Overview
So the Emmys were awarded this week, and as per usual, the Academy clearly didn’t read any of my numerous emails about Amy Poehler. Besides that, they got it pretty right this year. Shock horror.
True to form, host Andy Samberg of Lonely Island/SNL fame delivered a somewhat lack-luster performance riddled with musical interludes and cheap bits that at best offered the audio tech something to do with that canned laughter button on his computer.
Not all doom and gloom though, the usual celebrity-filled opening bit was a success, featuring some of television's prettiest including, John Hamm and Kerry Washington. And with that, the most light-hearted of the ‘officially recognised’ awards ceremonies began.
There were plenty of surprises this year in both major categories, with Allison Janney and Tony Hale picking up supporting awards for their shows Mom and Veep. Transparent and Veep were the comedy darlings of the night, with on topic Transparent picking up awards for Lead Actor and Directing for Jeffery Tambour, and creator Jill Holloway. Veep picked up the Best Series beating out fan favourite Parks and Recreation in its last season, Amy Poehler was also snubbed in favour of Veep’s Julia Louis Dreyfus, but she is an acceptable substitute if there has to be one.
The big question on everyone’s minds though (well at least mine anyway), is has the Modern Family bubble finally popped? Usually riddled with nominations and wins across the category, Modern Family picked up no awards this year. Shame. Cough.
The drama category was considerably more diverse with its awards. Game of Thrones was nominated for 24 awards this year, and picked up three of the major category awards including Best Supporting Actor for everyone’s favourite Lannister, Peter Dinklage, Best Directing and Best Overall Series. Uzo Aduba gave a very Halle Berry-esqe speech when accepting her Best Supporting award for once-comedy-but-this-year-drama, Orange is the New Black while Viola Davis rounded out the awards for women this year accepting the Lead Actress over Homeland’s Claire Danes, and House of Cards’ Robin Wright for her role in How to Get Away with Murder.
The standing ovations of the night went to 16-time nominee, first time winner John Hamm for his last season as the troubled '60s advertising exec Don Draper, and the returning comedian Tracey Morgan who made a rousing return after suffering significant brain damage after a well-publicised car accident last year.
So to recap. Leslie Knope doesn’t win. Don Draper does. Orange is the New Black is a drama now apparently, and Transparent is the new Modern Family.