Emmys 2017: Best And Worst Moments
emmys-2017-shailene-woodley
WEIRDEST DIG AT THE INDUSTRY
We can always count on the E! red carpet to leave us scratching our heads. Case in point? This puzzling sound bite from Big Little Lies star (and Emmy nominee) Shailene Woodley: "When do people have time to [watch TV]? I'm a reader. So I always read a book instead of turning on my TV." And then she turned and rejoined the sea of television stars on the TV industry's biggest night.
emmys-2017-sean-spicer
BEST AUDIENCE REACTION
Stephen Colbert's monologue was already chock full of gems, namely his dig at Real Time host Bill Maher for using the N-word earlier this year. But all that was eclipsed by an appearance from the real Sean Spicer, who joked about the size of the inauguration Emmy crowd. Even better? The reactions from Veep's Anna Chlumsky, Modern Family's Julie Bowen and Sarah Hyland and, of course, SNL's Spicer aficionado Melissa McCarthy, who looked appropriately bemused by the whole affair.
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BEST WESTWORLD CAST ADDITION
Just when we thought Tituss Burgess had peaked with his Kimmy Schmidt homage to Beyonce's Lemonade, the actor stole the show again in this hilarious parody of Westworld, interrupting Bernard's diagnostics test on malfunctioning host Colbert. "I'm one hundred percent robot," he exclaimed. "Bleep! Bloop! Whatever." Politely excusing himself, he continued, "Now if you'll excuse me, Stephen, I need to go rope me some cowboys!"
emmys-2017-dave-chappelle
BEST IMPROVISATION
Take note, awards-show writers: You don't need to pen stuffy, laugh-free bits for your presenters. As we learned from Dave Chappelle on Sunday, those 30 seconds can be much funnier without a script: "I am truly amazed how many black people are here. I counted 11 on the monitor. [pause] I should also tell you that I skipped rehearsal." We appreciate your honesty, sir — and kind of wish you had introduced every award.
emmys-2017-jermaine-fowler
WORST NARRATION
If Jermaine Fowler's emcee gig was supposed to get us interested in watching Superior Donuts... mission failed. Whether he was screaming a presenter's name or sounding completely apathetic about a winner's Emmy track record, Fowler nearly had us hitting the mute button before and after every award.
emmys-2017-alec-baldwin
BEST TRUMP JOKE
Just about every celebrity who took the Emmys stage made a crack about POTUS, but it was Alec Baldwin's joke that reigned supreme, as he accepted the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy for his SNL portrayal of Trump. Referencing the commander-in-chief's lack of hardware for The Apprentice, Baldwin began, "I suppose I should say: At long last, Mr. President, here is your Emmy." Amazingly, there was no audio feedback after Baldwin dropped the mic that hard.
emmys-2017-9-to-5
BEST REUNION
Here are three major reasons we loved this year's Emmys: Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda. After entering to a standing ovation (duh), the 9 to 5 trio delivered a pre-award comedy bit that somehow had vibrator jokes and anti-Trump sentiment. What a way to make a living, indeed.
emmys-2017-seth-macfarlane
MOST UNNECESSARY SELF-PROMOTION
If this year's ceremony was airing on Fox, we'd understand the weird Seth MacFarlane indulgence that took place during the award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series or Movie. Instead, we were left puzzled as MacFarlane's voice goofily introduced the six nominees, each one announced by a different animated character that he voices. Is there no escape from Family Guy's Griffin family — even on a rival network?
emmys-2017-rachel-bloom
BEST PUNCHLINE DELIVERED IN SONG
"Here comes the best part of the show," Crazy Ex-Girlfriend's Rachel Bloom declared, before revealing her big song-and-dance number was a tribute... to the accountants of Ernst & Young. (Seriously, it might actually have been the best part of the show.)
emmys-2017-david-mandel
MOST ENTERTAINING ACCEPTANCE SPEECH
For the second year in a row, Veep showrunner David Mandel delivered one of the broadcast's funniest, most candid acceptance speeches after the HBO satire won for Outstanding Comedy Series. "I'm out of a job. I guess we all are," Mandel began, referencing Veep's upcoming final season. "If anyone hears of anything, I'd like movie work, but I'll do television." Though his time on stage was short, Mandel effectively and memorably roasted as many Emmy attendees as possible; not even Veep leading lady Julia Louis-Dreyfus was safe from her boss's (good-natured) jokes.
emmys-2017-nicole-kidman
MOST IMPRESSIVE RESTRAINT BY THE ORCHESTRA
Though most Emmy winners barely get 30 seconds to thank their friends and family, this year's musical director knew better than to cut off Big Little Lies' Nicole Kidman in the middle of her powerful acceptance speech for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series. Not only did Kidman hold the floor long enough to acknowledge her castmates, husband and children, but she was given enough time to address the domestic-abuse issues that Lies highlighted so well. "Thank you, thank you, thank you. I bow down to you," she concluded. And we bow down to you, Ms. Kidman.
emmys-2017-lena-waithe
BEST MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
Master of None's Lena Waithe garnered a well-deserved standing O, becoming the first-ever black woman to win an award for Writing in a Comedy Series. Remarking on the significance of winning for the coming-out episode "Thanksgiving," Waithe thanked her LGBTQIA family. "I see each and every one of you," she said. "The things that make us different, those are our superheroes... every day when you walk out the door, put on your imaginary cape and go out there and conquer the world. Because the world wouldn't be as beautiful as it is without you in it."
emmys-2017-sterling-k-brown
ACTUALLY, NEVER MIND
How dare you cut off Sterling K. Brown, Emmys! We take back all the nice things we said!
emmys-2017-colbert-kimmel
BEST THROWING OF SHADE
Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel, who lost to fellow late-night comedian John Oliver for Variety Talk Series, enjoyed a "dry, British cocktail" called The Last Week Tonight. But that couldn't heal the pain of losing to a show that "is so high-quality, they can apparently only make one a week." (Ouch!)
emmys-2017-handmaids-tale
BEST (WELL, ONLY) GILMORE REFERENCE
Sure, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life might not have earned any award nominations — sigh. But hearing the words "Rory Gilmore" uttered during an Emmys acceptance speech — for The Handmaid's Tale's Outstanding Drama Series win — is good enough for us. Praise be!
emmys-2017-kevin-spacey
WEIRDEST USE OF A CELLULAR DEVICE
Kevin Spacey, who apparently didn't trust his DVR at home to capture the moment that Julia Louis-Dreyfus made Emmy history, took out his iPhone and documented the whole thing. Worst of all, he shot the whole darn thing vertically!