68th Emmy Awards

Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and broadcasted live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, the 68th Emmy Awards opened with Jimmy doing a reenactment of O.J. Simpson’s infamous highway chase. He went from car to car spoofing nominated programs, including James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus played along with Veep and even Jeb Bush played an Uber driver who kicked Jimmy out of the limo.

Kimmel then got on one knee in the street and prayed to “Heavenly Oprah” to get him to the Emmy’s. After the dragon from Game of Thrones flew by, Jimmy walked on the stage through a wall of fire.

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He immediately ran into the audience and gave Jeffrey Tambor an Emmy then ran back to the stage and said, “That saved 20 minutes.”

He Joked about Marsha Clark, welcomed John Travolta back to television and told Cuba, “You were so good as O.J. Simpson.”

He joked about diversity and television and said, “Find a white person … just take a moment to reach out and thank them for their bravery.”

Of course, Jimmy would not get through the program without mentioning Donald Trump. He blamed Mark Burnett for Trump. He also said, “If Donald gets elected and builds that wall Mark Burnett is the first one we will throw over it.”

He joked about Maggie Smith of Downton Abbey never coming to the Emmy Awards and ended with, “Are we ready to make the Emmy’s great again?”

Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson and Traci Ellis Ross were the first presenters. Their category was Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. The Emmy went to Louie Anderson Baskets, his third career Emmy win. He needed a little help up the stairs but yelled, “Mom we did it” with the award in his hand. He awkwardly read his acceptance speech as the music began to play him off. He ended with, “God bless you guys. God bless you so much.”

Jimmy came back and called to Terrence Henderson and Taraji P. Henson in the audience. He teased her about her name and said she could probably drop the ‘P’ now.

Julie Bowen and Matt LeBlanc were the next presenters for Best Writer of a Comedy Series and Alan Yang and Aziz Ansari won for Master of None. Alan called out Asian parents in his speech and said, “Get your kid’s cameras instead of violin’s and we’ll be all good.”

Supporting Actress
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series went to SNL’s Kate McKinnon. This was her first Emmy win after four nominations. She kept dropping bombs at the beginning of her speech as she fought back tears. She gathered herself and thanked Lorne Michaels, the SNL cast and said, “Thank you, Hillary Clinton.”

The Emmy for Best Directing for a Comedy Series went to Jill Soloway for Transparent.

Lead Actress
Keegan-Michael Key was the next presenter for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and the Emmy went to Julia Louis-Dreyfus for Veep her fifth win in a row. She read her acceptance speech. She also took the opportunity to apologize for the current political environment, which makes her show look like a “sobering documentary.” She dedicated her award to her father who passed away just days ago. She fought back tears as she honored him.

Gary Shandling
Jeffrey Tambor was next and he said, “They took the Emmy” that Jimmy gave him at the top of the show. He introduced the segment honoring Garry Shandling. It was a sweet look at his comedy and career.

Next, a female announcer introduced, “Dr. Bill Cosby.” The audience went silent as Jimmy walked on the stage and said, “He’s not really here. I just wanted to see what you guys would do.” It was one of the awkward moments without question.

James Corben introduced the category of Best Actor in a Comedy Series and the Emmy went to Jeffrey Tambor. It was his second win for his role in Transparent. He joked, “What they take away …” about getting the Emmy back. He also said, “There is no best actor” and asked, “Please give transgender talent a chance.” “We have work to do. I love you.”

Reality Competition
America Ferrera and Mandy Moore were next for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program and the Emmy went to the Voice. It was their third Emmy win. Mark Burnett and the cast and crew accepted the award. He joked about the program giving free publicity to Donald Trump by blaming him for Trump.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
Jimmy introduced his mother, his real mother who was making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Jimmy had kids hand them out to the audience in brown paper lunch bags. Jimmy joined them and people actually started eating the sandwiches.

SNL’s Leslie Jones came out after the members of Ernst & Young and told them they are protecting something that no one cares about. She also joked about her nude images being hacked and walked off with the gentlemen.

Best Actor
Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn were next. The very pregnant Kerry introduced the Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie category and the Emmy Award went to D.V. DeVincentis for The People v. O.J. Simpson.

Supporting Actress
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie was next and Regina King took the Emmy Award for American Crime. She was so happy to share this award with her mother, “My wonderful beautiful mother” and ended with, “This rocks.”

Jimmy came back in the audience and was handing out juice to go with the sandwiches. He asked if everyone got a note because his mother usually adds a note. He had Cuba and Amy read theirs.

Best Directing
Priyanka Chopra and Tom Hiddleston called the category of Best Directing of a Limited Series or Movie and the Emmy went to Susanne Bier for The Night Manager.

Terrence Howard was next. He said, “I’m trying to remember to hold my belly in.” The category was Best Actor in a Drama and Sterling K. Brown won the Emmy Award for ‘The People v. Simpson. He got a standing ovation. He started his speech by making a joke about Melina Trump but dropped it. His speech was emotional as he thanked everyone he could remember and said, “Thank you for giving a brother a chance.”

Claire Danes and Bryan Cranston gave the Best Actress Emmy Award to Sarah Paulson for The People v. O.J. Simpson. She appeared to apologize for the crime at the ended of her acceptance speech.

Limited Series of Movie
Amy Poehler and Tina Fey were next. Amy said she wanted to half-thank a lot of people for the Emmy she won. Their category was Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie and Courtney B. Vance won the Emmy for The People v. O.J. Simpson and he yelled out “Glory to God” when he reached the podium. At the end of his speech he gave a shout out to his wife, “To the woman who yanks my chain, Angela Bassett.” Angela looked shocked in the audience as the camera came to her. Courtney then yelled “Obama Out!” as he left the stage.

Sherlock won the next Emmy.

The People v. O.J. Simpson took the Emmy for Best Drama. The broadcast awkwardly pulled away from their acceptance speeches and went to a commercial, but they have a lot to celebrate.

Variety Talk Series
The Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Special went to Patton Oswalt and the Emmy Award for Best Variety Talk Series went to Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. That was kind of a shocker.

Matt Damon came on stage and joked with Jimmy about losing the Emmy. Damon said you must be bummed out. He hugged Jimmy and said, “I’ll see you later at the after party.” And Jimmy said, “There’s an after party?”

Laverne Cox was the next presenter and she also asked to give transgender actors a chance. Her category was Outstanding Directing for Variety Special and Grease Live won the Emmy Award.

Damon Wayans introduced the nominees for Variety Sketch Series and Key & Peele won the Emmy.

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series was next and the Emmy went to Maggie Smith for Downton Abbey. Jimmy came out and said we are not mailing this to her. “Maggie if you want this it will be in the lost and found.”

Best Directing of a Drama Series followed and the Emmy went to Miguel Sapochnik for Game of Thrones. No surprise there.

Drama Series
Tarij P. Henson introduced the Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series category and the Emmy went to Ben Mendelsohn for Bloodline. He was not at the ceremony so Tarij accepted for him.

Henry Winkler spoke loving of Gary Marshall as he introduced the In Memoriam segment honoring all the talent we have lost over the last year and we have lost quite a few.

Allison Janney introduced the nominees for Lead Male Actor in a Drama Series. The Emmy Award went to Rami Malek for Mr. Robot. He joked, “Please tell me you’re seeing this too.” He was shocked and got excited as he rolled through his acceptance speech. He ended his speech by saying he wanted to honor Elliot, “There’s a little bit of Elliot in all of us isn’t there?”

Next was Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and Tatiana Maslany won the Emmy for Orphan Black. Oh well, maybe next year.

Comedy Series
Larry David introduced Outstanding Comedy Series and the Emmy went to Veep. Another year another Emmy for Veep. “This is for chubby Jews on the Upper West Side.”

The last award of the evening was for Outstanding Drama Series and the Emmy went to Game of Thrones. The show received 23 Emmy nominations this year alone and has a told of 106.

Jimmy signed off the 68th Emmy Awards on-time at 11:00 pm. Thank you, Jimmy!

Now it’s on to the after parties!

Click my picture below to see some Emmy Awards Red Carpet controversy and my interviews with Cicely Tyson, Anika Noni Rose, Lavar Burton and Miles Brown on the EUR/Electronic Urban Report eurweb.com

Tanya Hart

www.emmys.com