Emmys 2021: 5 key takeaways from TV’s big night.
Emmys 2021:
The 73rd Emmy Awards gave top honors to “The Crown,” “Ted Lasso,” and “The Queen’s Gambit,” capping off a ceremony that largely avoided political speeches and failed to recognize a single performer of color in the 12 major acting categories.
“The Crown,” a lavish portrait of the British royal family that won seven trophies, including a first-ever best drama series win for Netflix, the show’s streaming home, was the big winner of the night.
“Ted Lasso,” an Apple TV comedy that overcame lukewarm reviews in its second season to win four prizes, including best comedy series and acting accolades for Jason Sudeikis, finished in second on the final count of medals given out on Sunday.
Cedric the Entertainer hosted the event, which lasted more than four hours and drew attention on social media as much for what it seemed to leave out as for what it contained.
Here are some of the major storylines that emerged from the television industry’s big night.
No wins for performers of color
The Emmys’ acting nominees were diverse this year, including “Pose” stars Mj Rodriguez and Billy Porter, as well as “Bridgerton” breakout star Regé-Jean Page and the late Michael K. Williams.
In the acting categories, however, not a single performer of color was recognized throughout the evening.
All 12 major acting categories had white winners.
Given the intense scrutiny on Hollywood award shows in recent years over issues of diversity and representation, the exclusion of performers of color was particularly notable.
The racial makeup of this year’s winners could be attributed to the most popular shows, such as “The Crown,” “Ted Lasso,” “Mare of Easttown,” “Hacks,” and “The Queen’s Gambit.”
Despite the presence of actors of color on those popular shows, they are dominated by white actors.
‘Ted Lasso’ dominates the comedy field.
The second season of “Ted Lasso” has gotten a mixed reception from fans and reviewers.
The reaction to the Apple TV+ success, however, did not dampen the show’s momentum at the Emmys, where voters were clearly won over by its unwavering positivity.
The show, a fish-out-of-water comedy about an American football coach recruited to manage an English soccer team, won the top comedy category, as well as awards for Sudeikis (lead actor in a comedy series), Hannah Waddingham, and Brett Goldstein, who played supporting characters.
“Ted Lasso” was so popular that when Stephen Colbert won the Emmy for a best live variety show, he quipped that he was glad Sudeikis and company were not nominated so he could win.
“Hacks,” HBO’s comedy about a seasoned Las Vegas comic (Jean Smart) and a novice writer (Hannah Einbinder), was not far behind.
Smart received her fourth Emmy nomination for her main role, and the show was praised for its writing and direction.
Cedric the Entertainer hosted the event, which lasted more than four hours and drew attention on social media as much for what it seemed to leave out as for what it contained.
Politics kept to a minimum
But there were some notable exceptions.
“Let this moment resonate with women across the world, across this country, and across the world, from Texas to Afghanistan. Let them know,” Debbie Allen said while accepting the honorary Governors Award. “And also with young people, who have no vote, who can’t even get a vaccine, they are inheriting the world that we leave them. It is time to claim your power, claim your voice, say your song, tell your stories. It will make us a better place. Your turn.”
“Impeachment: American Crime Story” star Sarah Paulson, for her part, made a pointed joke about the gender pay gap in the entertainment industry and beyond, while Colbert mocked California for spending millions of dollars on a campaign to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom.
What pandemic?
The awards show that has rolled out the red carpet during the coronavirus pandemic have been peculiar experiences. Last year’s edition of the Emmys, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, was a (mostly) virtual affair
that did not feature an in-studio audience.
This year’s Emmys struck many at-home viewers as a return to a familiar format — for better or worse. The crowd of nominees, guests,
and other television industry figures appeared to cramp closely together inside a tent without a mask in sight.
Seth Rogen, presenting the first award of the night,
nodded to the look of the environment, saying: “There is way too many of us in this little room.”
“They told me this was outside,” Rogen added. “Why is there a roof? What are all you people doing?”
In the lead-up to the show, Emmys producers insisted that vaccinations and proof of a negative Covid-19 test require for all attendees,
and the TV academy limited the number of attendees allowed in the room to around 600, according to Variety.
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In memoriam
The annual In Memoriam segment paid tribute to a wide range of entertainment industry luminaries who died in the last year, including talk-show host Larry King, “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek, actor Ed Asner and Hollywood legend Cicely Tyson.
But there were particularly moving celebrations of two TV greats who recently died: Michael K. Williams (a nominee for his supporting turn on HBO’s “Lovecraft Country”) and Norm Macdonald.
Williams, an icon of modern television who played Omar Little on “The Wire”
and appeared on other acclaimed dramas, the last person feature in the In Memoriam video. Kerry Washington, presenting the award for best supporting actor in a drama series, praised his “excellence” and “artistry.”
Macdonald, the former “Saturday Night Live” cast member, and deadpan comedian received special-outs, too. “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels mentioned him in an acceptance speech,
while John Oliver implored viewers to watch Macdonald clips on YouTube, “because it doesn’t get better than that.
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