Emmys 2021: 16 Of The Best, Worst And Weirdest Moments

Much like the past year of truly excellent television, the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards had a little something for everyone: Tearful speeches! Funny presenters! Rita Wilson rapping! Twice!

It was indeed an eventful night for the TV industry, and we here at TVLine have boiled down the broadcast to 16 memorable moments, from the emotionally stirring to the eyeroll-inducing. Among the highlights this year: Seth Rogen's only-sorta-joking horror at the ceremony's indoor setting, Robin Thede's perfect reaction to Saturday Night Live's win over A Black Lady Sketch Show, and a wonderful reunion of Schitt's Creek's Rose family.

Of course, a few of the evening's acceptance speeches made our list, as well... but not always because we loved them. Lookin' at you, The Queen's Gambit director Scott Frank!

Plus, as with any major televised awards show, parts of the Emmys were downright weird, from the Met Gala-themed appearance of Cedric the Entertainer's Neighborhood co-stars, to an absurdly outdated comedy bit involving the fly on Mike Pence's head. (We're not kidding when we say that happened a year ago.)

How did you feel about this year's Emmy ceremony? Grade the broadcast in our poll below, then continue scrolling to see our picks for the best and worst moments!

Despite a record number of non-white acting nominees this year, a grand total of zero (!) performers of color grabbed gold during Sunday's televised ceremony.

We should note upfront that we actually dug the majority of this Biz Markie-inspired opening number, in all its glorious hokeyness. (Who knew so many celebrities lacked the proper clap-along skills?) But for all its goofy charm, the song strangely petered out for the very final notes, leaving the stars on stage to do some awkward and off-key riffing. Considering the rest of the number was obviously pre-recorded, we expected a slightly smoother ending.

Emmy presenter Rita Wilson threw E! Red Carpet host Karamo Brown for a loop when he inquired about who she was wearing. "'I don't pop Molly, I rock Tom Ford!'" she exclaimed, borrowing a line from Jay-Z's 2013 single "Tom Ford." Little did we know that she'd also be rapping during the opening number.

WandaVision's Elizabeth Olsen came dressed in a gown designed by sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Even better, This Is Us' COVID-safe Mandy Moore came accessorized with a Spray Guard Two-Thousand... and One!

As the first presenter of the evening, Rogen got to acknowledge the absurdity of holding an indoor event as the pandemic rages on. "What are we doing??" he exclaimed. "They said this was outdoors. It's not! They lied to us! We're in a hermetically sealed tent right now... Why is there a roof?!?" Apparently it was "more important that we have three chandeliers than that we make sure we don't kill Eugene Levy tonight," he concluded.

The Ted Lasso star's acceptance for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series was one for the ages — equal parts hilarious, heartfelt and emotional. But if we had to single out a favorite moment, it'd be when she called attention to fellow nominee Juno Temple, suggesting that her costar was every bit as deserving of the Emmy statuette as she was. "I swear to God, if I could break off one of her arms and give it to you... Because that's what you are to me," she said. "There's no Rebecca without Keeley." D'aw! (The only thing that would've made this win even better was if Rogen hadn't read Waddingham's name as "Hannah Waddington.")

Cedric the Entertainer did his Neighborhood costars dirty! Tichina Arnold and Beth Behrs deserved so much better than this wretched riff on the Met Gala's outlandish fashions.

Kerry Washington's tribute to the late Lovecraft Country actor was so touching, we knew he probably wasn't going to win. But we were moved all the same. "Michael was — crazy to say was — Michael was a brilliantly talented actor and a generous human being who has left us far too soon," she said. "Michael, I know you're here because you wouldn't miss this — your excellence, your artistry will endure. We love you." (Williams, a supporting actor nominee for his turn as Montrose Freeman, a cantankerous and closeted gay father on HBO's horror drama, lost to The Crown's Tobias Menzies.)

The Emmys were already testing our collective patience by bringing presenters out after the nominees in a given category had already been listed, belaboring each winner announcement with some useless platitudes. But this extennnded bit, in which Ken Jeong had trouble getting past the Emmys' security guard, went on so painfully long, we practically applauded when Jeong finally pulled that results envelope out of his bag.

Are we really still doing bits about that fly who landed on Mike Pence's head during the debate? No exaggeration, that happened 100 years ago. Maybe even longer.

We have to admit, we were rooting for A Black Lady Sketch Show to topple perennial winner SNL in the Variety Sketch Series category... and then it didn't. But at least our disappointment was soothed by seeing star/creator Thede's hilarious faux outrage in the crowd, seething in her seat and slapping away Issa Rae's comforting hand. Can we make that moment part of her Emmy submission reel next year?

After sweeping the comedy categories at last year's ceremony, the stars of Schitt's Creek made a triumphant return to the Emmys by way of this giggle-inducing — and quite convincing! — bit of pre-award banter, in which Eugene Levy & Co. really had us believing the teleprompter had gone down. Honestly, any presenter schtick that doesn't leave us cringing from secondhand embarrassment is a win, and this one didn't. Love that for us!

There were a few genuine laughs in this pre-taped sketch, which saw Cedric oversee a support group for veteran actors who haven't been recognized by the TV Academy, including Quantum Leap's Scott Bakula, Seinfeld's Jason Alexander, How I Met Your Mother's Alyson Hannigan, New Girl's Zooey Deschanel and The Wonder Years' Fred Savage. We especially got a kick out of Savage, who appeared from behind the camera and blamed his transition to directing on a lack of acting accolades. Unfortunately, the whole thing fell apart as soon as Dr. Phil arrived on the scene. (Suffice it to say, that man won't be collecting any acting trophies of his own anytime soon.)

We weren't necessarily in the mood for yet another comedy bit more than two-and-a-half hours into the broadcast. With that being said, having Cedric's former sitcom spouses Niecy Nash (The Soul Man) and Terri J. Vaughn (The Steve Harvey Show) show up to challenge Tichina Arnold for the title of Cedric's favorite TV wife was a cute idea.

We loved just about every word of Debbie Allen's eloquent, moving acceptance speech for the Governors Award. Our favorite part, though, was when the showbiz legend went off script, telling the time-crunched Emmy producers, "Turn that clock off, honey! I ain't paying no attention to it!" We're not sure how much time the show originally allotted for Allen's speech, but frankly, it'd never be enough.

When Debbie Allen throws shade at the wrap-up music, it's warranted and cool. When The Queen's Gambit director Scott Frank does it, it's gross, pompous and self-indulgent. And speaking of groan-inducing Queen's Gambit moments, we were not here for EP William Horberg trivializing and objectifying Anya Taylor-Joy's breakout performance by saying she "brought the sexy back to chess" — in the same speech where he talked about fighting the patriarchy, no less.