‘The Crown’, ‘Lasso’ win big
Streaming platforms sweep top Emmy honours as Netflix makes history
Los ANGELES: Netflix’s The Crown and The Queen’s Gambit combined with Apple TV+’S Ted Lasso to sweep top series honours at the Emmy Awards, a first for streaming services that cemented their rise to prominence in the television industry.
“I’m at a loss for words,” said Peter Morgan, the creator and writer of the British royal saga The Crown, which collected acting, writing and directing awards in addition to four acting honours.
His comment may also apply to the premium cable channels that once ruled the Emmy Awards and to the broadcast networks – including Sunday’s ceremony host, CBS – that have long grown accustomed to being largely also-rans.
Netflix won a leading total of 44 awards, equalling the broadcast network record set back in 1974, by CBS. Newcomer Apple TV+’S first top series came less than two years after it launched.
The Crown and The Queen’s Gambit tied as leaders with 11 awards each, with Ted Lasso topping the comedy side with seven trophies.
The Queen’s Gambit made Anya Taylor-joy a star and Emmy nominee for her portrayal of a troubled chess prodigy. Executive producer William Horberg singled her out in his acceptance speech.
“You brought the sexy back to chess, and you inspired a whole generation of girls and young women to realise that patriarchy has no defence against our queens,” he said.
There was a bright spot for HBO with its limited series Mare of Easttown, the crime drama that earned four Emmys, including a lead acting award for star Kate Winslet.
For broadcaster NBC, Saturday Night Live again came through with variety honours.
The ceremony proved disappointing as well to those scrutinising diversity in Hollywood.
The record number of nominees of colour yielded only two Black winners, including Rupaul for Rupaul’s Drag Race and star-creator Michaela Coel’s writing award for I May Destroy You. Coel’s win made history as she is the first Black woman to win in that category.
Cedric the Entertainer proved a game host, moving from a hip-hop opening number to gags and sketches, but the relatively small crowd – a result of pandemic precautions – was fairly muted in their response to him and others’ one-liners.
Sudeikis co-created Ted Lasso, which many viewers found a balm for tough pandemic times.
He gave a speech that evoked the chipper, upbeat title character he plays in the series about a UK football team and its unlikely American coach.
“This show’s about families and mentors and teammates, and I wouldn’t be here without those things in my life,” he said.
He also thanked his fellow castmates, saying, “I’m only as good as you guys make me look.”
Brett Goldstein, who won the counterpart award for supporting actor for playing a retired football star, said he had promised not to swear and either mimed or was muted for a few seconds, then called the show the “privilege and pleasure” of his life.
The show opened with a musical number that featured Cedric the Entertainer rapping a modified version of the Biz Markie hip-hop hit Just a Friend with lyrics like “TV, you got what I need.”
LL Cool J bounded from the audience as stars including Rita Wilson, Mandy Moore and more dropped verses celebrating the breadth of television.