The 2021 Primetime Emmy Awards was a “Crown” -ing achievement for Netflix. The streaming service won Best Drama Series (“The Crown”) and Limited Series or Anthology Series (“The Queen’s Gambit”) for the first time in their history. During this telecast alone, Peter Morgan’s generational drama series took seven Emmys, and “Queen’s Gambit” added another two to its formidable haul following the Creative Arts Emmy Awards last weekend. As for the ceremony itself? Well, at least everyone was able to be in the same room?
READ MORE: Primetime Emmy Awards 2021: Complete List of all the Winners
Despite some obvious concern over the lack of masks in a very tight indoor space (more on that from Seth Rogen in a minute), it was a somewhat fast-paced event with few speeches going longer than necessary (we’re looking at you, Scott Frank). Moreover, the lessons of 2020 provided for an almost seamless transition to a very busy camera crew and production outfit in London, where many winners from “The Crown” were watching. Unfortunately, the laughs came from the presenters such as the “Schitt’s Creek” crew, Amy Poehler, and Jennifer Coolidge, among others. Host Cedric the Entertainer had a tough job on his hands, considering the circumstances, and his writing team didn’t necessarily provide him with the best material to get through the night.
READ MORE: Fall 2021 TV Preview: 40+ Series To Watch
Keeping all that in mind, here’s a Best and Worst for one of the more British-dominated Emmy telecasts in recent memory.
WORST: “Just A Friend” opening
Well, if you wanted to see Rita Wilson rap live, you probably loved it? But, that number was closer to a bad wedding reception moment than an exciting opening number for an Emmys telecast. Not sure if CBS and the Television Academy were trying to save money on the production budget, but couldn’t they have done a bit more? Even the 2021 Spirit Awards had more production value in its virtual opener this year.
BEST: Michaela Coel
Perhaps the best surprise of the night (although one this pundit predicted), the Peabody and BAFTA Award-winning writer, actor, and director read an eloquent poem as she accepted her well-deserved Emmy statue for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series or Anthology Series. She ended her remarks with, “I dedicate this story to every single survivor of sexual assault. Thank you.” She left the stage to another standing ovation from an audience still euphoric over her win.
BEST: Surprises
Olivia Coleman took Best Actress in a Drama Series over her co-star Emma Corrin and “Pose’s” M.J. Rodriguez. Ewan McGregor won his first Emmy in Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Anthology Series or Movie. “Hacks” taking Writing and Directing. “Hamilton” winning Variety Special Prerecorded. Considering everyone knew “Ted Lasso” and “The Crown” would dominate the proceedings, it was a relief Television Academy members went in some different directions (except for that “Hamilton” win which was historically embarrassing).
WORST: Lack of PoC winners
There was Michaela Coel. There were members of some winning writing teams. But on a night Debbie Allen was honored, and RuPaul Charles broke the record for the most Emmy wins for a Person of Color, there was a striking lack of non-white winners on the podium. Much of this was because “Ted Lasso,” “Hacks,” “The Crown,” and “Queen’s Gambit” dominated the proceedings. Still, it was something of a mixed message for an organization that prides itself as being more diverse than its theatrical counterpart. Are nominations enough at this point? Ponder.
BEST: Seth Rogen speaking the truth
Seth Rogen took the stage to announce the first winner of the evening and had a very astute observation. “Let me start by saying there are too many of us in this small little room!” Health protocols aside (attendees had to have a PCR test and be vaxed), no one was wearing masks inside, and, well, breakthrough COVID is a thing. He then made a reasonable assumption, “Why isn’t this show outside?” Considering the Grammys were held on a nearby roof only seven months ago, and it rarely rains in LA in September…why not outside? In any event, Rogen’s ad-lib prompted the show’s DJ, DJ-NICE, to note that the broadcast was taking part in all the health and safety protocols they were asked to participate in. Sure, but…optics?
WORST: Bleeped out swearing
If you missed Brett Goldstein’s acceptance speech for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, you weren’t alone. The off the cuff actor couldn’t control himself with a euphoric amount of bleeped-out expletives. Then Evan Peters won Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series and swore “S**t” the moment he hit the stage. It’s 2021; why are we bleeping out expletives anymore?
BEST: Jennifer Coolidge
Not only did “The White Lotus” star receive a rousing ovation when she took the stage to hand out Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series (just give her next year’s Emmy now!), but she killed it with one of the funniest presentations of the night. A masterfully timed moment that reminded the nominees, “You have overcome the incredible handicap in this business of being…men.”
BEST: Kerry Washington’s classy tribute to Michael K. Williams
Tragically, Michael K. Williams, star of “The Wire” and nominated this year for “Lovecraft Country,” passed away this past weekend. Kerry Washington presented his category and remarked before announcing the nominees, “Michael – I know you’re here because you wouldn’t miss this – your excellence, your artistry will endure. We love you.” Washington is an excellent actress, but she couldn’t hide her disappointment when she opened the envelope and saw the name of “The Crown’s” Tobias Menzies. Sadness.
BEST: “Last Week Tonight’s” acceptance speeches
We’re not thrilled that “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” took Writing for a Variety Sketch Series or Variety Talk Series once again, but they were talented enough to make their acceptances memorable. When taking the Writing trophy, the winners joked, “We dedicate this award to Adam Driver He knows what he did. And we know what we’d like him to do.” John Oliver accepted the overall category Emmy and gave a shout-out to Conan O’Brien, saying he was rooting for him and his show “Conan” in the category. Oliver then says, “This was an award for late-night comedy, and no one was funnier over the past 20 years in late-night comedy than Norm MacDonald.” Another classy moment on a night full of mixed emotions.
BEST: “Hacks” slows down the “Ted Lasso” train
“Ted Lasso” made history, becoming Apple TV+’s first major Emmy winner taking the Comedy Series win, but it wasn’t the massive sweep it appeared to be after both Hannah Waddington and Brett Goldstein took the Supporting categories at the begging of the ceremony. Instead, “Hacks” surprised with both Writing and Directing for a Comedy Series wins (although we predicted the Writing result). Throw in Jean Smart’s inevitable Best Actress in a Comedy Series win, and the love was slightly more spread out than many originally expected.
WORST: Those sketches
Cedric the Entertainer was affable enough as the ceremony’s host, but the sketches that surround the show were close to god-awful. Ken Jeong did a bit centered on not getting into the ceremony because of the wrong COVID tests protocols that bombed. Cedric did another bit about the fly on Mike Pence‘s head which occurred almost a year ago and wasn’t funny whatsoever. The multiple Emmy nominees support group sketch was something of an improvement, but not enough to bring this writing staff or producers back for another go-around.
BEST: Conan O’Brien gets everyone’s attention
In a telecast that needed surprises, Conan O’Brien brought one when he went overboard in cheering for the arrival of Television Academy chairman and CEO Frank Scherma. It was so out of place it prompted a spontaneous standing ovation for O’Brien. That audience was just clamoring for something fun to occur. Conan later crashed the acceptance speech for “Late Night with Stephen Colbert’s Election Night Special,” because, why not?
See our full coverage of the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards here.
