The 2020 Emmy Awards took place, but not without a unique twist thanks to COVID-19 restrictions.
The 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards honored the best in U.S. prime time television programming, and was hosted by Jimmy Kimmell. Cable network E! Entertainment lined up actress Vivica A. Fox and television host Giuliana Rancic to cover the event, however they missed out on hosting E!’s Emmy Awards ‘Live From the Red Carpet’ special after both tested positive for coronavirus.
The two stars were both forced to miss Sunday’s (20.09.20) show as they are both isolating at home, leaving Brad Goreski, Erin Lim, Laverne Cox and Nina Parker to front the coverage instead.
Aside from the benevolent cloud that hang over the prestigious event, it seemed that this year’s edition would be different with nominees using the ceremony to highlight various pertinent matters after a difficult 2020. Among some of the stand out speeches was that from Regina King. Walking away with 4 Emmys, King used her speech to advocate for a high voter turnout.
The 49-year-old actress took the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie prize for her role in ‘The Watchmen’ used her speech to call for people to take action at the polls later this year.
She said: “We gotta vote. I would be remiss not to mention that, being a part of a show as prescient as ‘Watchmen’. Have a voting plan, vote up the ballot, please. Be a hood human. And rest in power, RBG.”
Regina also paid tribute to her “sisters” shortlisted for the award, Cate Blanchett (‘Mrs. America’), Shira Haas (‘Unorthodox’), Octavia Spencer (‘Self Made’), and Kerry Washington (‘Little Fires Everywhere’).
She said: “My sisters Kerry Washington, Octavia Spencer, Sheera, Cate Blanchett, it’s an honor to be in this category with you, I truly love being a thespian. Thank you television Academy for choosing me to represent the thespian community.”
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie winner Mark Ruffalo also appealed for the audience to vote as he picked up his award for his work on ‘I Know This Much Is True’.
Tyler Perry movingly reflected on his family history as he accepted the Governors’ Award at the Emmy Awards on Sunday (20.09.20).
The 51-year-old filmmaker and his foundation received the award in recognision of his work on inclusivity and philanthropic efforts and spoke about a quilt his grandmother had sewn for him when he first moved to Los Angeles, which represented key moments in his loved ones’ lives.
He said: “In my grandmother’s quilt there were no patches for Black people on television. And now her grandson is being honored by the Television Academy… We are all sewing our own quilt with our thoughts, our behaviors, our experiences and our memories.
The award was presented to Tyler by Chris Rock and Oprah Winfrey, who hailed him a “visionary”.
Oprah also said: “Tyler ensured that Black people would be represented in front of and behind the camera.
“He is a man of deep faith, he is a visionary who is led by unwavering passion, and a businessman who bet on himself and in doing so, showed the world that there is a different path to ultimate success. He dreamed the impossible dream, he bore the unbearable sorrow and fought the unbeatable foe to run where the brave dare not go.”
Meanwhile, Zendaya emotionally hailed her Emmy Award win as “crazy”. 24-year old makes history as the youngest actress to win in her category Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series honor on Sunday (20.09.20) for her performance in ‘Euphoria’ and struggled to hold back the tears as she thanked her fellow nominees, Jennifer Aniston (‘The Morning Show’), ‘Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh, Olivia Colman (‘The Crown’), and Laura Linney (‘Ozark’), as well as her co-stars and cast members.
Here is the full list of winners according to New York Times
Best Comedy
Best Drama
Best Limited Series
Best Actress, Comedy
Catherine O’Hara, “Schitt’s Creek”
Best Actor, Comedy
Eugene Levy, “Schitt’s Creek”
Best Actress, Drama
Best Actor, Drama
Jeremy Strong, “Succession”
Best Actress, Limited Series or TV Movie
Regina King, “Watchmen”Best Actor, Limited Series or TV Movie
Mark Ruffalo, “I Know This Much Is True”
Supporting Actress, Comedy
Annie Murphy, “Schitt’s Creek”
Supporting Actor, Comedy
Daniel Levy, “Schitt’s Creek”
Supporting Actress, Drama
Julia Garner, “Ozark”
Supporting Actor, Drama
Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show”
Supporting Actress, Limited Series or a Movie
Uzo Aduba, “Mrs. America”
Supporting Actor, Limited Series or Movie
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, “Watchmen”
Television Movie
“Bad Education” (HBO)
*Variety Sketch Series
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Variety Talk Series“Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” (HBO)
Reality Competition Program
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” (VH1)
*Reality Host
RuPaul, “Drag Race”
*Structured Reality Program
“Queer Eye” (Netflix)
*Unstructured Reality Program
“Cheer” (Netflix)
*Guest Actress, Comedy
Maya Rudolph, “Saturday Night Live”
*Guest Actor, Comedy
Eddie Murphy, “Saturday Night Live”
*Guest Actress, Drama
Cherry Jones, “Succession”
*Guest Actor, Drama
Ron Cephas Jones, “This Is Us”
*Documentary or Nonfiction Series
“The Last Dance” (ESPN)
*Documentary or Nonfiction Special
“The Apollo” (HBO)
*Animated Program
“Rick and Morty” (Adult Swim)
Writing for a Comedy SeriesDaniel Levy, “Schitt’s Creek” (“Happy Ending”)
Writing for a Drama Series
Jesse Armstrong, “Succession” (“This Is Not for Tears”)
Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Drama Special
Damon Lindelof and Cord Jefferson, “Watchmen” (“This Extraordinary Being”)
Directing for a Comedy Series
Andrew Cividino and Daniel Levy, “Schitt’s Creek” (“Happy Ending”)
Directing for a Drama Series
Andrij Parekh, “Succession” (“Hunting”)
Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Drama Special
Maria Schrader, “Unorthodox”
*Directing for a Variety Series
Don Roy King, “Saturday Night Live” (“Host: Eddie Murphy”)
*Awards presented during the Creative Arts Emmy ceremonies from Sept. 14 through Sept. 18.
