The Emmys Roundup
Screen Editor Olivia Garrett discusses the highs and lows of this year’s Emmy Awards.
It’s the aftermath of the 72nd Emmy Awards and Schitt’s Creek reigns over all. A night of zoom acceptance speeches and colour coordinated masks surprisingly satiated our need for glitzy award shows, helped massively by the mini Friends reunion of course. This annual evening that usually cannot escape without upset or controversy, carried the restrictions of the pandemic with grace and dignity, and ended up providing some truly wholesome moments. That’s not to say that the night went on without its normal amount of cringey fillers from Jimmy Kimmel, but that in the circumstances, it came across as a well-organised and gratifying celebration.
The drama and limited series categories ended up as a brilliant set of wins for women of colour. From Uzo Aduba’s impassioned performance in Mrs America, to Regina King’s electrifying presence in Watchmen.
It’s easy when it comes to award shows for comedy to be rushed through or seen as secondary to the more ‘artistic’ genres such as drama. However this year comedy stole the show. As the viewers were constantly transported back into that glossy Toronto building, we could not get enough of seeing the Schitt’s Creek cast’s infectious (in a good way) joy. One might cry nepotism at their completely victorious overhaul, and you would be right to point out that other sitcoms that finished this year after long stints, like The Good Place or Modern Family, also deserved to finish on such a high. However, a show that comes out with the line ‘I like the wine not the label’ and gives us the Pope we all deserve in the form of Moira Rose, is always going to be a cut above the rest. The performances and choices of the last season brought laughter, tears and a beautiful feeling of completion. Definitely a well-deserved series of wins and it was all worth it to see Dan Levy back in his wedding suit.
The drama and limited series categories ended up as a brilliant set of wins for women of colour. From Uzo Aduba’s impassioned performance in Mrs America, to Regina King’s electrifying presence in Watchmen, and best of all was Zendaya taking home the Emmy for Outstanding Lead, making her the youngest actress to win this award. All great wins from great shows, especially Watchmen which, in the post Avengers Endgame era, brought a perfect and refreshing mix of darkness and political relevance to the superhero genre. However, in this vein one of the biggest snubs in my opinion was the zero acknowledgment of The Boys, a show that also takes what we know of superhero clichés and turns it into a gritty and violent satire of America. Furthermore, although Succession is a very original show that certainly deserved recognition, by far the stand out dramas of the year were Little Fires Everywhere and Normal People, both of which received nothing for their beautiful acting and emotional storylines.
It’s easy when it comes to award shows for comedy to be rushed through […] However This year comedy stole the show.
So, an ultimately pleasing evening, with moments of proper appreciation for this year’s TV. In a time when live TV is difficult and clunky, this award show set the standard for what live shows can and should be in this new normal. And, finally… you should really go and watch Schitt’s Creek because it’s really great.
