The show must go on
Chances for technological trouble abound at Sunday’s Emmys, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. Who will win, and who will wear pajamas?
Emmy host Jimmy Kimmel and an alpaca sharing the spotlight. Winners accepting at home in designer pajamas, or maybe yoga pants. More than 100 chances for a balky internet connection to bring Sunday’s ceremony to a crashing halt.
Come for the awards, stay for the suspense of the first big Hollywood ceremony to attempt a live — but socially distanced — broadcast amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“What could possibly go wrong?” Ian Stewart said drolly as he and fellow executive producer Reginald Hudlin detailed their efforts to celebrate TV’S best without a theater audience or red-carpet glamour and with daunting technical challenges.
The comedian will hold court at the Staples Center for ABC’S 8 p.m. EDT telecast, joined by a handful of yet-to-be-revealed celebrities. Morgan Freeman, Lin-manuel Miranda, D-nice, Patrick Stewart and Oprah Winfrey are among those with undisclosed roles in Sunday’s show, along with Isabella the alpaca.
The HBO limited series “Watchmen” is the leading nominee, with star Regina King up for honors. Top comedy and drama series contenders include “Schitt’s Creek,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Succession” and “Ozark,” while Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell (“The Morning Show”) and Catherine O’hara and Eugene Levy (“Schitt’s Creek”) are among those vying for acting trophies.
Nominees will be ensconced at their location of choice, whether home, hotel or otherwise, with formal wear definitely optional. There are custom Emmy PJS being made, while some may have the courage to wear what Hudlin called the “freakiest, funkiest” outfit in their closet or decide on the comfort of athleisure wear.
When the winners’ names are revealed, they’ll deliver their speeches in the form of a very glorified Zoom call, which could make for spontaneous moments unavailable in a theater.
To make the long-distance participation work and be broadcast worthy, 130 units that include a high-end camera, lighting and boom mic are being deployed to nominees scattered in 10 countries and 20 cities, including Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, Tel Aviv, London and Berlin.