Canadian comedy wins big at Emmys
Nominee slams event over lack of Black wins
LOS ANGELES — “Schitt’s
Creek,” the little Canadian show about a fish-out-of-water family, made history at Sunday’s Emmy Awards with a comedy awards sweep, something even TV greats including “Frasier” and “Modern Family” failed to achieve.
Zendaya, 24, became the youngest lead drama actress winner for her role as a troubled teenager in “Euphoria.”
The awards for Pop TV’S “Schitt’s Creek” included best comedy series and trophies for its stars, including Catherine O’hara and father and son Eugene and Daniel Levy.
“It is absolutely incredible. I think my dad said it best earlier this evening: it’s a dream you don’t want to wake up from, to be honest. What an absolutely unbelievable way to end our series,” Daniel Levy said backstage.
Other winners, including “Watchmen” star Regina King, made a point that the Nov. 3 general election is near.
All the winners accepted their awards virtually in the pandemic-safe ceremony, including O’hara, but she wasn’t alone.
Daniel Levy thanked his father and O’hara for teaching an extended “master class” in comedy. The show’s sweep came for its much-acclaimed final season.
References to coronavirus were an ongoing part of the ceremony, with essential workers, including a teacher and a UPS deliveryman, presenting awards and Jason Sudeikis ostensibly getting a COVID-19 test onstage.
In a year with a record number of Black nominees, 35, there was a notable lack of diversity in the show’s early going. With “Schitt’s Creek” gobbling up comedy awards, that left “Insecure” and creator Issa Rae empty-handed Sunday.
That was also true of Ramy Youssef, creator-star of the semi-autbiographical comedy “Ramy,” about a young Muslim American’s love and religious life. Yousef tweeted a video of a haz-mat suit-wearing person clutching an Emmy and waving goodbye after he lost the comedy actor category.
There was a sign of change with the drama awards, which came in the latter part of the ceremony.
The powerful series “Watchmen,” a graphic novel-adaptation steeped in racial pain, was voted best limited series, and King won lead actress for her work on the HBO show.
Her co-star, Yahya Abdul
Mateen II, won the Emmy for best supporting actor in a limited series. Uzo Aduba won the counterpart actress award for her portrayal of Shirley Chisholm in “Mrs. America.”
Anthony Anderson, a nominee for “Black-ish,” came on stage to make his disappointment vigorously known, saying the awards should have been “Howard University homecoming Black.”
“This isn’t what it should have been. … But Black stories, Black performances and Black Lives Matter,” he said, urging host Jimmy Kimmel to shout with him.
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” was again honored as best variety-talk series, with David Letterman announcing the award after being abandoned roadside by an annoyed ride-share driver.
Kimmel opened the show with a monologue that appeared to be defiantly delivered in front of a packed, cheering theater — until it was revealed they were clips from past Emmy shows.
“Of course I’m here all alone. Of course, we don’t have an audience,” he said. “This isn’t a MAGA rally. It’s the Emmys.”
With more than 100 long-distance video feeds with nominees ahead, “what could possibly go right?”
“The Mandalorian,” home of the character dubbed “baby Yoda” by fans, earned the bulk of the Disney service’s honors, seven to date. “Watchmen” has a matching number. “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” led among comedies with four awards going into Sunday’s ceremony.