After a very turbulent week in the US, the 77th Primetime Emmy began as an overly tempered ceremony, then quickly disbanded into a (mostly fun) and unforeseen, winning, rave reviews. The TV Academy had an incredible choice when it announced that comedian Nate Bargatze would be on stage as a host. From his opening monologue, Bargazze set a near-unset, non-political tone in the evening. He lacked the enthusiasm and gull needed to lead the 3-hour awards program, and often seemed unsettled as he was in the spotlight. At one point he was wearing a horrifying Canadian tuxedo. (If this and many of Bargatze’s other jokes landed more clearly, that would have been good.)
Bargatze opened with sketches rather than monologues. It was Midling, a commentary on the absurdity of the current chaotic television landscape. Bargatze threw barbs on CBS (where the Emmys were airing) by calling it the Caucasian Broadcast System, nodding to the sparsely colored people leading the network’s prime time lineup.
With his next appearance, Bargatze shook things when he announced the winner’s challenge. The host explained to the audience that he would donate $100,000 to the American Boys & Girls Club, but if the winner’s speech lasts more than 45 seconds, the money would drain out of the pot. Speech under the 45-second limit adds additional funds to the pool. To the audience at home, this initially seemed like an original solution. But after the first recipients, Katherine Ranatha (“Pit”) and Tramel Tillman (“Retirement”), he ran through awkwardly accepted speeches. Lanatha was surprised. Tillman was expected.
The 45-second cap of the award winner’s speech certainly kept the show running on time, but the winners seemed almost competing for their big moments, rather than being allowed to immerse themselves in what they worked hard on. This misstep became evident when the presenter drone endlessly and consumed the time that could have been given to the winner. (The presenter wasn’t under the crunch at the same time.) There was also a random warning that Bargatze appeared as actor JB Smoove and four adorable kids representing the Boys & Girls Club.
Emmy began shifting in real time, just as live shows tend to do. There was a lot of confusion and added excitement. Lanatha supported the actress in a drama surrounding “White Lotus” favorite Carrie Coon, and shortly afterwards “retired” Brit Lower acquired “Matlock” Cathy Bates for the drama actress. (She may even have given her acceptance speech as her character, Helly R.)
By the time “hacking” star Hannah Einbinder won by supporting the actress in comedy, it was clear that her first Emmy-winner was ready to regain the time and show. (Even if that meant covering the Boys & Girls Club donations from her own pocket.) And Einbinder was the first actor on a night that became overtly political offstage by proudly declaring “fucking birds, ice, free Palestine.” Philadelphia Eagles fans have well past their 45-second time cap, saying they “make up the difference.” When Jeff Hiller won the stunning role in HBO’s “Someone is Someone,” he thanked co-star Bridget Everett and the creator of the show, “writing the show when compassion was deemed weakness.” However, “The Penguin” star Christine Milioti won an award for actress in the drama series, making him seem to enjoy his speech.
Other highlights and surprising victory have led Owen Cooper to win his role in “puberty” and become the youngest winner ever in the 15-year-old limited series category. “Gilmore Girls” stars Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledell gave a very cute tribute to the show’s 25th anniversary, quip about the show’s ultra-low budget and fall obsession. Stephen Colbert won his first Emmy following the cancellation of “Late Show” earlier this year, giving a moving speech, ending it with love for America, and reminding us all (via the Prince’s quote).
Overall, the show was full of some fun confusion and deserved sweeps from “studio” and “adolescent”. There was a good speech hodgepodge and a heartfelt moment celebrating the legacy of PBS and “Law and Order.” The lead actor’s first Emmy win in the Noah Weil drama, he dedicated the award to hospital workers, as depicted in “The Pitt.” By then, the 45-second clock had been ignored. And finally, Bargatze announced, of course, that Frenzy was a (bad) joke. Of course, he and CBS ended up donating $350,000 to the Boys & Girls Club, even if the speech clock was very red. If they wanted to see the wasted time, the phone was coming from inside the house.
