Memorable moments continue backstage
“I legit don’t know what I said up there,” a shell-shocked Bill Hader said backstage at the Emmys, moments after winning best actor in a comedy series for HBO’s “Barry,” noting, “I might have said something crazy.”
Minutes after leaving the stage on TV’s biggest night, the stars were ushered backstage to meet reporters from news organizations around the world.
Here’s what happened when the winners met the press:
They ‘GoT’ more than a role
Stars Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke were pulled from their clan of costars and asked how best drama “Game of Thrones” has changed their lives. Harington talked about meeting his wife, co-star Rose Leslie, and how the HBO hit has been career-changing.
And Clarke? “Really similar, apart from the wife bit,” she said. “It’s given me my entire career, my entire life as I know it. It’s changed everything. I’m incredibly lucky.”
‘Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ producers try stand-up comedy
After winning the Emmy for comedy series, co-creator Daniel Palladino bounded out to applause, blurting out, “Let the backlash begin!”
Later, co-creator Amy Sherman-Palladino talked about the joy of making the series and also getting Emmy recognition. “The work itself is really satisfying. I’m just so proud of the show. (The Emmy) is just an icing. A lovely icing. A little buttercream.”
Daniel Palladino said his wife’s comments were making him hungry, and he turned his sights on reporters. “You all look like fries and burgers right now.”
About that lipstick wardrobe malfunction
What was Regina King saying when the camera found the “Seven Seconds” actress following her win for lead actress in a limited series?
King explained backstage that she had been going through her purse for her phone to Google something (“I’m not telling what”) and her lipstick fell on her dress just before her category. She was trying to leave to clean it up when her publicist told her, “If you win, just bring your purse up and cover it up.”
She continued, “And I told him, ‘I’m not going to win.’ And he was saying, ‘I told you, I told you,’ ” says King. “My heart is giggling right now.”
Henry Winkler’s Depends moment
A surprised Henry Winkler was so excited about his win that he carried a sign backstage saying “Outstanding Supporting Actor.” He was asked if he’d been able to avoid wetting his pants when he received his first Emmy for supporting actor in a comedy. It came 42 years after his first nomination for playing Fonzie in “Happy Days.”
“You know what? I was wearing rubber pants, just in anticipation. And I used a little powder. But I had control,” he said, pointing toward his pants. “Thank you for asking.”
So what does it feel like to finally win an Emmy? “It feels unbelievable, but here’s the truth. On Wednesday, we start the second season, and I’m on this great show. I was 27 when I started doing The Fonz. I’m now 72 and I’m standing right here in front of you with her,” he said of the Emmy statuette. “Wow!”
Peter Dinklage’s last day as a Lannister
The “Game of Thrones” actor, who picked up his third supporting actor Emmy for playing Tyrion Lannister, waxed nostalgic backstage.
“I had my last day on set in July ... and it was very sad,” he said. “This is not only a great TV show to be part of, but it was an enormous family to be part of. I’m sure you’ve heard that before from actors, but in this case, I was far from home. I live in New York and we shot the show in Europe. So many times, I had to stay there. I wasn’t able to go home on weekends, so I developed deep roots in the community in Ireland and some of the other countries we shot it in.”
About that onstage proposal
The Emmy for variety-special direction doesn’t usually make it into best-of montages, but we bet Glenn Weiss bucks that trend after proposing to girlfriend Jan Svendsen onstage.
Weiss proposed with his late mother’s wedding ring, noting, “It’s more valuable than the Hope Diamond. I was walking the red carpet with (the ring) in my pocket. It was nerve-wracking.”
John Oliver offers straight talk on why Trump was barely mentioned
“In the drinking game, I think we’re just trying to keep America sober. Ev- eryone needs their wits about them right now. You can’t drink the pain away,” said the British comedian, whose HBO late-night show “Last Week Tonight” dominated the variety-talk series category for the third consecutive year.
Asked if that meant the country was moving on, he shot back, “No, it (expletive) doesn’t. If anyone takes away from the Emmys that we are moving on past the presidency that we are currently either halfway through or a quarter of the way through, we are totally (expletive)!”
RuPaul, repping the LGBTQ and BLT communities
RuPaul was serious about “Drag Race” winning the reality host and reality competition series Emmys. But he didn’t get preachy about the impact the show has had on the LGBTQ community. “Let’s not forget the BLT community, too. I love a BLT, honey,” he told one questioner. “If you love a BLT, say ‘heh!’”
Ryan Murphy on why ‘Gianni Versace’ story needed to be told
Murphy said he’s wanted to tell the story of gay crime spree killer Andrew Cunanan almost as long as he’s been in Hollywood.
“It was a story that I was passionate about very early on,” Murphy recalled. “I was in L.A. five years when Andrew Cunanan had started his spree, and I really felt the story needed to be told.”
Merritt Wever got wordy
The winner of supporting actress in a limited series for Netflix’s “Godless” acknowledged it would be tough to beat the 11-word acceptance speech she delivered after winning supporting actress in a comedy for “Nurse Jackie” in 2013. (“Thanks so much. Thank you so much. I gotta go. Bye.”)
Backstage, Wever said, “I felt I had a lot to live up to. I was lucky (in 2013). It went well for me. The truth came out that night and everybody was OK with it. Best-case scenario and it kind of felt like the only way to win was to lose. So, I feel like a loser.”
Wait, was that Tracy Morgan or Tracy Jordan?
Things got weird as Tracy Morgan, a presenter, came by, though he had no trophy in hand. When an Australian newscaster asked a question, the “30 Rock” alumnus said he was looking forward to traveling Down Under. “Yes, I’m going to come back with a snake. The most poisonous one I can find,” says Morgan. “Welcome to America.”