Amy Schumer, Jon Stewart, Tracy Morgan Top Emmy Comedy Highlights
Comedy dominated the 65th Annual Emmy Awards, whether you were talking about the host– Andy Samberg, the presenters, the winners or the special surprise guest who closed the show– Tracy Morgan. Everyone looked great from Ellie Kemper to Lily Tomlin, Kristin Schaal and Kate McKinnon, Amy Poehler to Amy Schumer, to name a few. Amy Poehler’s #SmartGirlsAsk Initiative, brought a new element to the red carpet this year, so the pre-show wasn’t just about dress labels and jewelry (what would Joan think!). Check out #SmartGirlsAsk here.
(images via The Hollywood Reporter, see the entire gallery here)
The cast and creative team behind Veep made multiple trips to the stage, and small and outstanding comedy/drama mini series Olive Kitteridge took home a gigantic 8 awards (beaten only by Game of Thrones). Bill Murray was one of those 8, but wasn’t able to accept his award because he was busy celebrating at his son’s wedding. We were most excited to see Inside Amy Schumer take home the very first ever award for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series. Well done, and well deserved. Last week during the Creative Emmy Awards Schumer’s series also took home an award for Original Music and Lyrics. Congratulations to Amy Schumer, EP and co-creator Daniel Powell, Kim Caramele, Kurt Metzger and all of our other friends who have contributed to the greatness of the show. We can’t wait for Season four.
Other highlights from Sunday night’s award ceremony included the best acceptance speech of the night by far, delivered by Jon Stewart as he accepted the award for Outstanding Variety Talk Series. Stewart had some advice to the everyone in the audience who still have jobs on television. “To everybody on television, I just want to tell you, cling to it as long as you can,” he said, “like death. Like in the Titanic.” Stewart also remarked that this was the first applause he’s heard since leaving his show, and warned that “it is a barren wasteland out there where they say hello, whatever…” Stewart joked that everyone should appreciate their Craft Services because in the outside world, “there are tables with food but you can’t take it. It costs money. Very little of it is gluten free or vegan.” Jon wrapped his speech saying thank you to everyone who helped make his show great, and said “you will never have to see me again.”
Just as the show was about to end, Tracy Morgan surprised everyone, walking out to sa standing ovation. Morgan closed out the show with a speech that only Tracy could have delivered. “Last year Jimmy Kimmel said on the stage, we’ll see you back here next year Tracy Morgan,” he said. “Well, Jimmy, thanks to my amazing doctors, my beautiful family and the support of my new wife I’m here. Standing on my own two feet. And God bless all of you for your love, your prayers and your postive thoughts over the last 15 months. I’m honored to be at the Emmys. It’s been a long road back.”
Everyone who loves Tracy spent the last year awaiting any news of his condition, and any indication that he would perform again, and when Tracy made his first public appearance on the Today show in June, only some of those questions were answered. Last night for the first time since the crash in June 2014, Tracy got on television and made an audience laugh, first joking about waking from his coma and being relieved to learn that the accident wasn’t his fault, and then saying a lot of women “gonna get pregnant” now that he feels like himself. In just three weeks, Tracy Morgan will make his return to 30 Rock to host Saturday Night Live on October 17.
Congratulations to all the winners in the Comedy categories including Allison Janney, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Simon Blackwell, Armando Ianucci, Tony Roche, the cast and creative team behind Veep, Tony Hale, Jill Soloway, Jeffrey Tambor, and Chuck O’Neill.
