This year’s nominees, however, might not be dressed quite as dashingly.
E! hosts skip the Emmys red carpet after testing positive for COVID-19
The E! “Live From the Red Carpet” pre-show for the Emmy Awards is missing a couple of key players this year.
During Sunday’s broadcast, Giuliana Rancic and Vivica A. Fox — who were expected to host a portion of E!’s 2020 red-carpet coverage — both announced that they had tested positive for COVID-19 and therefore could not emcee the show as planned.
Here are tonight’s 2020 Emmy winners so far
The 72nd Emmy Awards is (virtually) here: Jimmy Kimmel hosts a pandemic-centric socially distanced night that will attempt to celebrate television’s best as the world deals with COVID-19 and other crises that we’ve learned about — and escaped — through TV.
HBO’s “Watchmen” led all shows with 26 nominations, while Netflix set a record for one network with 160, beating HBO’s previous mark of 137. “Watchmen” has already received seven awards, tied with the Disney+ “Star Wars” saga “The Mandalorian.” Some winners have already been announced at this week’s Creative Arts Emmys.
Experts have weighed in and predictions have been made. Here are the 2020 Emmy winners (so far).
Everyone is talking about Emmys loungewear. But traditional glam might be a big winner
If you tuned in to E!’s pre-Emmys show on Sunday, the on-screen fashion appeared to look like something perfectly suited for last year’s Emmy Awards.
Co-host Brad Goreski wore a striking black Dior suit with a black-and-white print shirt and white Christian Louboutin boots, while co-host Laverne Cox appeared in a magenta crepe one-shoulder Azzi & Osta dress.
Of course, you know it’s 2020 because the hosts have been seated at individual desks and appear to be following social-distancing standards.
If their looks are any indication, at-home glam might be a big winner at a time when fashion editors and others have said loungewear will dominate the Emmys telecast. (And maybe it will.)
But here’s a hint it might also be at-home glam’s big night. If you hop over to Instagram Stories now, you’ll catch “Euphoria” star Zendaya, who’s styled by Law Roach, doing a twirl in a purple and black Christopher John Rogers dress with a Bulgari necklace. She also features a photo of blingy jewelry.
Now, if glam is what you’re looking for, take another trip to 2019. That’s when bold color combinations and bare shoulders ruled the Emmys’ purple carpet. Now let’s see what Sunday’s show delivers.
Point/Counterpoint: Should we even care about the Emmys this year?
L.A. Times television critics Robert Lloyd and Lorraine Ali offer opposing views of this year’s Emmys.
“Even in a normal year, it takes a lot to get me to care about the Emmy Awards,” Lloyd writes. “[I]n fact, I never really care about the Emmys, apart from being happy to see artists I like win, because it’s nice for them. But many, many, many more artists whose work I like will not win, or be nominated, and I would hate to think that matters. This is not a normal year.” Read more >>>
“Just as radio provided an escape during the Great Depression, Hollywood tapped its way across the silver screen during World War II and music became a mouthpiece for social revolution in the 1960s and ’70s, television has pivoted from a passive form of entertainment to a powerful expression and reflection of our time,” Ali counters. “After fighting to keep us afloat and informed throughout 2020, it deserves its moment in the sun.” Read more >>>
Five nights of virtual Creative Arts Emmys yield firsts and relatively few snafus
The Emmys in the “creative arts” categories, usually awarded over two nights, were given out over five this year, and all virtually. If that sounds like a recipe for technical disaster ... it wasn’t, but for one notable error that ended up making one nominee feel like an “Outsider.”
How to watch this year’s pandemic edition of the Emmys
The 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards will air Sunday live on ABC at 5 p.m. Pacific, with Jimmy Kimmel hosting again. Here’s what you need to know.
Emmys 2020 fashion forecast: Pajamas, but make it red carpet
With no traditional red-carpet walk and nominees beaming in from around the globe in the middle of the pandemic, Sunday’s Emmy Awards telecast will look and feel markedly different than it has in previous years, especially on the fashion front. This point was underscored by the dress-code guidance offered in a July letter sent to nominees by the virtual show’s producers: “Our informal theme for the night is ‘come as you are, but make an effort!’” And according to stylists working with some of this year’s nominees, one of the letter’s examples, “designer pajamas,” has captured the collective awards-show-from-home imagination.
No red carpet? No problem. The preshows are ready for a ‘semi-glamorous’ Emmys
“With so many heavy things happening, it does feel a bit frothy, but there is a part of us that needs a little escapism to take our mind off things for a while. I would rather have it be the way it used to be, but we’re going to try and go with it — roll with the punches,” says KTLA morning news co-anchor and Emmy pre-show co-host Jessica Holmes.
How will the ‘virtual’ Emmys go? See exclusive photos of Jimmy Kimmel’s prep at Staples Center
Because of COVID-19, 2020 marks the first virtual Emmy Awards in its 72-year history. We take you inside Staples Center for an exclusive look at preparations underway for the unprecedented show on Sunday night.
For L.A. workers who depend on awards shows, this year’s Emmys are a ‘nightmare’
Each year, the Emmy Awards celebrate the best in TV — not just on a single Sunday in September but over three months of schmoozing and glad-handing that provide a boon to the local economy. The televised ceremony and the many events surrounding it, including news conferences, screenings, luncheons and splashy afterparties, employ thousands of people in and around Los Angeles, from TV crews, publicists and stylists to bartenders, line cooks, seat fillers and security guards.
Because the COVID-19 pandemic has made these large in-person gatherings unsafe for the foreseeable future, this Sunday’s virtual Emmys will be different for viewers at home as well as the many people who work behind the scenes to make the event happen.
What will the Emmys look like? The show’s history-making producer reveals his plans
“With the Emmys, it comes down to that moment where you go, ‘You’re the winner.’ It’s that very small, but gigantic, human moment. That’s what we’re fighting to preserve in this show. To do that, but not all be in the same room, means sending out 130 or more cameras. Los Angeles, New York, Connecticut, Canada, London, Berlin, Tel Aviv, wherever we need to go, we’re going to be sending out these elaborate but relatively easy-to-use camera rigs so we can have the best sound, the best picture, the best lighting, given the circumstances.
You can do it in the living room, your backyard, your kid’s room. You know how everyone always says good night to their kids? Well, they can have their kids with them! And they can tuck their kids in after they win. Maybe they’re alone in their apartment; maybe they’ve got their entire extended family. Maybe they’ve got all their friends over there and they’re having some raucous Emmy party. It’s all up to the individual and how they want to celebrate the night.
Our expert’s Emmy predictions: Who will win? And who could pull off an upset?
The Emmys! They’re here! They’re happening! Nobody knows how. (Though producer Reginald Hudlin has given some hints.) But hopefully the Zoom links will work, Catherine O’Hara wears something that would make Moira proud, and the screen will be filled with a sea of faces when “Succession” wins for drama series. One ray of sunshine: I think most of the prizes will go to the best shows and performers. Like last year with “Fleabag,” only without the undeserved “Game of Thrones” win to spoil the night.
Here’s how things should shake out on Sunday.