As a kindergarten teacher on “Abbott Elementary,” she can get an unruly class to sit up and listen. And that’s exactly what Sheryl Lee Ralph did at the Emmys — capturing the attention of a packed theater and a global TV audience with a stirring acceptance speech for the ages.
It was the first Emmy (and nomination) for stage and screen veteran Ralph, at 66, and she made the most of it, delivering the ultimate feel-good moment of an Emmy show that sometimes felt flat or uneven, despite the well-known comic talents of host Kenan Thompson and the return of a pre-pandemic crowd.
It was a show that rewarded previous winners in several major categories. “Succession" and “Ted Lasso,” the big winners in drama and comedy, were repeat winners, as were a number of actors.
Still, there were new and groundbreaking wins like that of actor Lee Jung-jae of “Squid Game,” the first Asian to win the award and a major breakthrough for a foreign-language show along with Hwang Dong-hyuk's prize for directing. There was Ralph's acting prize and Quinta Brunson’s writing award for “Abbott Elementary." And then there was winner Lizzo, crying as she reminded her audience of the urgency of young people being able to see people who look like them represented in media and culture.
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A few notable moments of the night:
"THIS IS WHAT BELIEVING LOOKS LIKE"
Sheryl Lee Ralph had already broken into tears before the show, when she’d been handed a tablet on the carpet with a recorded message of support from a beloved aunt. She declared that no matter what happened inside, she’d already won. Luckily, Ralph had more winning to do.
Declared the victor for supporting actress in a comedy, she ascended the stage and sang the powerful opening to “Endangered Species” by Dianne Reeves: “I am an endangered species but I sing no victim’s song. I am a woman, I am an artist, and I know where my voice belongs.” She then admonished anyone watching who'd ever had a dream, to not give up.
“This is what believing looks like,” she said. Sometimes it’s not clear early on what the big moment of an awards night will be. On this Emmy night, it was clear.
JIMMY KIMMEL'S CONTROVERSIAL JOKE
“Jimmy, wake up, I won,” said Quinta Brunson, who won for writing for a comedy series for her show “Abbott Elementary" — the first of three major awards she was up for, including acting and producing the freshman sitcom.
Laying at her feet was Jimmy Kimmel, who committed to an elaborate bit in which he was passed out on stage for the duration of presenting and accepting. Before announcing the winner, Will Arnett dragged his limp body out on stage, explaining that “This is like the 13th time in a row he’s lost…He got into the skinny margaritas back there.”
Committing to the bit until the end, Arnett dragged Kimmel all the way off stage as the show went to commercial.
Kimmel came under fire for his controversial joke, with many on social media calling him out for stealing Brunson's moment. The actress didn't seemed bothered however, joking to members of the press backstage that she was scheduled to be on his show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on Wednesday "so I might punch him in the face."
LIZZO’S POIGNANT REMINDER
She was visibly blown away by Ralph’s speech, but soon Lizzo was onstage for her own emotional win for her competition series, “Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls,” in which contestants vie to be her backup dancers, beating out frequent winner “Ru Paul’s Drag Race.” The singer gave a compelling lesson on how crucial representation is in our pop culture.
“When I was a little girl, all I wanted to see was me in the media,” she said. “Someone fat like me, Black like me, beautiful like me.”
She said she eventually did, but SHE had to be that person. Lizzo gave a shout-out to her dancers up in the balcony. “This is for the big girls!” she said.
MARTIN SHORT GETS IN A DIG AT DONALD TRUMP
There wasn’t a lot of politics mentioned in Monday night's show, but “Only Murders in the Building” star Martin Short managed to get in a dig at a favorite target on some awards nights, Donald Trump. "Really, what an audience you are,” Short said. “I wish I could box you up and take you home, like classified White House documents.”
Co-star Steve Martin decided to get things back to the main reason for the evening. “Have you or someone you love ever considered a reverse mortgage?” he quipped.
A SORE WINNER?
When Jerrod Carmichael won best writing for a comedy special with his “Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel,” he decided to end the evening then and there on a high note, saying he was going home. “I made something that was of great personal consequence to me and this definitely contributes to the meaning of it," he said of his very personal special. “I’m not like a sore winner, but I’m gonna go home because I can’t top this right now.”
IF YOU’RE GONNA GET PLAYED OFF, DANCE!
Jennifer Coolidge was a sentimental favorite to win for “The White Lotus,” and when she did, regaling the audience about a lavender bath she’d taken that day that had an unforeseen effect, she quickly ran out of time with more to say. When the music wouldn’t stop despite her pleading “Wait, hold on!,” she just decided to smile and boogey along with it. The crowd roared.
WHAT WAS WITH THOSE THANK-YOU CAPTIONS?
It seemed like a good idea — leading up to the Emmys, nominees were told to send in written lists of people they’d like to thank, to be used in captioning, so their eventual speeches could be more creative, unencumbered by all those names. In reality, though, only some winners had the captioning, and even those who did proceeded to thank a long list of people anyway, making it all feel rather moot.
NO ‘CROWN,’ BUT A SUCCESSION
Two actresses have already won Emmys for playing the late Queen Elizabeth II on the same show, “The Crown.” Will there be a third, when Imelda Staunton takes over, after Claire Foy and Olivia Colman? In any case, “The Crown,” last year’s drama winner, was not in contention this year, and “Succession” was able to win its second prize, after winning in 2020.
It was not the only repeat winner, by far. “Ted Lasso” repeated last year’s win as best comedy, as did its star, Jason Sudeikis, and supporting actor Brett Goldstein. Other repeats: Zendaya of “Euphoria,” repeating her prize from 2020, and Jean Smart, who won her second comedy actress award for “Hacks.” There had been thoughts of an “Abbott Elementary” upset in the comedy category, but it was not to be.
