The Message the Emmys Really Wanted You to Get
By paying tribute to the great shows of yesteryear, the ceremony argued for television as a shared culture.
For all the glamorous stars and standing ovations, last night’s Emmys were a rather muted affair. The host, Anthony Anderson, didn’t blame his writers for misfiring jokes. The speeches were appropriately emotional. Elton John became an EGOT winner; he didn’t show up to accept his trophy, but everyone seemed extremely happy for him.
That there weren’t many surprises perhaps came as no surprise. Because of , the ceremony had been postponed from its original air date in September. That meant it was honoring, , and began the night as favorites to win in their categories—comedy, drama, and limited series, respectively—and all three did.
