Random thoughts:
1) Gina Torres was always a strong-looking woman, but I watched her on the red carpet and, oh my God, she looked positively ripped. Her shoulders were like cinder blocks and her arms were pure sinew. She looks like she could bench press a Buick. I’m so jealous.
2) I’m incredibly thrilled that Peter Dinklage won for his work on “Game of Thrones.” I’m less thrilled that he didn’t acknowledge George R.R. Martin. It’ll be interesting to see if, should he be nominated again and win again, if he makes sure to do so. Like, first.
3) I loved when all the nominees for best actress in a comedy went up on stage when their names were called and formed a united front. I haven’t seen that bit since–and I’m stretching my memory on this–the mid 70s when I seem to recall the nominees for best actor in a comedy/variety series all come up when their names were called. I seem to remember it being Chevy Chase, Tim Conway and Harvey Korman, although I could be incredibly wrong.
4) Jane Lynch did a great job. I liked pretty much anything that she was a part of, from the opening montage to her between comments.
5) Lonely Island’s medley was absolutely the high light of the evening.
6) I thought it was interesting that the producers stuck with Charlie Sheen as a presenter over the protests of some heavy hitters, including Chuck Lorre. Apparently their faith in him was not misplaced. He played it VERY smart.
7) UPDATED at 6:12 PM–As has been pointed out elsewhere, another annoying omission: Jeff Conaway from the list of people who passed away. Hey, kids, let’s give a current drug addict a chance to be a presenter, but make sure not to mention a dead drug addict. Wouldn’t want to give anyone pause or food for thought.
8) UPDATED AT 8:18 PM–So I timed out the In Memoriam presentation and discovered that 78 seconds worth of screen time was solely on the singers, none of whom will probably ever be important enough to be included in an Emmy In Memoriam presentation. With each person accorded, for the most part, five seconds tops, they could have gotten in fifteen more people. These could have included Conaway, Jackie Cooper, Elisabeth Sladen, and possibly even a talented young TV writer who was snatched away much too soon named Dwayne McDuffie. And I don’t care that most of the audience wouldn’t have known him; their kids would have known “Ben 10” and WE would have known him.
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Overall a well-done evening of entertainment that somehow finished smack at 11 PM without the band having to play off anyone.
PAD
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Jane Lynch is pretty much always great. If you get a chance, watch ROLE MODELS or BEST IN SHOW for more of her comic chops.
Was that bit when all the actresses for lead in comedy went on stage supposed to have been spontaneous? It sure seemed like it was Amy Pohler’s idea and then the rest of them followed suit. But I noticed that Rob Lowe and Sofia Vergara read the nominees’ names and that an off-stage announcer read the nominees for the other awards. If they had gone to the graphic and the off-stage announcer, Pohler couldn’t have done that to any great effect.
It had to be planned because they had the crown and roses ready for the winner. It did come off a bit awkward though, possibly because they had no idea who would actually win.
Read on TV Line last night that it was, indeed, planned. Poehler wanted to do something, was having dinner with mutual friends of Martha Plimpton, which got the ball rolling. They emailed the other nominees, then got the producers and Rob Lowe on board with the plan.
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–Daryl
PAD–You are 100% correct. If memory serves, it was Tim Conway who first walked up when his name was mentioned and then all the others followed suit. Chevy won and it was sort of the symbolic passing of the torch from the old school of TV comedy to the new.
I have to say I was less impressed with Jane Lynch. Not so much her, she’s someone who makes any project better than it would have been without her but I thought the writing was weak. Maybe I’ve seen too many of these but lately it’s hard to grimace through the weak banter of these award shows. If it weren’t for my wife wanting to see the dresses I doubt I’d watch them at all (ok, I do look forward to the In Memoriam bit but how sad is that?)
“I’m less thrilled that he didn’t acknowledge George R.R. Martin.”
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Why would he? I’ve never heard of an actor giving an acceptance speech and thanking the author of the book that the movie or TV show for which he won was based upon. I don’t even think Mo’Nique mentioned Sapphire in her Oscar speech for Precious: Based on the Novel Push by SAPPHIRE.
Because GRRM is a producer of the show and because he was sitting RIGHT THERE IN THE AUDIENCE with the rest of the GoT folk.
True. And if the presenter had said, “And the winner is Peter Dinklage, for ‘A Game of Thrones’ by George R.R. Martin,” as the Oscar presenter did when he announced,” And the winner is Mo’Nique, for ‘Precious,’ based on the novel “Push” by Sapphire,” the omission would have been less egregious. But the presenter didn’t do that, so it was up to Dinklage. Who also didn’t. Which is, as I said, disappointing.
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PAD
In Peter’s defense, I’ve seen winners forget to thank their spouses. He could have been overcome by the moment.
Since when is “Other people screwed up, so it’s okay if someone else does too” a defense? How is “those who don’t listen to history are doomed to repeat it” a defense? The fact that people have made embarrassing omissions in the heat of the moment is all the more reason to write something down ahead of time specifically so that doesn’t happen.
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Granted, perhaps he didn’t want to be fumbling with a piece of paper. Of course, he could have memorized it. But I suppose that wasn’t possible. It’s not like he has a job that involves memorization and had months to prepare a one minute speech.
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PAD
GRRM is a lot more involved with the show than writers of original sources usually are. And the show also is VERY faithful to the novels.
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It would be a little like some Harry Potter actor winning a prize and forgeting to mention Rowling.
To be fair Dinklage forgot his Manager too. I think he did the Dog sitter bit and then just blanked.
He did mention George in the post award interviews. Yes it sucked he forgot at the time, I’m sure he apologised afterwards.
Although George was apparently on set more than some writers, actors really tend not to mention people they don’t see on a day to day basis from what I have noticed and when they do its usually a blanket ‘I’d like to thank the writers..’. It would have been great if he remembered to include him in a scripted speech if he got it off, but I don’t think its the horrible snub some people (much more so than anyone here) are making it out to be.
Now, if the show had won for Best Drama? Then it would be a snub…
Kathy Bates thanked Stephen King for creating Annie Wilkes in her Oscar acceptance speech for Misery.
Are you aware that Alec Baldwin pulled out of the pre-Emmys sketch and Leonard Nimoy stepped in at the last minute because FOX wouldn’t allow a one-line joke about the phone-hacking scandal?
– full story at MASHABLE.com
Actually, I am aware of that, Mike.
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PAD
Sorry if the phrasing offended you; maybe i should have said “Did you know…”
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Was definitely accusing you of being ignorant.
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And if you said it in your post and i missed it (i can’t check back, because the post is completely garbled on my screen at this time) i apologise for missing it.
Arrrrrgggghhh! Wish this had an “Edit” feature:
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Was definitely not accusing you of being ignorant.
And I took no offense and didn’t think you were implying I was ignorant.
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Chalk this one up to another of the limits of communicating via a silent medium.
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PAD
PAD,
I couldn’t find an e-mail link on the web site anywhere, so I’m just posting it here.
Just wanted to pass along this link on aintitcool.com: http://www.aintitcool.com/node/51248
It is an interview with Geoff Johns talking about the new DC. They spend a bit of time talking about Aquaman, and you are very favorably mentioned several times.
Enjoy! Just a fan.
Wow, not to get off topic, but I just followed the above link. Seriously. If you ever need to borrow $20, ask Geoff Johns.
But the title of the film actually is “Precious Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire”
I remember as a kid watching the Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, & Chevy Chase bit on the Emmys. It was hilarious. When Tim’s name was read, he acted like he had won and marched up to the podium. The presenter (I think it was Red Foxx) looked stunned. Harvey walked up next and planted himself next to Tim. Chevy may not have been in on it because when his name was called, he looked like he wasn’t sure what he should do. Then he quickly jumped out of his seat and ran toward the stage. When the presenter said “And the Emmy goes to…,” Tim & Harvey held out their hands for the award. Chevy won. Harvey & Tim shook his hand, and then as Chevy stepped toward the podium, he took a mad fall, making it look like Tim had just tripped him. It was classic.
Being an “SNL” vet, Amy Poehler probably riffed on that routine, but all the actresses put their own spin on it by making it look like the finals of a beauty pageant. Very cool and very funny.
Dinklage apparently didn’t think he was going to win… he didn’t have a prepared speech, and was winging it (http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44576104/ns/today-entertainment/). If that’s the case, I can forgive him for blanking on thanking GRRM… especially since he did thank the other writers of the show, and he spoke highly of Martin to reporters backstage. (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/game-thrones-star-peter-dinklage-236996)
Also, based on this report, Martin didn’t seem to mind too much… (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/game-thrones-george-rr-martin-237180).
I guess I’m just saying that I’m willing to cut him some slack.
Re: Gina Torres.
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Not sure if you caught “SUITS” on USA this summer or not, but she was definitely one of the bright spots on that show. One of many actually! I highly recommend it to one and all. It’s truly a great show.
Agreed. Gina Torres enhances virtually anything she’s involved with. She’s perfectly cast as the head of a law firm full of alpha-male types, whom she out-alphas with ease.
Peter, the Tim Conway – Harvey Korman – Chevy Chase Emmy gag happened in 1976, the last year that the Emmys were given out in May or June. It was sort of a follow-up to the two previous years. In 1974, Tim Conway won for “The Carol Burnett Show.” The following year, Harvey Korman won, and Conway, a hilarious hang-dog look on his face, followed Korman to the microphone. And, if you don’t know, Chevy Chase was the winner in 1976.
I can remember that, but ask me when my siblings’ birthdays are …
Something I just found out about that wasn’t covered on the Emmys show last night, and that will please a number of people who follow this blog: The winner for Outstanding Animated Feature this year was “Futurama,” specifically the episode “The Late Philip J. Fry,” in which Fry, Bender, and the Professor keep traveling into the future. As someone overjoyed by “Futurama’s” return, I was especially happy to see the show get some recognition.
If you care to read more, try here:
http://theinfosphere.org/The_Late_Philip_J._Fry
Another omission from the In Memorium section was composer Fred Steiner, who worked on Star Trek, Lost In Space, Twilight Zone, and Star Trek: The Next Generation, among others.
I saw him. Fred Steiner got a mention, so did Janet McLachlan from Trek. (blanking on the episode name, though scene shown stood out).
I recall Jeff Conaway as being noted at the Oscar in memorium ( for Grease), so maybe that’s why he wasn’t included at the Emmy’s.
Not sure how they determine that in cases where the actor/actress is well known in both movies and TV. Something that happens more often all the time these days.
I’m still trying to figure out how Michael Jackson merited a nod at the Oscars last year and Farrah Fawcett didn’t, with the excuse of “she’s more known for her TV roles,” or somesuch. ‘Cause Michael Jackson was in SO many movies…
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They’re gonna have fun figuring out where to put Will Smith when that day comes… at least he’s never been on Broadway so the Tonys can stay out of it.
The Memoriam section also neglected to mention Len Lesser (Uncle Leo from “Seinfeld”).
And maybe I missed it, but I didn’t spot any mention of Charles S. Dubin, who died earlier this month, aged 92. He was a prolific TV director, and directed more episodes of “M*A*S*H” (44) than anyone else. Anyone know if he was in the list?
If Jeff Conaway was included in this year’s Oscar “In Memoriam” piece, it must’ve REALLY freaked him out, since the Oscars were held a little more than 3 months before he died!
Not sure why Elizabeth Taylor was included. For that TV movie she did about 10 years ago, and for voicing one word from Maggie Simpson? Janet MacLachlan was also a bit baffling, too, since her career pretty much involved minor guest roles.
Hopefully, the Emmy people will do a “make good” on Jeff Conaway next year, like the Oscar people did after omitting James Doohan more than a year after he died. Would be nice to see the Emmy folks do similar for the multitude of work Charles S. Dubin did.