EMMYS KEEP SHOW POLITICAL AND FUN
The dystopian vision of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” the deeply cynical Washington comedy “Veep” and the ever-topical “Saturday Night Live” won top series honors Sunday in an Emmy Awards ceremony that took almost nonstop aim at President Donald Trump in awards and speeches.
“Go home, get to work, we have a lot of things to fight for,” producer Bruce Miller said in accepting the best drama trophy for “A Handmaid’s Tale,” which also won best drama writing and directing awards and a best actress trophy for Elisabeth Moss. A beaming Margaret Atwood, whose 1985 novel is the show’s source, was onstage.
Sterling K. Brown, whose role in “This Is Us” earned him the top drama series actor trophy, paid tribute to the last African-American man to win in the category, Andre Braugher in 1998 for “Homicide: Life on the Street.”
“Nineteen years ago, Detective Frank Pemberton held this joint,” Brown, holding his Emmy aloft and saying it was his “supreme honor” to follow Braugher. He was good-natured as the orchestra cut into his speech, but it seemed a glaring misstep on a night in which the TV academy reveled in the industry’s newfound diversity.
Earlier, Nicole Kidman spoke uninterrupted for 2 minutes and 45 seconds, while Brown got 1 minute, 58 seconds, before he was played off, a significant difference given the short time winners get to say their piece.
Donald Glover won the best comedy actor for “Atlanta,” which he created and which carries his distinctive voice, while Julia Louis-Dreyfus was honored for a sixth time for her role as a self-absorbed politician in “Veep,” named best comedy for the third time.
“I want to thank Trump for making black people No. 1 on the most oppressed list. He’s the reason I’m probably up here,” Glover said, acknowledging the entertainment industry’s and the Emmys’ tilt toward the nonstop political under Trump.
Combined with Emmys that Louis-Dreyfus has won for “Seinfeld” and “New Adventures of Old Christine,” her latest trophy tied her with Cloris Leachman as the most-winning Emmy performer ever.
Host Stephen Colbert’s song-and-dance opening — with help from Chance the Rapper — included the song “Everything Is Better on TV,” which, among other Trump digs, included the lyric “even treason is better on TV.”
“Saturday Night Live” triumphed for a season of skewering Trump.
“I remember the first time we won this award,” creator Lorne Michaels said in accepting the show’s trophy for best variety sketch series. “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.”
The trophies for best supporting comedy acting went to Kate McKinnon, who played Hillary Clinton on “SNL,” and Alec Baldwin for his Trump portrayal on the show.
Melissa McCarthy was honored at last weekend’s creative arts Emmys for her “SNL” work, including portraying Sean Spicer. The former White House press secretary made a surprise Emmys appearance, wheeling in his own podium.
“This will be the largest audience to witness an Emmys, period. Both in person and around the world,” Spicer shouted with authority, echoing his claim that Trump’s inauguration crowd was the biggest ever. Drama Series: “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Directing, Drama: Reed Morano, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Actor, Drama Series: Sterling K. Brown, ”This is Us” Actress, Drama Series: Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Supporting Actor, Drama Series: John Lithgow, “The Crown”
Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Ann Dowd, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Comedy Series: “Veep”
Directing, Comedy: Donald Glover, “Atlanta” Actor, Comedy Series: Donald Glover, “Atlanta” Actress, Comedy Series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep”
Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin, “Saturday Night Live”
Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Kate McKinnon, “Saturday Night Live”
Variety Talk Series: “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”
Variety, Writing Series: “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”
Variety Sketch Series: “Saturday Night Live” Writing, Drama: Bruce Miller, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Limited Series: “Big Little Lies”
Directing, Limited Movie or Special: Jean-Marc Vallee, “Big Little Lies”
Actor, Limited Series or Movie: Riz Ahmed, “The Night Of”
Actress, Limited Series or Movie: Nicole Kidman, “Big Little Lies”
Supporting Actor, Limited Series or Movie: Alexander Skarsgard, “Big Little Lies”
Supporting Actress, Limited Series or Movie: Laura Dern, “Big Little Lies”
Directing, Variety: Don Roy King, “Saturday Night Live”
Writing, Comedy: Aziz Ansari and Lena Waithe, “Master of None”
Reality Competition Program: “The Voice” Television Movie: “Black Mirror”