The 2018 Primetime Emmy Awards have come to an end, and as television’s greatest stars gathered at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, the big night for television closed on a historic note. With diverse nominations, a marriage proposal, and controversial political jokes centered at the ceremony’s spotlight.
The ceremony started with a musical performance called “We Solved It,” which was led by Saturday Night Live’s stars Kenan Thompson and Kate McKinnon, with various other artists and actors joining in.
The musical skit, which mocked Hollywood’s way of “solving” diversity representation in the big screen, was described as one of the most unpromising moments of the award-show after the first seven winners of the night were everything but racially diverse.
Although it seemed as if the ceremony was already controversial with its way of addressing representation in the musical opening, what really sparked controversy among social media was the opening monologue between comedians Michael Che and Colin Jost, the awards’ co-hosts.
“My mother is not watching,” Michael Che said. “She says she doesn’t like watching white award shows because you guys don’t thank Jesus enough.”
He continued, “That’s true. The only white people that thank Jesus are Republicans and ex-crackheads.”
Many social media users didn’t find the monologue funny, and some took twitter to express their opinions and to emphasize that they weren’t watching the Emmy awards “ever again,” as some users tweeted.
https://twitter.com/JCADENACUA/status/1042115973757587456
Petition to never let Colin Jost and Michael Che host anything ever again #Emmys
— Nic (@CloneNic) September 18, 2018
Despite the political altercations, the big night also had its moments with historic nominations: Sandra Oh became the first Asian woman nominated for a lead actress role in a drama series.
Oh, who has worked on the television industry for more than a decade, competed against Elisabeth Moss, Evan Wood, Keri Russell, Claire Foy, and Tatiana Maslany for the lead actress award. And although Claire Foy’s performance in “The Crown” took the award home, Sarah Oh was the actress in everyone’s mind during the ceremony, and even Claire Foy addressed Sarah’s loss in her winning speech.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen,” Claire said when she went up the stage to collect her Emmy. “Sandra Oh, I just love ya.”
Sandra Oh wasn’t the only one that made history at the 70th annual Emmy Awards though. Netflix dethroned HBO as the most nominated network, breaking a 17-year streak that HBO held.
The race between Netflix’s 37 nominations and HBO’s 29 was set way before the night even started. However, the “who will get the most wins” race culminated in a tie as both networks ended with 23 primetime awards each.
HBO won drama and comedy prizes, with Westworld winning an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress for Thandie Newton, and the series Barry landing two awards including Henry Winkler’s ecstatic win.
Despite all the awards HBO took home, the audience’s eyes were on the network’s biggest hit, Game of Thrones. Game of Thrones made a triumphant return at the awards after its absence from last year’s winning list – due to the series airing after the eligibility requirement. It won Best Supporting Actor for Peter Dinklage for his role as Tyrion Lannister, and it continued its reigning legacy after being awarded Best Drama once again.
Netflix also went home big with awards for Black Mirror, The Crown, Kid Gorgeous, Seven Seconds, and Godless, which won Meritt Wever an Outstanding Supporting Actress Emmy and Jeff Daniels a trophy for Actor in a Limited Series.
Besides all the tension that the night held, the ceremony also uncovered an emotional moment after a surprise proposal brought the audience to tears and a standing ovation.
“You wonder why I don’t like to call you my girlfriend? Because I want to call you my wife,” said director Glenn Weiss to his girlfriend, Jan Svendsen, as he accepted an award for directing for a variety special for his work on The Oscars.
He also proposed using his late mothers ring, who sadly passed just a few weeks before the ceremony.
The celebrity reactions were priceless, and a standing ovation accompanied the soon-to-be wife to the stage, marking the surprise proposal as one of the most adorable moments in the award-show history.
Amy Sherman-Palladino also made history by becoming the first person to win comedy writing and directing in the same night. The Gilmore girls creator left with four Emmys for her new Amazon series, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, a comedy series that also landed Alex Borstein an Emmy for supporting actress and Rachel Brosnahan an Emmy for lead actress.
At the end of the night, the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards resulted in historic moments for television. With all of its emotions, controversies, losses, and wins, this year’s annual Emmy Awards is one to remember.
