Little afro
Hollywood’s record on diversity has come into the limelight in recent years.
African-American actors, including Courtney B Vance, Sterling K Brown and Maya Rudolph, won for guest roles or voice-over performances, awards that were presented before Sunday’s gala.
Michaela Coel, screenwriter of I May Destroy You, and reality TV host RuPaul, were also recognized.
But in the end, the top 12 acting awards went to white artists, with favorites like the late Michael K. Williams missing.
Those who left
Indeed, television lost two of its favorites in the weeks leading up to the Emmys.
Williams, whose Baltimore character Omar Little was a key ingredient in the success of HBO’s crime drama “The Wire,” died this month of an alleged drug overdose.
Kerry Washington (Little Fires Everywhere) praised “a brilliantly talented actor and generous human being who has left us too soon.”
Williams had been nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama for Lovecraft country, an award that went to Tobias Menzies for The Crown.
The late Norm Macdonald, from the comic show Saturday night Live, also drew praise, including from double winner John Oliver.
“Nobody was funnier in the last 20 years than Norm Macdonald in comedy night,” said Oliver, host of Last week tonight.
Women
Kate Winslet was one of several winners who praised Hollywood’s progress in female representation, both in front of and behind the scenes.
“It means a lot because it makes me genuinely feel like our industry is changing,” said Winslet, who took home the best actress award for her role in Mare of Easttown.
“Honestly, I’m starting to feel like changes are happening. And I think we’re targeting women a lot less, in terms of how they look, their figure.”
But broader issues about women’s rights were highlighted on the show, and Debbie Allen, honored for her professional achievements, urged women “from Texas to Afghanistan” to “make their voices heard.”
Coel, who addressed the aftermath of the rape in I May Destroy You, dedicated his award to “every survivor of sexual assault.”
Lucky few
After last year’s virtual event due to the covid pandemic, this year’s Emmy awards were face-to-face, but only a few nominees were fortunate enough to attend the ceremony.
Each nomination obtained a maximum of three invitations to the venue partially outdoors and with physical distance, which meant about 500 people (the ceremony generally has an audience of between 4,000 and 6,000 people).
Still, actor Seth Rogen joked that there were “too many of us in this little room.” And he added: “They lied to us. Right now we are in a hermetically sealed tent.”
Political humor
Less than a week ago, California held a recall referendum that ratified its governor Gavin Newsom in office, in a consultation that cost the US west coast state a fortune.
Host Stephen Colbert poked fun at the referendum at the ceremony, announcing the 2018 Emmy award for comedy. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel it had also been put to a new vote.
“California law allows for the withdrawal of any Emmy awards if sufficient signatures are first obtained, which means that the 2018 Emmy winner for best comedy could soon be the Marvelous Mrs. Larry Elder,” Colbert said, alluding to the opponent. Republican from Newsom.
“With 100 percent of the report from the tables, Mrs. Maisel he survived and will keep the award … Congratulations, and it only cost California $ 275 million, “he scoffed.