THE 2020 EMMYS: HOW THE SHOW WENT ON AND SCHITT’S CREEK TOOK IT ALL

Were the Emmys 2020 a bit lackluster? Sure! There was no larger-than-life stage set. There weren’t any elaborate sketches, musical numbers, or any kinds of performances (except for the ‘in memoriam’ segment). There was no orchestra, and there were very few presenters, as the host presented many of the categories himself. However, the biggest absence was, obviously, a live audience. 

That might have stung the most, especially so during Jimmy Kimmel’s opening monologue. The stitching together of audience reactions from footage of past shows and events was a simple but effective way to start the show, and also served as a stark reminder of how much our world has changed this year. It was quite funny, almost in a dark way, but the moment Kimmel ‘saw himself’ in the audience, and was snapped back into reality, it suddenly seemed darker still. He made a joke about it being like his prom where he was also alone, but even as a joke, his melancholic acceptance of being alone was almost disturbing. It was something that we’ve all felt at some point or another, during this pandemic, through the various versions of lockdowns and quarantine periods we’ve all experienced. It felt like a confrontation with reality amidst this ‘new normal’ that we’re all adjusting to. Yet, there is a sense of hope, an instinct for survival that makes us feel like we need to weather this storm, which isn’t going to pass anytime soon, rather than get blown away by it. It was hence refreshing in a way to see that the show was still going on, as it best could.

All things considered…
In fact, the show was more than I was expecting. What I had in mind was a mega-sized Zoom conference call, not unlike what we’ve been seeing in the lockdown editions of shows such as Kimmel’s own Jimmy Kimmel Live. Instead, there actually was a small set, with a giant Emmy statuette, live video feeds from all over the place, and just a bunch of people who took turns to present award categories and introduce other presenters. A few of the presentations might have fallen a little flat—such as Anthony Anderson’s, or Jason Sudeikis getting ‘tested’ for COVID-19, but I wouldn’t entirely blame them. Sometimes you need a live audience for these things to work. I guess that’s why comedians ‘opening’ for musicians or even other comedians is such a thing. Performers and presenters feed off of the energy of a crowd, and it’s a vibe that one can somehow feel even while watching from our homes. And I’m sure when presenting live, anyone, but especially the host, might leave the door open for a bit of improvisation based on how the material’s being received. In fact, the absence of an audible reaction from the audience seemed almost jarring to me, so it was not at all a bad effort on the host’s and presenters’ part to deliver what they did, even if all it did was illicit a few smiles.

Viewing party!
Yet, a remote audience lent its own charm to the proceedings. It was extremely endearing to see how the cast and creators and crew of various shows huddled in living rooms or hotel suites and so on, having their own ‘viewing parties’ while also playing a considerably active part in the virtual event. Award winners definitely responded more to the reactions of the people around them. Especially EUPHORIA’s Zendaya comes to mind. Her unrestrained reaction to not just being named ‘outstanding lead actress in a drama’, but also to the people cheering her on, was extremely adorable. Another one was SUCCESSION’s Jesse Armstrong, who made a mark with his acceptance speeches amidst his own ‘viewing party’ in London. He ‘un-thanked’ the corona virus and President Trump and Prime Minister Johnson, and other such ‘quasi-nationalist’ world leaders and media moguls (like the Murdochs who have loosely inspired his own show), who keep them in power. It became quite a talked-about acceptance speech, owing to his offbeat way of making a political statement.

Almost everyone did make a political statement though, especially urging America to vote. Mark Ruffalo made his point well, tying it in with the theme of his limited series I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE—about showing up and ‘taking care’ of ‘our most vulnerable’ people. There was also SCHITT’S CREEK’s Daniel Levy, who did so in one of his million acceptance speeches, speaking about how their show was about the ‘transformational effects of love and acceptance’, and that voting was the only way America would have some love and acceptance. However, his best one was when he accepted the ‘supporting actor’ Emmy, wherein he thanked fellow Emmy winners, his dad Eugene Levy, and on-screen mom Catherine O’Hara. He thanked the two ‘brilliant comedic masterminds’ for giving him and others “The safety and security to do what we want and to try and to experiment and to grow.” And each time SCHITT’S CREEK won, we caught a glimpse of the cutest little viewing party of all! It was such a celebration there at that gathering in Canada, with the cast and others from SCHITT’S, cheering each other on and reveling in the overwhelming love that the Television Academy showed them.

Win-win!
SCHITT’S CREEK became the first series ever to win Emmys for all seven major categories in comedy (outstanding series, directing, writing, lead actress and actor, and supporting actress and actor), and the gem of a show deserved every win. I predicted it would be a clean sweep, and it was. Several other categories were quite predictable as well, but it was amazing that the brilliant SUCCESSION and the evocative WATCHMEN got their due, for outstanding drama and limited series obviously, but especially the Emmys for Jeremy Strong and Regina King. Zendaya’s win was a pleasant surprise, as she, 24, broke the record for the youngest ever to win lead actress drama, after it was broken just last year by KILLING EVE’s Jodie Comer, 26.

A more-than-satisfying set of results and a few very endearing moments, especially among the recipients, will leave me complaining about very little. It may not have been the most thrilling Emmys or the most engaging, but I will give the host and the team behind the scenes their due for putting together a nice show, that celebrated television. I think that’s particularly important during such times when it might feel like there isn’t all that much to celebrate. As Kimmel said in his opening monologue: “[Through the dark tunnel of the lockdown and quarantine, we’ve had one friend,] who’s there for us 24 hours a day—our old pal television… Through the good times and the breaking bads, television is there for you!”

Here’s a list of Emmy winners in the major categories:

DRAMA

Drama Series

BETTER CALL SAUL
THE CROWN
THE HANDMAID’S TALE
KILLING EVE
THE MANDALORIAN
OZARK
STRANGER THINGS
SUCCESSION  

Lead Actress, Drama
Jennifer Aniston, THE MORNING SHOW
Olivia Colman, THE CROWN
Jodie Comer, KILLING EVE
Laura Linney, OZARK
Sandra Oh, KILLING EVE
Zendaya, EUPHORIA 

Lead Actor, Drama
Jason Bateman, OZARK
Sterling K. Brown, THIS IS US
Steve Carell, THE MORNING SHOW
Brian Cox, SUCCESSION
Billy Porter, POSE
Jeremy Strong, SUCCESSION

Supporting Actress, Drama
Helena Bonham Carter, THE CROWN
Laura Dern, BIG LITTLE LIES
Julia Garner, OZARK
Thandie Newton, WESTWORLD
Fiona Shaw, KILLING EVE
Sarah Snook, SUCCESSION
Meryl Streep, BIG LITTLE LIES
Samira Wiley, THE HANDMAID’S TALE

Supporting Actor, Drama
Nicholas Braun, SUCCESSION
Billy Crudup, THE MORNING SHOW
Kieran Culkin, SUCCESSION
Mark Duplass, THE MORNING SHOW
Giancarlo Esposito, BETTER CALL SAUL
Matthew Macfadyen, SUCCESSION
Bradley Whitford, THE HANDMAID’S TALE
Jeffrey Wright, WESTWORLD 

Directing For A Drama Series
THE CROWN (Episode: ‘Aberfan’), Directed by Benjamin Caron 
THE CROWN (Episode: ‘Cri de coeur’), Directed by Jessica Hobbs 
HOMELAND (Episode: ‘Prisoners of war’), Directed by Lesli Linka Glatter 
THE MORNING SHOW (Episode: ‘The interview"), Directed by Mimi Leder 
OZARK (Episode: ‘Fire pink’), Directed by Alik Sakharov
OZARK (Episode: ‘Su casa es mi casa’), Directed by Ben Semanoff 
SUCCESSION (Episode: ‘Hunting’), Directed by Andrij Parekh
SUCCESSION (Episode: ‘This is not for tears’), Directed by Mark Mylod

Writing For A Drama Series
BETTER CALL SAUL (Episode: ‘Bad choice road’), Written by Thomas Schnauz
BETTER CALL SAUL (Episode: ‘Bagman’), Written by Gordon Smith 
THE CROWN (Episode: ‘Aberfan’), Written by Peter Morgan 
OZARK (Episode: ‘All in’), Written by Chris Mundy 
OZARK (Episode: ‘Boss fight’), Written by John Shiban 
OZARK (Episode: ‘Fire pink’), Written by Miki Johnson 
SUCCESSION (Episode: ‘This is not for tears’), Written by Jesse Armstrong

COMEDY

Comedy Series
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM
DEAD TO ME
THE GOOD PLACE
INSECURE
THE KOMINSKY METHOD
THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
SCHITT’S CREEK
WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS

Lead Actress, Comedy
Christina Applegate, DEAD TO ME
Rachel Brosnahan, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
Linda Cardellini, DEAD TO ME
Catherine O’Hara, SCHITT’S CREEK
Issa Rae, INSECURE
Tracee Ellis Ross, BLACK-ISH

Lead Actor, Comedy
Anthony Anderson, BLACK-ISH
Don Cheadle, BLACK MONDAY
Ted Danson, THE GOOD PLACE
Michael Douglas, THE KOMINSKY METHOD
Eugene Levy, SCHITT’S CREEK
Ramy Youssef, RAMY

Supporting Actress, Comedy
Alex Borstein, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
D’Arcy Carden, THE GOOD PLACE
Betty Gilpin, GLOW
Marin Hinkle, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
Kate McKinnon, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
Annie Murphy, SCHITT’S CREEK
Yvonne Orji, INSECURE
Cecily Strong, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Supporting Actor, Comedy
Mahershala Ali, RAMY
Alan Arkin, THE KOMINSKY METHOD
Andre Braugher, BROOKLYN NINE-NINE
Sterling K. Brown, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
William Jackson Harper, THE GOOD PLACE
Daniel Levy, SCHITT’S CREEK
Tony Shalhoub, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
Kenan Thompson, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series
THE GREAT (Episode: ‘The great’), Directed by Matt Shakman 
THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL (Episode: ‘It's comedy or cabbage’), Directed by Amy Sherman-Palladino
THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL (Episode: ‘Marvelous radio’), Directed by Daniel Palladino 
MODERN FAMILY (Episode: ‘Finale, part 2’), Directed by Gail Mancuso 
RAMY (Episode: ‘Miakhalifa.mov’), Directed by Ramy Youssef 
SCHITT'S CREEK (Episode: ‘Happy ending’), Directed by Andrew Cividino and Dan Levy
WILL & GRACE (Episode: ‘We love Lucy’), Directed by James Burrows

Like I said before, this is SCHITT’s year. They’re winning this for their excellent finale, which was equal parts funny and emotional, in execution and tone, without being too indulgent or unnecessarily mushy.

Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series
THE GOOD PLACE (Episode: ‘Whenever you're ready’), Written by Michael Schur (NBC)
THE GREAT (Episode: ‘The great’), Written by Tony McNamara (Hulu)
SCHITT'S CREEK (Episode: ‘Happy ending’), Written by Dan Levy (Pop TV)
SCHITT'S CREEK (Episode: ‘The presidential suite’), Written by David West Read (Pop TV)
WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (Episode: ‘Collaboration’), Written by Sam Johnson and Chris Marcil (FX)
WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (Episode: ‘Ghosts’), Written by Paul Simms (FX)
WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (Episode: ‘On the run’), Written by Stefani Robinson (FX)

LIMITED SERIES AND TV MOVIE

Limited Series
LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE

MRS. AMERICA
UNBELIEVABLE
UNORTHODOX
WATCHMEN

TV Movie
American Son
Bad Education
Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings: These Old Bones
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend 

Lead Actress, Limited Series Or TV Movie
Cate Blanchett, MRS. AMERICA
Shira Haas, UNORTHODOX
Regina King, WATCHMEN
Octavia Spencer, Self Made
Kerry Washington, LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE

Lead Actor, Limited Series Or TV Movie
Jeremy Irons, WATCHMEN
Hugh Jackman, Bad Education
Paul Mescal, NORMAL PEOPLE
Jeremy Pope, HOLLYWOOD
Mark Ruffalo, I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE

Supporting Actress, Limited Series Or TV Movie
Uzo Aduba, MRS. AMERICA
Toni Collette, UNBELIEVABLE
Margo Martindale, MRS. AMERICA
Jean Smart, WATCHMEN
Holland Taylor, HOLLYWOOD
Tracey Ullman, MRS. AMERICA

Supporting Actor, Limited Series Or TV Movie
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, WATCHMEN
Jovan Adepo, WATCHMEN
Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend
Louis Gossett Jr., WATCHMEN
Dylan McDermott, HOLLYWOOD
Jim Parsons, HOLLYWOOD

Outstanding Directing For A Limited Series, Movie, Or Dramatic Special
LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE (Episode: ‘Find a way’), Directed by Lynn Shelton
NORMAL PEOPLE (Episode: ‘Episode 5’), Directed by Lenny Abrahamson
UNORTHODOX, Directed by Maria Schrader
WATCHMEN (Episode: ‘It's summer and we're running out of ice’), Directed by Nicole Kassell 
WATCHMEN (Episode: ‘Little fear of lightning’), Directed by Steph Green 
WATCHMEN (Episode: ‘This extraordinary being’), Directed by Stephen Williams 

Outstanding Writing For A Limited Series, Movie, Or Dramatic Special
MRS. AMERICA (Episode: ‘Shirley’), Written by Tanya Barfield 
NORMAL PEOPLE (Episode: ‘Episode 3’), Written by Sally Rooney and Alice Birch 
UNBELIEVABLE (Episode: ‘Episode 1’), Written by Susannah Grant, Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman
UNORTHODOX (Episode: ‘Part 1’), Written by Anna Winger 
WATCHMEN (Episode: ‘This extraordinary being’), Written by Damon Lindelof and Cord Jefferson