Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Emmys heavy on politics
‘SNL,’ ‘Lies’ winners; Spicer a surprise.
Los Angeles — Stephen Colbert opened the Emmy Awards with help from a surprise guest: former White House press secretary Sean Spicer, wheeling out his own podium and predicting that Sunday’s ceremony would break viewership records.
“This will be the largest audience to witness an Emmys, period. Both in person and around the world,” Spicer shouted Sunday with authority, echoing his claim that President Donald Trump’s inauguration crowd was the biggest ever and evoking Melissa McCarthy’s manic Spicer portrayal on “Saturday Night Live.”
Colbert’s song-anddance opening and monologue celebrated TV and repeatedly tweaked Trump, including the president’s assertion that he should have won an Emmy for “Celebrity Apprentice.” His subsequent presidency was the fault of TV voters, Colbert said. He also called the president “the biggest TV star of the past year.”
Alec Baldwin was the winner of the Emmy Award for comedy series supporting actor for his work on “Saturday Night Live.”
Baldwin started out his acceptance speech by ribbing Donald Trump, saying the president finally has his Emmy.
The actor’s impersonations of Trump have propelled “SNL” to its best season in years, bringing in viewers and also Emmy glory. Baldwin’s win was the third win for “Saturday Night Live” during Sunday’s show.
The show kicked off with Colbert — with help from Chance the Rapper — singing the song “Everything Is Better on TV,” which repeatedly slammed Trump (“Even treason is better on TV”).
John Lithgow, who received the best supporting drama actor award for his role as British leader Winston Churchill in “The Crown,” took a more diplomatic approach to political commentary.
“Most of all I have to thank Winston Churchill. In these crazy times, his life, even as an old man, reminds us what courage and leadership in government really looks like,” Lithgow said.
Kate McKinnon, who played Hillary Clinton last season on “Saturday Night Live,” was honored as best comedy series supporting actress. She thanked Clinton for her “grace.”
“SNL,” riding a wave of attention and ratings with its skewering of Trump and his administration, was honored as best variety sketch series. McCarthy was honored at last weekend’s creative arts Emmys as best guest actress for her “SNL” work.
“I remember the first time we won this award,” creator Lorne Michaels said in accepting the show’s trophy. “It was after the first season in 1976. I remember thinking ... this was the high point,” and there would never be “another season as crazy, as unpredictable, as frightening, as exhausting or as exhilarating. Turns out I was wrong.”
Laura Dern won the Emmy Award for best supporting actress in a limited series. Dern won for her role in the HBO series “Big Little Lies.”
It is the actress’ first Emmy win.
She began her speech by saying that in her career, which began when she was 11, she felt like she’s never worked with as many women on screen.
Before the broadcast started, the actors paused for photographs and interviews on the red carpet, which for the first time was tented and air-conditioned to provide relief from the usually warm September weather in Los Angeles. But nature provided a break as well, with temperatures in the 70s.
“This Is Us” star Chris Sullivan made a statement with a top hat and cane. He wasn’t alone in going for a bold look — young Jeremy Maguire from “Modern Family” vamped in a purple cape — while Tessa Thompson and Issa Rae dazzled with sophisticated, brightly colored gowns.