BY KRISTIN BURNELL
Arts and Entertainment Editor
Last Sunday, The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences presented the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards.
The awards show was broadcast on Fox from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Similar to the 1975, 1998, and 2003 ceremonies, this year marked the fourth time that the awards show featured no host.
The show began with Homer Simpson as the “host” right before an animated piano fell from the ceiling and crashed him into the stage floor. “Black-ish” actor Anthony Anderson went on to take the lead by “saving” the show as he went running around backstage.
Brian Cranston later stepped in to talk about the pivotal year that television has had. “Television has never been this damn good,” Cranston said as a video montage showcased “Game of Thrones,” “This is Us,” “The Masked Singer,” “When They See Us,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Empire,” and “Killing Eve.”
“I loved Brian Cranston in the opening, he has brought so much to the television industry and without having a host it made up for it,” said senior Justin Weigel.
According to the Associated Press, HBO led the pack with 34 total Emmy wins. Netflix fell second with 27 awards for its network, followed by Amazon Prime Video with 15 and NBC with 7 wins.
Tony Shalhoub brought home the first award of the night for his role in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”: Outstanding Supporting Actor In a Comedy Series. The show also won for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series with Alex Borstein receiving the Emmy for the second year in a row.
Amazon Prime’s “Fleabag” took home four wins with Best Comedy Series, as well as Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Emmy for Lead Actress In a Comedy Series, Directing For a Comedy Series, and Writing For a Comedy Series.
Despite its success at the Emmys, some students had never heard of the show “Fleabag” until watching the ceremony.
“I have no idea what “Fleabag” is, but I might have to watch it since it won so many awards,” said senior Emily Durvin.
HBO’s “Chernobyl” won 10 awards from the ceremony including Best Limited Series, Best Writing for a Limited Series, Best Directing for a Limited Series as well as Jared Harris for Best Lead Actor in a Limited Series and Stellan Skargard for Supporting Actor.
Emmys history continued to be made with Billy Porter being the first openly gay winner for Best Actor in a Drama Series, according to the Associated Press. Jodie Comer of “Killing Eve” won for Best Actress in a Drama Series.
“Game of Thrones” established a new record of a total of 32 nods in both the Creative Arts Awards and Primetime Awards, having the most Emmy nominations received in the same year by any comedy or drama series. The show won 12 awards all together.
Peter Dinklage took home his fourth win for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his character in “Game of Thrones”. The cast won the last award of the night for Best Drama Series for the eighth and final season.
“These last 10 years have been the best years of our lives, I can’t believe we did it, we shall never see your like again,” said show-runner David Benioff. “It’s amazing you are all still alive.”
Some students believe that the show deserved more accolades than it received after being nominated in 14 different categories.
“I was very upset that nobody from ‘Game of Thrones’ won in the supporting actress category because I believe that Gwendoline Christie deserved it the most,” said Weigel.
Julia Garner of “Ozark” won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In a Drama Series. Other nominees included Lena Headey, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams and Gwendoline Christie for “Game of Thrones,” as well as Fiona Shaw for “Killing Eve”.
“I really enjoyed the Emmys this year, I think that no host was an interesting choice and I wonder if other award shows will continue to follow that trend,” said senior Annie Moran.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
