Jimmy Kimmel enjoys a little downtime at the Staples Center before the 72nd Primetime Emmys Photo: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times (Getty Images
Welcome to The A.V. Club’s coverage of the 72nd Emmy Awards. Follow along with our writers’ commentary and analysis below.
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How are we feeling about the archival audience reaction shots?
The “every time we say ‘Schitt’s Creek,’ we have to put the words ‘Schitt’s Creek’ on the screen” rule is in effect, as in this Colbert clip:
I didn’t actually mind the canned applause and laughter but I fear someone is gonna post that clip and call Hollywood “hypocrites” not realizing it’s just great editing
It’s on-the-nose dystopian, but the tuxedo hazmat suit is extremely funny.
Yay Catherine O’Hara!
Catherine O’Hara’s win here felt inevitable, but that doesn’t make it any less gratifying. Moira Rose is a singular character, and O’Hara’s was a singular performance. Is this the start of Schitt’s Creek dominance at the Emmys?
Those hazmat suits were custom designed for the ceremony by costume designer Katja Cahill and executive producer Guy Carrington
This is one of the most impressive productions I’ve seen in god knows how long. Loving this so far, not just because all of my favorites seem fated to win (or already have won).
“Chaos on the streets of Saskatoon”—is that even possible?
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Eugene LevyAnd it’s Johnny Rose himself, Eugene Levy, for the win in what looks to be a Schitt’s Creek sweep night
Starting to look like I wore the right shirt tonight
I’m so confused, I thought they’d been awarding Emmys all week in some kind of virtual event. Then again, I’m not really paying attention.
Those were the ‘Creative Arts’ Emmys. The ones they never show on the broadcast.
Ah, gotcha. I saw bits about how they were awarding various acting awards (like the Jason Bateman flub thing from yesterday), I didn’t think they’d shuffle those off to outside the main ceremony.
Well done Erik! So proud of my fellow Canadians!
Again, not a very surprising outcome: “Happy Ending” was a moving send-off for the series, and Daniel Levy breathed new life into that old sitcom standby—the wedding. Schitt’s Creek is 3 for 3 tonight, which means I’m also 3 for 3.
After all the times Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara have co-starred together (Best In Show, Mighty WInd, etc.), it’s really nice that they get to share these awards tonight
Dble post!
Let’s welcome our new Canadian overlords
Thrilled that Schitt’s Creek is getting its well-deserved night in the gilded spotlight. Also happy that Issa Rae and the Insecure team got a heartfelt kudos from Daniel. This really was a stacked category.
Schitt’s Creek also got a long-overdue Emmy for its Costumes this year: just Moira’s papal wedding outfit alone
NoHo Hank sighting!
Danette! It’s your favorite! Gotta love a good Anthony Carrigan cameo.
I will accept this Hank bit—excuse me, “Derek Magicjohnson”—as a small compensation for the lack of new Barry this year.
Every time I see that Schitt’s Creek wedding footage I instantly get some dust in my eye.
Schitt’s Creek, which had previously received only four Emmy nominations, is just cleaning up tonight. Again, “Happy Ending” is a great ending to the show—and I bet the Emmy producers are thrilled that the Schitt’s team sprang for a banquet hall. The photo ops have got to be better.
Zendaya speaking on the importance of lived experiences in storytelling… you love to see it.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Daniel Levy, Schitt’s CreekSo that’s not only 5 for 5 for Schitt’s Creek, that’s 3 for 3 for Daniel Levy. Nice to be not mad about an Emmy landslide for once—nice to see all those seasons of little facial reactions rewarded here.
This little profile really cements how much of a boss Issa Rae really is. To independent content creators, she’s living the absolute dream.
So, Schitt’s Creek is the first comedy in 18 years to bag three main acting Emmys. Everybody Loves Raymond was the last to do it, with Ray Romano (lead), Doris Roberts (supporting) and Brad Garrett (supporting) all winning in 2002.
If Annie Murphy wins, it’ll be the first series to ever get all four acting awards EVER. (Though Angels In America did it for miniseries.)
Are they already running behind? Or did we not get clips from the other acting categories…I feel like we did.Also, Alex Borstein wins the night so far with that lingerie.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Annie Murphy, Schitt’s CreekAs we discussed on Push The Envelope, Murphy was the one Schitt’s Creek acting nominee who didn’t feel like a shoo-in—Daniel Levy’s acceptance-speech shout-out to Murphy seemed to acknowledge the stiff competition she was up against as well. But she carried it off, a cherry on top of what was (like my pick in this category, D’Arcy Carden), her series’ most rewarding character arc.
I mean, did we expect anything else after that acting sweep? The only thing that makes this record-breaking sprint for Schitt’s Creek bittersweet is that The Good Place didn’t get more love for its final season.But this couldn’t have happened to a better show and kinder people. Stay in Canada Levys, you’re too good for us here in bitter Hollywood.
I’d like to thank the nation of Canada for taking COVID-19 seriously, thereby allowing the Schitt’s Creek crew to accept all their awards in the same space and lend some semblance of normalcy to this bizzaro ceremony.
oh my heart! Schitt’s Creek deserved all of the love. this isn’t the Academy giving wins to make up for 4 seasons of nomination snubs – this is winning because of the pure greatness that was SC.
Schitt’s Creek is the first basic cable show to win Outstanding Comedy at the Emmys—so traditional outlets aren’t obsolete yet!What’s that? This was the final season of Schitt’s Creek, so it’s not like they can do this again next year? Oh. Huh.
Oof. I’m getting Uma, Oprah flashbacks. Oof.
Outstanding Variety Talk Series: Last Week Tonight With John OliverAn Emmy has appeared in the at-home void where John Oliver has been doing Last Week Tonight since lockdown began. Oliver gives a heartfelt thanks to the family who lives just outside that void, who’ve allowed him to keep making the show and occasionally prompted him to say awkward things like, “Oh, dad’s just talking about police brutality.”
I adore Regina King for so many reasons, not least of which is making sure we could see her Breonna Taylor tee as she accepts her award.
I don’t know, Patrick—I feel like Letterman was essentially made for the odd rhythms, lack of audience response, and necessity-for-out-of-the-box creativity posed by the quarantine Emmys. Presenting the awards in those remote-triggered boxes felt like a vintage Late Night gag, too.
I have to say, I was hoping it would be Regina King but really thought Cate Blanchett had a shot here. I think this is just the first of another sweep coming. Extra points to Regina for her Breonna Taylor shirt. Reminder: It’s been 188 days since her murder.
Okay, I also had a Hulk vs. Wolverine joke for this… but I had Hugh Jackman winning the Emmy. But Mark Ruffalo’s dual role in Derek Cianfrance’s adaptation of I Know This Much Is True was the highlight of what could often be an excruciating viewing experience. Ruffalo is no stranger to this award, either—he won in 2014 for his role as Ned Weeks in HBO’s The Normal Heart.
How do we feel about the lead actor categories being announced before the supporting? They’re all great actors but it’s weirding me out.
Randalpaca Park
One of the least surprising wins of the night, but it also sets up the next sweep of the night. Watchmen is now two for two, and both wins are so well deserved. I’ve said and written so much about “This Extraordinary Being” in recent weeks, but it really represents the moment when Watchmen’s aims crystallized. Read more of Cord Jefferson’s thoughts on what made the Hooded Justice reveal both such an appealing idea, and something that was so difficult to pull off.
Predicting a Watchmen sweep not unlike the Schitt’s Creek sweep
And you’re right, Patrick: There’s a traditional decorum to these things, dammit
“Television is our friend” sounds very Black Mirror
Getting such a “June Carter Cash in Walk The Line” vibe from Reese Witherspoon’s back-and-forth with Jimmy Kimmel.
This NYE bit is cheesy but maybe my favorite of the night so far aside from when Jennifer Aniston actually almost burned down the Staples Center
Wow, the special effects on Away are really something!
So much for that sweep
Maria Schrader directed all four parts of Netflix’s Unorthodox, which is one of the more understated offerings in this category, but is still deeply moving. This is the first upset of the night, though, as Watchmen seemed to have enough momentum and talent to make it four for four.
This is the most legitimate shock from a winner we’ve had all night aside from Mark Ruffalo’s wife. This award is so well deserved, Yahya Abdul Mateen II was an unsung hero of the first half of Watchmen—a quiet performance only further made impressive by his evolution in the second half of the series. God, I wish I could have written “season” there.
Props to Bob Newhart for still bringing it at 91
Watchmen received 26 nominations, the most of any series, but Stephen Williams losing out on Outstanding Directing for “This Extraordinary Being” stings. The visuals are so gorgeously layered, reflecting hidden trauma and repressed memories. It’s some of the best TV I watched all of last year, and most of this year, so while I can’t begrudge Orthodox and Maria Schrader their win, I’m still disappointed.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie: Uzo Aduba, Mrs. America Yessssss. This is her third Emmy and she’s not even 40. (She won two for her role as Suzanne in Orange Is The New Black.) She followed that female ensemble with another one in Mrs. America, becoming a definite standout in an amazingly packed cast. She even bought a house in Shirley Chisholm’s district.
The Watchmen crew in masks… how complementary.Damon Lindelof accepts the award for Watchmen outstanding limited series, but he begins his speech by admitting this was not his story to tell. Again, my hope is that studios and networks see the potency and success of , and realize how important it is to have marginalized people involved in every aspect of their stories.
The culmination of H.E.R.’s engaging stage presence and the visual representation of the IMMENSE talent we lost this year is quite a lot to process all at once.
I’m impressed by how… professional this has all been so far? Not all of the bits have landed, but it’s been smooth sailing. Not at all what I expected.
Maybe they got scared after that Jason Bateman flub yesterday
Oh, good point, Gwen! Also, are we about to get that Friends reunion right now?
Not gonna lie. I thought the Cherry Pie drama was going to keep RuPaul’s Drag Race from winning tonight, but I’m glad a show that embraces such a diverse group of contestants (even while all being LGBTQ drag queens) won tonight. Also, Ru being surprised by that award popping out was maybe the best moment of the night so far.
Ru’s confetti moment: extending the Rip Taylor tribute from the in memoriam segment to the main ceremony.
When the Zoom call is stretching into its third hour.
wow, he made it corny eventually but that Tyler Perry story about the quilt made me straight up cry, good on.
Samantha Bee’s commercial is definitely the best so far.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Jeremy Strong, Succession
Jeremy Strong beats out his own TV dad in this category, in a move that Kendall Roy would no doubt appreciate. Was it the celebratory rap that pushed him over the edge? At any rate, Strong’s second season as the tremendously troubled Roy offspring was one for the Succession legacy books, showing Kendall’s painful vulnerability, only to reveal himself as a true killer in the end.
Zendaya is Emmy
This was one upset I was counting on—Zendaya’s performance in Euphoria was memorable enough for the Television Academy to include her in this competition a year after the show wrapped its first season, so it’s hardly shocking that they’d see things through. Zendaya made Rue more than just an angst-ridden teen, so this is another well deserved win.
The scream I let out for Zendaya… I apologize for nothing.
This makes the second consecutive win for Jesse Armstrong, and Succession’s second win of the night. But we’ve still got two major categories to go!
“Hunting” and “This Is Not For Tears” are both stupendous episodes of Succession (not to mention television), but I gave “Hunting” the edge for “boar on the floor.” And I was right to do so, as Andrij Parekh’s controlled chaos wins for outstanding directing. Parekh’s speech was also one of the lovelier moments of the evening, as he acknowledged all the kids whose “names are hard to pronounce”—it should be noted that he’s one of very few people of South Asian descent who were nominated this year.
Wow, this might be the biggest upset of the night. Succession, denied? Does this mean the drama win isn’t locked up?
The Succession situation in supporting actor feels like an instance of vote-splitting to me. We’ve been talking in Slack about how the ceremony has proceeded relatively smoothly—any sense of chaos is coming from the unpredictability of these drama category wins.That said: I’d like to know what caused Kieran Culkin to make this face during Billy Crudup’s speech.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Julia Garner, OzarkGarner is a repeat winner in this category in advance of Ozark’s fourth and final season, this year defeating even the likes of Thandie Newton, Helena Bonham Carter, and Meryl Streep herself.
This Sterling bit is going a bit long…
An unanticipated benefit of Succession winning Outstanding Drama Series: We got to see Sarah Snook’s homemade Emmy.
Well, that’s that… and that was a surprisingly staid affair. Maybe being at home just saw everyone on their best behavior? Surely someone’s Postmate-d award was waylaid? I need something here—like Marie Kondo, I love mess!
Agreed! Almost boringly without incident…though Aniston did almost burn down the place. I’m still caught up on that.
Jesse Armstrong’s trenchant drama takes home the big prize after racking up awards in the acting, directing, and writing categories. It’s a welcome win, one that we saw coming. Succession made good on several of its 18 nominations, edging out Ozark, which also gained a lot of momentum in 2020. But Succession’s ongoing pertinence and stellar performances pushed past its Netflix competition.
I do feel that not having the on-site orchestra led some people to go on a bit in their speeches, but whatever. They won, they’re excited. Jimmy Kimmel remained unflappable as usual. Super-happy for Watchmen, Succession, Regina King, Uzo Aduba, and Schitt’s Creek getting all the long-overdue love. But that vote-splitting is something to consider: maybe they should narrow it back down to the five nominees per category as in days of old?
And with that, HBO proves that getting fewer nominations doesn’t necessarily mean landing fewer Emmys. I’d hoped the broadcast would be a little more interesting, but I’m not angry with the results. It would have been nice to see Insecure rewarded for its exceptional fourth season somewhere in the categories, and I want justice for Kieran Culkin. But seeing all the recognition for Watchmen makes up for some of it.
A shoutout to our TV editor Danette Chavez for nailing an impressive amount of her predictions. And again, I couldn’t be happier for favorites Schitt’s Creek, Succession, Watchmen, and Queen Zendaya for their big wins. In my mind, I’m personally delivering the casts of The Good Place and Insecure special Emmys trophies made of chocolate. Because that’s the dream, right?
Given the technical undertaking this involved, I’m impressed that the Academy and the producers were able to pull it off with next to no snafus. Given the unprecedented nature of the ceremony and all the moving pieces it required, I certainly don’t begrudge them for playing it safe—but I could’ve used more high-wire acts and/or plays on how strange this all was, à la the Letterman segment. Hollywood Foreign Press Association: Ball’s in your court for applying some truly out-there solutions to the virtual Golden Globes.
Kudos to whoever arranged these tableaus, though. Just because you have to squeeze everyone into a videochat window doesn’t mean you have to forget everything you know about composition.