The annual Emmy Awards have returned for the 75th year. It is an important night for actors, actresses, directors, writers and everyone working in the industry who waited all year to be recognized and publicly rewarded for their never ending hard work.
Considering the prior WGA and AFTRA strike affecting the industry, there was fear the Emmys award show would be significantly delayed. It was postponed to show solidarity for the workers who were fighting for their rights, and it paid off.
On January 15th, Martin Luther King day, at 5:00PM, employees of the production industry and a variety of special guests rushed to their seats, anxiously awaiting who would be going home with one or more of the twenty seven awards being given out.
Here is a recap on everything that you may have missed over the Emmys live show, from full circle moments to some of the winners of the 2024 year!
Memorable moments
Like any big event, The 75th Emmys had its fill of comical and emotional moments. Anthony Anderson, who was the host of this year’s Emmys awards, made sure the night was filled with laughter. He appointed his mama to politely tell the winners when to wrap up their acceptance speech. Throughout the show mama would say “Times up baby cut to the chase.” At one point she even had a sign with a drawing of a red X over a clock that was signed with love from Mama, which the audience found amusing.
Legendary Comedian Carol Brunette also made an appearance at the Emmys and had the pleasure to announce the best lead actress in a comedy series. Carol Brunette shared her journey of how she made it in the industry in the midst of controversy and being the comedian she is put a comical spin on her speech.
“It truly warms my heart to see how well men are doing in comedy now,” said Brunette, according to Twitter.
Natasha Lyonne and Tracy Ellis attempted to pay tribute to the beloved show I Love Lucy. They recreated the iconic chocolate factory scene where Lucy and her best friend Ethel began stuffing all the chocolate they could into their mouths and their clothes before their boss came back into the room. While the gesture of the recreation was lovely, the performance itself proves that no one can execute that scene better than Lucille Ball and Viviane Vance.
Not only were there funny moments, there were touching ones as well. The winners of the Emmy awards only have 45 seconds for an acceptance speech, so when they have the floor they have to make it count.
John Oliver was one of the only Emmy winners who spoke out about the strike and thanked everyone for standing with him and supporting the cause every step of the way.
“The strike felt long, but it did not feel lonely,” said Oliver, according to The Washington Post.
Sarah Kate Ellis took her moment after accepting the governor’s award to talk about her organization GLAAD, which is a nonprofit LGBTQ advocacy organization whose mission is inclusion in movies for the LGBTQ community.
“What we see on TV influences how we treat each other,” explained Ellis, according to Deadline.
Steven Yeun also shares his story of how he came to learn from his character. Through the production process he admits he was struggling with the character and grasping who he was as a human and he expressed what he has learnt.
“Judgment and shame is a lonely place but compassion and grace is where we can all meet,” shared Yeun, according to Hindustan Times.
The Emmys is a place where people in the production industry can gather together, so it is only fitting that there were cast reunions. TV shows Grey’s Anatomy, Martin, Ally Mcbeal, All in the Family, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Cheers reunited on stage to present different awards to nominees. This proved to be funny and bitter sweet. Some casts like Ally Mcbeal took the comical route and danced their way to the microphone, while others like All in the family choose to look back on their careers and how far they’ve come.
And the Emmy goes to….
Winners include Jenifer Coolidge for best supporting actress in The White Lotus. Two times winner Christopher Storer for the Bear with the awards of “Outstanding directing in a comedy series” and “Outstanding writing for a comedy series.” Jessie Armstrong with Succession winning “Outstanding writing for a drama series.” A full list of all the 2024 winners can be found on CBS News.
