Awards shows, we love them! In theory. But managing them can cause dynamic whiplash, as the tradition bounces from heartwarming sermons and wonder win to clumsy humor bits and cringe-worthy teleprompter gaffes. Your devoted team here at TV Line supervised the Emmys very closely — like, very closely — and established a bunch of amazing junctures that made us laugh, cry, frown or facepalm. But we understand you expended close attention, too, so we’re also particularly curious to know what you believed of the annual awards show. So
BEST: Sheryl Lee Ralph grabs the win, and carries us to church
It was an instant 45 years in the making. After devouring decades building an impressive stage and screen career, the Abbott Elementary star took abode an Emmy for her impeccable execution as the no-nonsense Barbara Howard. After wrapping out a few ballads of Dianne Reeves’ Endangered Species — those pipes, baby! — Ralph carried us to church with an endorsement speech that had us regarding the spirit: “To anyone who has ever, ever had a goal and thought your dream wasn’t, wouldn’t come true, I am here to tell you this is what acknowledging looks like.” Amen!
WORST: Stop attempting to make Club Emmys happen
It’s never heading to happen! Look, nobody against DJ Zedd, who appears like a lovely young man. But the now-standard method of having an in-house DJ recreating hype grooves like Whoomp! as presenters walk on set adds a try-hard layer of superfluity to an already packed setup.
BEST: Lizzo resumes the reality course
In 2018, RuPaul’s Drag Race took house its first victory for Outstanding Competition Program, celebrating a huge shift in expression for a category that had long been overlooked by mainstream offerings like The Amazing Race and The Voice. Tonight, Mama Ru handed the torch to Lizzo, the host and executive producer of Amazon Prime’s bodacious dance competition, Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls. When I was a small girl, all I wanted to witness was me in the media, said a jubilant Lizzo in her sermon. Fat like me, Black like me, gorgeous like me. Yes! It’s about extreme time.
WEIRDEST: Jimmy Kimmel fibs down on the job
There’s dedicated to a bit… and then there’s drawing a Kanye West. First, co-presenter Will Arnett pulled Jimmy Kimmel on stage to deliver Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. Jimmy couldn’t be here tonight, he deadpanned, stating that the host began downing skinny margaritas after failing in the Outstanding Variety Talk Series category to Last Week Tonight. Okay, solid sufficiently bit. But when Abbott Elementary creator Quinta Brunson took the podium after winning the Emmy, Kimmel just laid at her feet… for the whole speech. Sorry Jimmy, but standing on stage when somebody gets an Emmy doesn’t matter as a victory for you.