60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards: Recap
Tina Fey arrives at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at Nokia Theatre on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California |
9:32
The chairman and CEO of the TV Academy is introduced--which is seemingly the perfect time for a snack/bathroom/nap break… But it only lasts for two minutes!
9:48
John Adams’ screenwriter gets cut off during his acceptance speech just before it appeared to be heading towards overtly-anti-Bush territory. (No word on whether that was the culprit.)
9:59
The Amazing Race wins for Outstanding Reality-Competition Series for the sixth consecutive year. Don Rickles, already on the stage, promptly tries to ambush the acceptance speech and hijack the spotlight.
10:01
In the unshocking development of the night, John Adams wins for Outstanding Miniseries. Tom Hanks accepts, and…wow--even his speech gets cut off by the wrap-it-up music!
10:23
Paul Giamatti wins and thanks his on-screen wife (Linney) but not his off-screen one!
10:25
Alec Baldwin predictably wins for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series. The camera stays on 30 Rock producer Lorne Michaels for an awkward amount of time.
10:27
Vanessa Williams and America Ferrera try their best to present the award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series, but the mic doesn’t work. Luckily it works for the category’s winner, Glenn Close, during her acceptance speech.
10:29
In memoriam: Apparently the audience members have only heard of Sydney Pollack, Bernie Mac, Tim Russert, George Carlin and Isaac Hayes.
10:37
Presenter Kiefer Sutherland gets it right: Just announce the effin’ nominees/winner!
10:38
Bryan Cranston wins for Breaking Bad, officially becoming the night’s biggest surprise--and a pleasant one. Even the dude who announces how many Emmys each person has won seems shocked!
10:41
Tina Fey wins for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series and provides the best line of the night (does she ever not?): “I thank my parents for somehow raising me to have confidence that is disproportionate with my looks and abilities.” How can you not love her? Even her self-deprecation isn’t tired!
10:52
30 Rock wins for Outstanding Comedy Series. Judah Friedlander takes the stage donning an ironic hat with ‘best-dressed’ emblazoned on it; unironically, he makes every worst-dressed list in existence.
10:56
Mad Men wins for Outstanding Drama Series. David Chase gets a shout-out from Sopranos alum/Men mastermind Matthew Weiner. Classy move, Weiner.
10:57
The show ends before 11:00! I would like to thank the producers for only making the telecast feel like it ran much longer than three hours.
Grade: C+
The atrociously conceived and executed idea of five hosts was balanced out by very pleasant-surprise winners and solid acceptance speeches from the unsurprising winners.
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