After a four-month delay, the Emmys have once again reigned supreme as the awards of television. Although they normally take place in mid-September – in 2023 they were going to be held on the 18th of that month – this year Hollywood's idiosyncrasies have made them late: the writers' strike, which ended at the end of that month, and the actors' strike, which did not end until November, brought the industry to a standstill and the awards had to move their date. And this January 15, Monday (but a holiday throughout the United States), they have found a place in the awards season schedule to air on Fox, competing in popularity against the Iowa caucuses, whose results were being known at the same time as the winners of the awards, which this time honored the best series of last year. In other words, they were a little behind the rest of the season's awards. Even so, as in the rest of the installments, Succession, The Bear and Bronca, have taken almost everything.
From the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles (California), the comedian and screenwriter Anthony Anderson was in charge of hosting the 75th edition of the awards, a round figure that brought to the stage many old series and their protagonists: from Cheers to Dynasty, with Joan Collins and her 90 years on stage; from the 36-time nominated Grey's Anatomy, with more than 420 episodes aired, to Calista Flockhart dancing in tribute to Ally McBeal. In a season where presenters are getting more than a few scoops for their ill-advised speeches, he was fun and contained, with many nods to the black community and also to the always long speeches of the winners. "Tonight we give 27 awards. That means 27 acceptance speeches. I ask you to keep it short... We usually play music to cut them, which people tend to ignore. This year we have something that can't be ignored: my mother." And his mother, sitting in the stalls, went in to the rag: "Hey, I want to go to the party after." "But don't yell at me, yell at them," Anderson replied. And his mother, fellow comedian Doris Bowman, was taking out posters to get the winners off the stage.
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Christina Applegate and Anthony Anderson present the first award of the 75th Emmy Awards, in Los Angeles, California, on Jan. 15, 2024.MARIO ANZUONI (REUTERS)
The presenters of the awards were also funny, emotional and full of sparkle. Christina Applegate was in charge of giving the first prize, amidst tears and applause from the audience. "It's an honor to play complex, fun roles, like the women nominated tonight," said an actress who has been playing roles in Hollywood since she was practically a baby and who has not been stopped by a sclerosis and a cane, not even close; so much so that she was even nominated. Pedro Pascal, who was passed over by Kieran Culkin at the Golden Globes (with a "suck that one"), acknowledged to the Succession actor: "You're beating me up." Tina Fey and Amy Poehler returned as a comedy duo as news anchors to give the best award for the best live televised event, which went to Elton John's farewell concert in Los Angeles. Something that makes the British artist the 19th person to have the so-called EGOT: Emmy, Golden Globe, Oscar and Tony.
'Ally McBeal' cast members Peter MacNicol, Gil Bellows, Greg Germann and Calista Flockhart dance on stage at the Emmys.
In awards there were not too many surprises and everything followed the script that little by little marks the awards season. HBO's Succession, winner for best drama series, triumphed with six awards (out of a total of 27 nominations). The first went to Matthew Macfadyen, best supporting actor: "Thank you to my screen wife, Sarah Snook, and my other wife, Nicholas Braun," he joked about his two main dramatic supports in the series. "Performing with you is one of the best things that has ever happened to me in my entire life." The second went to Kieran Culkin for nailing his role as the unbearable Roman Roy: "Thank you to my mother for giving me life and my childhood, which was great," he said excitedly, throwing his jacket on stage, nervous and heated, as well as joking with his wife, Jazz Charton, sitting in the audience, whom he thanked for their two daughters: "Jazz, I want to have more. You said maybe. I love you so much." And the third for Australian Sarah Snook, the devious Shiv Roy, who said that, with the end of the series, she will "miss her co-stars a lot". In addition, the series won Best Writing and Best Directing of a Drama Series for its brilliant episode Connor's Wedding, and the jackpot, Best Drama Series, which was collected by the entire cast, embracing on stage, by the hand of its creator, Jesse Armstrong, who talked about the relationship between families, power and the media: "We are sad that this is over, but very honored, we have loved doing this."
Sarah Snook, with her Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role in a Drama for her role as Shiv Roy in 'Succession'. MARIO ANZUONI (REUTERS)
The other big hit of the season, The Bear (FX, on Hulu/Disney+), was proclaimed as the series of the moment with six awards for its first season (the second has already aired, but these are last year's awards) in the comedy category (should it be drama? No one knows.) Also three for performers, two for best direction and script of episodes and the top prize for best comedy. Ayo Edibiri and Ebon Moss Bachrach won Best Actress and Supporting Actor in a Comedy, while Jeremy Allen White picked it up for Lead Actor for his role as chef Carmy Berzatto: "I'm proud, full of gratitude to be in front of you. I love this series. It has fulfilled me, it has given me a passion. I love you guys, to the fabulous casting and fabulous team. Thank you, Dad, thank you to those of you who have been close to me this year, thank you, thank you, thank you." He dedicated it to his daughters, Ezer Billie and Dolores.
The team of 'The Bear', winners of six Emmy Awards, including outstanding comedy series, in the newsroom at the 75th Emmy Awards.Frazer Harrison (Getty Images)
The bittersweet tragicomedy Bronca (Netflix) has won five: Best Limited Series, Actors in a Limited Series (Steven Yeun and Ali Wong), and another two for Best Director and Best Screenplay for Episodes of a Limited Series. Its creator, Lee Sung Jin, said, "This is crazy."
Young Mazino, Maria Bello, Steven Yeun, Ali Wong and Joseph Lee, from the series 'Bronca', pose with their Emmys.CAROLINE BREHMAN (EFE)
The White Lotus in drama (again: should it be comedy? Nobody knows) gave the award for best actress in that category to Jennifer Coolidge, whom the series has recovered as a generational icon: "Mike White, thank you for giving me this opportunity with this incredible role," he thanked the creator of the HBO hit, and following a line from his character, he said to applause: "I want to thank all the evil gays." In comedy, Quinta Brunson became the first Black woman in 40 years to win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead in a Comedy Series for Abbott College, and only the second in history after Isabel Sanford for The Jeffersons.
Jennifer Coolidge collects her award for best supporting actor in a drama series for 'The White Lotus', at the 75th Emmys, on January 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, California,MARIO ANZUONI (REUTERS)
The tribute to the deceased actors and industry personalities began with screenwriter and producer Norman Lear and closed with Matthew Perry and the song I'll be there for you, the theme song of Friends. The applause was loud at the on-screen appearances of famous actors such as Kirstie Alley, Angela Lansbury and Angus Cloud. On Martin Luther King Day, which is celebrated across the country, Anderson closed the broadcast with one of the historic (and historic, in general) moments of American television: King's speech from Washington in 1963, with his "I have a dream." On Emmy night, many fulfilled theirs.
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