The 2022 Emmys are hoping to go off without a hitch — or a slap.
Emmys host Kenan Thompson kicked off Monday’s festivities by honoring the magic of TV, the “greatest invention in the history of mankind.”
Without TV, the “Saturday Night Live” comedian asked, what else would you do?
“Read books? No one in this room has read a book in the last 50 years,” Thompson deadpanned. “Watch TikTok? Oh, you mean tiny, vertical television? Have sex? Gross!”
The opening monologue then gave way to a dance number set to the theme songs for “Friends,” “The Brady Bunch,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Stranger Things” and “Game of Thrones.”
Thompson also took shots at Peacock, which was airing the Emmys, Netflix and Showtime, plus a dig at newly single Leonardo DiCaprio by telling Zendaya, who turned 26 last year, that she’s “young enough to play a high schooler but too old to date” the “Titanic” star.
The 74th annual prime-time TV awards, moved to Monday this year to accommodate NBC’s Sunday Night Football, return to Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater for the first time since 2019, upended for three years by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Michael Keaton took home the first award of the night for lead actor in a limited series for his heartbreaking role as Dr. Samuel Finnix in Danny Strong’s “Dopesick,” the true story about the forces behind the opioid crisis.
“I want to thank all those people in my family for never making me feel foolish, because I went to do that myself several times,” the 71-year-old actor said. “I’m glad I made a fool of myself again and again.”
Murray Bartlett won supporting actor in a limited or anthology series for “The White Lotus,” playing the chaotic manager at the Hawaii hotel populated by heinous, privileged vacationers.
As always, the Emmys also ushered in gorgeous outfits on gorgeous people.
“Abbott Elementary” star Sheryl Lee Ralph, who plays the veteran teacher Ms. Howard, stunned in a strapless black velvet gown with a high slit that showed off an orange interior fabric, while “Inventing Anna’s” Laverne Cox also went with black in Jean Paul Gaultier couture with a spiral-cone top sure to draw comparisons to Madonna’s cone bra.
Kaitlyn Dever, who played the heartbreaking opioid addict Betsy Mallum in “Dopesick,” went with a sparkly red number and “The White Lotus” star Natasha Rothwell broke out a similar color in a full gown. “Ozark” star Laura Linney was breathtaking in a ruffled black and white dress and “The Great’s” Elle Fanning channeled old Hollywood in strapless black and pink satin, created by the costume designer on the Hulu period piece.
Zendaya, who always lives up to the moment, turned heads again, giving Audrey Hepburn in strapless Valentino, and copper dresses shone on “Yellowjackets” star Christina Ricci, “Abbott Elementary” creator and star Quinta Brunson and “Pam & Tommy” star Lily James.
The men turned out as well, with “Better Call Saul’s” Bob Odenkirk flashing sunglasses and a scruffy beard to match his navy blue suit, while Colman Domingo, who won a Creative Emmy for guest actor in a drama for “Euphoria” earlier this month, somehow pulled off a see-through black shirt with a gold brocade suit and matching gold jewelry. “Under the Banner of Heaven’s” Andrew Garfield, “Succession’s” Nicholas Braun all “Pam and Tommy’s” Seth Rogen braved all-white suits under the brutal Los Angeles sun.
The cast of “Ted Lasso,” which always seems to have the most fun at award shows, was a vision outside of the football jerseys, none moreso than Hannah Waddingham, towering above the red carpet in pink tulle.
Producers were praying for a smooth night after the 2022 Oscars turned into an ugly slapfest over Chris Rock’s crude bald joke about Jada Pinkett Smith. Instead, the Emmys left the drama on the screen, with comedy heavyweights like “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” battling it out against newcomer “Abbott Elementary” and drama favorites “Succession” and “Better Call Saul” trying to stave off “Yellowjackets” and “Squid Game.”
The Creative Emmys, held last weekend, were big fans of “Euphoria” and “The White Lotus,” handing out five trophies to each HBO Max series, part of the streaming service’s 25 wins overall. Netflix’s sci-fi series “Stranger Things” also took home five awards, as did both CBS’ “Adele: One Night Only” special and Disney+’s “The Beatles: Get Back” docuseries.
Former President Barack Obama took home a trophy for narrating Netflix’s “Our Great National Parks,” while the late Chadwick Boseman won for his voice-over performance in Disney+’s “What If…”
“When I learned Chad was nominated, I started thinking of everything that was going on in the world and our world and being so in awe of his commitment and dedication and what a beautiful moment that one of the last things he would work on was something so important to him and to the world but also something new,” Boseman’s wife, Taylor Simone Ledward, said while accepting the award on his behalf Saturday.
“You can’t understand your purpose unless you ask what if? What if the universe is conspiring in my favor? What if it’s me? Chad would be so honored and I am honored on his behalf.”
Among nonscripted series, familiar faces struck again at the Creative Emmys, including HBO’s “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” for best writing for a variety series and RuPaul for best reality competition host for VH1′s “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
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