End credits
The word diversity was used a lot tonight, right from the outset, by the hosts and the individual award presenters but despite all the back-slapping and bragging about how it was the most diverse set of nominees on record, only two of the 12 acting awards were won by people of colour. It was ultimately an empty buzz word, bandied around so heavily yet without the expected follow-through.
Game of Thrones winning best drama was a sign that voters still like to stick to their favourites but the emergence of Barry and The Marvelous Mrs Maisel in tonight’s ceremony does show that they’re willing to open the field in some categories.
While Netflix did tie with HBO for the most wins (23 each), the streaming giant will be sore after still failing to win either best drama or best comedy, especially given that the latter was won by arch-rival Amazon.
Next year promises to be even more competitive but before then, Netflix will try its luck at an ever bigger prize: a best picture Oscar.
Aaaaand here’s your big ole news wrap
It was a pretty apolitical night speechwise but The Marvelous Mrs Maisel star Rachel Brosnahan made her point pretty succinctly
Rachel Brosnahan uses her acceptance speech to urge people to vote: "One of the most important ways to find and use your voice is to vote." #Emmys (via THR) pic.twitter.com/xFbHoLZQrO
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 18, 2018
There’s still some confusion over exactly who was underneath the Teddy Perkins make-up during tonight’s Emmys, given that Donald Glover was also in the audience. Did he manage a Mrs Doubtfire change-up or was it his co-star Lakeith Stanfield?
is that Lakeith as Teddy Perkins then??
— Miriam Bale (@mimbale) September 18, 2018
But for real though, who was Teddy Perkins? #TeddyPerkins #Emmys
— GrifDorf (@youngmindfilms) September 18, 2018
Teddy Perkins!! pic.twitter.com/GXe7Zl3rIa
— Ben Landry (@bencanada) September 18, 2018
Who TF was dressed as Teddy Perkins in the front row of the #Emmys?
— EDSN (@EdisonCaine) September 18, 2018
While it’s been a strong night for HBO and Netflix, both winning 23 awards each, it’s been a bad one for the networks.
The only network shows to win during tonight’s ceremony? Saturday Night Live and, ahem, the Oscars telecast.
In case you missed it, the best moment of the evening had nothing to do with the Emmys
In case you need a reminder of what happened during a very long night in front of the TV
There are already some unhappy campers about that GoT win
This season of Game of Thrones was quite good but better than the final season of The Americans IT WAS VERY MUCH NOT. - J #Emmys
— Heather & Jessica (@fuggirls) September 18, 2018
And now GAME OF THRONES wins for that last run of predictable episodes. Good night, #Emmys I'm done with you.
— Glenn Whipp (@GlennWhipp) September 18, 2018
What is Game of Thrones doing onstage accepting The Americans’ best drama Emmy?
— Adweek (@Adweek) September 18, 2018
I’m just going to be diplomatic, because I don’t want to spend the next 48 hours blocking people: GAME OF THRONES should not have won this year. Not against competitors like that.
— MZS (@mattzollerseitz) September 18, 2018
WINNER: Game of Thrones - outstanding drama series
After taking a year off and allowing The Handmaid’s Tale to win, Game of Thrones returned to take home the big one tonight. It was a competitive category but in its penultimate season, HBO’s monster hit continues to dominate.
With Netflix going into the night on top with the most nominations, it’s now a big relief for HBO that they picked up the final award. Buuuuuut at the end of it all, HBO and Netflix actually tied for most wins. More on that in a bit.
Nothing for Atlanta!
Yeah, "Atlanta" needed SOMETHING tonight. A complete and total shutout was really nor warranted. Boo. #Emmys
— Daniel Fienberg (@TheFienPrint) September 18, 2018
So basically this is Atlanta: Gettin Robbed Season #Emmys
— Travon Free (@Travon) September 18, 2018
Atlanta got robbed yet again. #Emmys pic.twitter.com/FPQeJrIPfB
— Bryan Henry (@DinkaHenry16) September 18, 2018
WINNER: The Marvelous Mrs Maisel - outstanding comedy series
After a rather laboured intro from Will Ferrell doing a pretty dated bit, a non-surprise here of a winner given that The Marvelous Mrs Maisel had already swept the comedy categories at the start of the 10-hour telecast.
It’s big news for Amazon, in need of an awards hit after Transparent fell apart and a kick in the face to Netflix who came into the night with the most nominations.
Halle Berry paying tribute here to her Catwoman co-star
Dear GOD how many times can I include this on my moodboard?!?!! @AlexBorstein #Emmys 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾♥️🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/le5pWRLjg4
— Halle Berry (@halleberry) September 18, 2018
Probably true tbh
Wow, the Emmy proposal couple are already divorced. Hollywood, man.
— Jesse McLaren (@McJesse) September 18, 2018
WINNER: The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story - outstanding limited series
Aaaaand we could tell this one was coming with the earlier awards tipping us off and it’s a reward for Ryan Murphy given that the show was given a mixed reception from critics.
In an impassioned speech, Murphy reminds us that “One out of every four LGBTQ people in this country will be the victim of a hate crime” before paying tribute to the victims portrayed in the series.
WINNER: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - outstanding variety talk series
Yet another win in this category for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver but for anyone who watches HBO’s wildly popular weekly show, it’s pretty hard to argue.
It’s consistently the funniest and smartest topical comedy series on TV and Oliver has wisely thanked Glenn Weiss’ girlfriend for saying yes.
For all those Rick and Morty fans because I know there are (too) many of you:
Rick and Morty made it to the #Emmys! pic.twitter.com/FZjTh0HTsA
— IGN (@IGN) September 18, 2018
WINNER: Saturday Night Live - outstanding variety series
No big surprise here given that tonight’s show has been populated by the majority of the SNL cast. It’s also the most nominated show in Emmys history.
It’s a short but sweet speech from Lorne Michaels, clearly the product of a guy who has produced live television for years.
WINNER: RuPaul's Drag Race - outstanding reality-competition program
Oh yeah so maybe we forgot about this one, which has been pulled to the end of the show with the other big ones because well RuPaul’s Drag Race.
It’s such a phenomenon that it seems only right for the Emmys to treat it as such. “If you can’t love yourself then how the hell you gonna love someone else,” RuPaul says to a rather wildly enthusiastic audience.
Just some record-breaking news for you here. The Marvelous Mrs Maisel’s Amy Sherman-Palladino has become the first woman to win both best writing and directing awards for a comedy series.
The most viral Emmys tweet so far? It’s the famous equivalent of a tweet your dad would post
Pals at the Emmys pic.twitter.com/lLHoadkltP
— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) September 17, 2018
It’s montage time! To be fair, if this was the Oscars, we’d have seen about 78 of them by now. We’re being treated to a supercut of the greatest Emmys moments to date but it’s so brief that one glance away and I missed about three decades.
Aaaaand people are mostly wishing that Hannah Gadsby was hosting instead
Like honestly why would any men host awards shows when Hannah Gadsby exists #Emmys
— Emma Gray (@emmaladyrose) September 18, 2018
Could Hannah Gadsby host the #Emmys next year, please?
— Caitlin D. Fryers (@cdemrys) September 18, 2018
why didn't hannah gadsby host the emmys why oh why did they choose a warm bowl of oatmeal instead
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) September 18, 2018
WINNER: Claire Foy (The Crown) - lead actress in a drama series
So the winner of this category was for an actor who was starring in her last season of a show but it wasn’t Keri Russell! Instead, Claire Foy won for her role in prestige Netflix drama The Crown before she hands over to Olivia Colman for season three.
Three awards left and while comedy is pretty much a given for Maisel at this stage, who knows where the other two might go ...
WINNER: Matthew Rhys (The Americans) - lead actor in a drama series
Ahh a nice deserved send-off here for Matthew Rhys for his fantastic performance in the last season of The Americans, beating out stars of Westworld and This is Us.
It’s his first win and could bode well for The Americans wining some other major trophis, including for his on and off-screen partner.
WINNER: Stephen Daldry (The Crown) - outstanding directing for a drama series
The first winner not in attendance tonight so presenter Hannah Gadsby takes it off herself. It’s a bit of an anti-climax for that one but a good result for Netflix and again, it’s looking like a wide spread for dramas tonight which makes the biggest awards of the night even harder to predict.
WINNER: Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg (The Americans) - outstanding writing for a drama series
Some much-deserved love here for The Americans, especially given that it’s for the show’s final season. Three drama awards so far and all for different shows which implies that Emmy voters watch a wider variety of dramas than they do comedies ...
GLOW director Jesse Peretz’s wife Sarah is sporting a pretty timely message on her arm tonight, in case you hadn’t noticed
Her arm says “STOP KAVANAUGH” #emmys #protest pic.twitter.com/7K5Tpoc2cF
— Carly Mallenbaum (@ThatGirlCarly) September 17, 2018
WINNER: Thandie Newton (Westworld) - supporting actress in a drama series
“I don’t even believe in God but I’m going to thank her tonight,” Thandie Newton says before letting out an accidental (bleeped out) swearword.
She’s a great speech-giver and it’s another one for HBO which will be a worrying sign for Hulu as they had three nominees in this category for The Handmaid’s Tale.
WINNER: Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) - supporting actor in a drama series
Samantha Bee and Taraji P Henson presenting while covertly auditioning for a buddy comedy we would all watch. We’ve moved to drama series categories and it’s a win for Peter Dinklage, the third time he’t taken this award home. He’s also been nominated another four times.
Could this be the first of many tonight for Game of Thrones?
There were some choices during this year’s in memoriam section that have people a bit confused ...
Television luminary John McCain
— Richard Lawson (@rilaws) September 18, 2018
Very conflicted applause for Hugh Hefner #Emmys
— Mara “Get Rid of the Nazis” Wilson (@MaraWilson) September 18, 2018
And here’s the moment everyone’s talking/sobbing about
Updated
Twitter has gone WILD over that Emmys proposal
Propose to me while you're accepting an Emmy or don't propose to me at all.
— bassey ikpi (@Basseyworld) September 18, 2018
Okay it IS funny that the Oscars director shows up to the Emmys, wins one and then somehow directs the best moment of the entire show
— LW (@lindseyweber) September 18, 2018
Hey, Oscars, this is EXACTLY why you don't put below-the-line winner acceptance speeches during the damn commercial breaks! #Emmys
— Joanna Robinson (@jowrotethis) September 18, 2018
NO, YOU'RE SOBBING. #Emmys
— Andy Swift (@AndySwift) September 18, 2018
Emmy winner Alex Borstein has revealed a rather unlikely story behind the dress she’s wearing tonight
“This is actually my wedding dress,” she said to Glamour on the red carpet. “This was from 20 years ago. The marriage didn’t last but the dress did and I wanted to give it new life so now it’s my Emmys dress. That’s the truth.”
Here’s that skit mentioned before with Michael Che tracking down un-rewarded black actors from TV past:
Watch Michael Che hilariously hand out some reparation #Emmys pic.twitter.com/JPlcqjKJjA
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 18, 2018
WINNER: Glenn Weiss (The Oscars) - outstanding directing for a variety special
A pretty heartbreaking speech here from Weiss who talks about his mother who died just two weeks before. But then it takes a major shift as Weiss then speaks of the importance of his girlfriend who he says he would rather call his wife!
The crowd goes wild and then he proposes to her on stage with the ring his dead mother was wearing. It’s a pretty wild moment that has most of the audience, including Claire Foy (!), in tears. Video coming soon!
WINNER: John Mulaney (Kid Gorgeous at Radio City) - outstanding writing for a variety special
“I just can’t fly across the country to watch you lose,” John Mulaney’s wife allegedly said to him before not coming to see him win. She messed up.
There’s a decent, smartly conceived skit now that sees Michael Che visiting black actors who haven’t won Emmys before but deserved them, including Jaleel White and Tichina Arnold. But yeah still only one black winner so far ...
So Brian Tyree Henry really likes Will & Grace then huh ...
Brian Tyree Henry got choked up meeting @MeganMullally on the #Emmys red carpet: "Karen Walker is literally the mantra of my heart and soul." pic.twitter.com/HIrZv1zKp9
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 18, 2018
WINNER: Darren Criss (American Crime Story: Gianni Versace) - lead actor in a limited series or movie
“You are witnessing the most extraordinary moment in my life thus far,” Darren Criss says on stage while accepting his award for playing a serial killer in Ryan Murphy’s drama.
It’s a big moment for Criss and helps cement his status as a serious actor, beating out Benedict Cumberbatch for the trophy.
WINNER: Regina King (Seven Seconds) - lead actress in a limited series or movie
A bit of a shock here given that everyone had assumed that Laura Dern was going to win for her role in The Tale. But Emmy voters do love Regina King - she’s won twice for roles in American Crime.
She’s also surprised and Netflix execs will be similarly shocked given that they cancelled Seven Seconds not long after the first season. It could also be the second major award for King this year with many predicting an Oscar win for her performance in Barry Jenkins If Beale Street Could Talk.
WINNER: Ryan Murphy (American Crime Story: Gianni Versace) - directing for a limited series or television movie
The first award tonight for both FX and the latest season of Ryan Murphy’s crime anthology show, which will sting the channel just a bit given that he’s jumping ship to Netflix very soon.
He’s devoting the award to all of the women in his life, including Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow and Sarah Paulson.
Donald Glover has now changed back to being regular Donald Glover. In case you wondered whether he was going to stay in costume for the whole night. Probably wise for all the parties and that.
WINNER: William Bridges and Charlie Brooker (Black Mirror: USS Callister) - outstanding writing for a limited series or movie
A much-deserved win here for unarguably the best episode of Black Mirror’s most recent season. “What a delightful but horrifying out of body experience this is,” Brooker says on stage.
It already won best television movie at last week’s Creative Arts Emmys and is another tick here for Netflix, starting to slowly creep ahead of HBO.
Updated
WINNER: Jeff Daniels (Godless) - supporting actor in a limited series or movie
Another one for Godless (and Netflix) which shows that Emmy voters really do have a limited set of favourite shows this year.
Never underestimate a western, especially given the average age of an award voter.
Updated
WINNER: Merritt Wever (Godless) - supporting actress in a limited series or a movie
Bit of a surprise here given the other nominees who had a bit more buzz attached to them, including Penelope Cruz and Judith Light. It’s the second Emmy for Wever, who previously won for Nurse Jackie.
She’s a likable, nervous winner for a show that people were mostly mixed on. It’s Netflix’s first win for the night too which will have calmed some suits down a tad...
So Donald Glover turned up as Teddy Perkins!
Teddy Perkins with the best seat in the house at the #Emmys pic.twitter.com/n1KIeaVeI9
— Jordan Zakarin (@jordanzakarin) September 18, 2018
She has a point ...
"This is the most diverse #Emmys ever!"
— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) September 18, 2018
1st winner: white
2nd winner: white
3rd winner: white
4th winner: white
5th winner: white
6th winner: white
"This is the most diverse #Emmys ever!"
~ JAZZ HANDS ~
WINNER: Bill Hader (Barry) - lead actor in a comedy series
Michael Douglas is presenting and in a short amount of time, while talking of the importance of being a sore loser, delivers one of the funniest bits of the night thus far.
Following on from Winkler, Bill Hader also wins for his role in Barry, another new show that’s garnered critical raves. It’s good news for HBO whose hitman comedy is returning soon for a second season and yet another sign that tonight’s ceremony is being dominated by the new kids.
WINNER: Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs Maisel) - lead actress in a comedy series
And another! The Marvelous Mrs Maisel picks up another major award tonight, four in a row now. Rachel Brosnahan, who also picked up a Golden Globe for her role in the Amazon comedy, is a deserving winner and also delivers a smart, thoughtful speech
“One of the most important ways we can find and use our voice is to vote,” she says at the end, which I imagine will be the first of many reminders tonight.
There’s been a LOT of bragging about how diverse the nominees are but ermmmm every winner has been white so far so they might want to watch that ...
WINNER: Amy Sherman Palladino (The Marvelous Mrs Maisel) - best directing for a comedy series
Aaaaaand she’s back! That’s three awards in a row for Amazon’s comedy (drama) about a female stand-up comic in 50s New York.
Despite Netflix boasting the most nominations, it seems like it could be a big night for their biggest competitor instead.
WINNER: Amy Sherman Palladino (The Marvelous Mrs Maisel) - best writing for a comedy series
Yeah so the voters loooooove The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and while a deserving show, it’s a classic example of the Emmys choosing a dramatic comedy over a comedy comedy but hey, it’s well-written so no major complaints with this one.
Could it be a clean sweep for Amazon’s newcomer tonight?
WINNER: Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs Maisel) - supporting actress in a comedy series
Oh man, another duo who would have done a better presenting job: Tracy Morgan and Jimmy Kimmel, who jokes that they look like Che and Jost 30 years later.
Ooh more love for a newcomer, Amazon’s acclaimed period comedy The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. Alex Borstein, who should have won years ago for Getting On, makes for a charming winner, squeezing in jokes, thanks and tears.
Again another big sign for a freshman series and it’s great to see the often musty Emmys try something new.
Here’s a bit of that opening number in case you want to die laughing
Watch Kate McKinnon, Kenan Thompson, Kristen Bell, Ricky Martin and more kick off the #Emmys with a song about diversity in Hollywood pic.twitter.com/8he67duTqm
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 18, 2018
WINNER: Henry Winkler (Barry) - supporting actor in a comedy series
Okay so first award of the night and it’s for Henry Winkler’s performance in the critical darling Barry. It’s a good sign for both HBO and for voters feelings on one of this year’s unknown quantities.
“I only have 37 seconds and I wrote this 43 years ago,” Winkler says before delivering a manic yet impassioned speech. No wonder he’s so excited. It’s his first win after FIVE nominations.
The hosts Michael Che and Colin Jost are now here and the first joke of the night is about MeToo. Oh and the second joke as well...
Jessica Biel was wrong by the way. There is alcohol at the ceremony which is a relief for all of us.
The pair have moved onto joking about Nazis and Netflix, oh and a third joke about MeToo. Oof. That’s gonna happen a lot tonight then huh. It’s time for some Handmaid’s Tale jokes. “It’s roots for white women, is what it is,” Che says. “Roots with bonnets.”
There’s a whole Roseanne bit now, who to be fair does deserve as many jokes as possible at her expense. Shame they’re not funnier though.
Hmmm well it’s a bit of a disappointing start and the audience laughter feels pretty forced. Anyway, awards!
IT BEGINS
The show starts with two people who I would rather see hosting the whole damn thing: Kate McKinnon and Kenan Thompson, who tells us it’s the most diverse set of nominees in Emmys history (cut to: Ed Harris?).
Ohhh it’s a song and dance number about diversity with some awkward lyrics but an awareness at least of an issue that has been of increasing importance within the industry. The theme of the bit is that inequality has been solved in Hollywood and a host of guests have been brought on, including Kristen Bell, Ricky Martin and Sterling K Brown. Oh and first Roseanne joke of the night!
It’s all a bit slapdash (RuPaul is now on stage with a phone call for Thompson to say that lack of diversity is still an issue in the industry). It’s well-intentioned but a bit last minute. Oh John Legend is now on to sing the same song. It sounds better now at least.
Want to just get like really really angry on your couch? Well, here’s a fat load of cruel snubs to get your blood boiling
A depressing reminder that no one will be giving a drunk speech tonight
Our faces when we learned there’s no booze at the #Emmys pic.twitter.com/GgBDZY2Sqo
— Jessica Biel (@JessicaBiel) September 17, 2018
Whoever sits next to outstanding lead actress in a comedy series nominee Allison Janney is going to have an interesting night
Getting ready... secret red carpet weapons for fighting bronchitis. 🤒 #emmys pic.twitter.com/GVh5AvLbTm
— Allison Janney (@AllisonBJanney) September 17, 2018
If you’d like to put some unofficial bets on then here’s our look at who’ll probably be winning the major awards tonight:
Elisabeth Moss is on the red carpet and she has revealed that there’s a very specific way the cast of The Handmaid’s Tale deal with the heaviness on set ... Taylor Swift singalongs. Now you know!
Photograph: Dan Steinberg/Invision for the Television Acad
People. Are. Arriving. And. Here. Are. Pictures. Of. Them.
Since there are roughly 6,000 Emmys to give out, last week saw the Creative Arts Emmy awards. In case you missed them, which you probably did, here are some of the main winners oh and in case you’re already counting HBO won 17 and Netflix won 16.
Outstanding structured reality program: Queer Eye
Outstanding television movie: Black Mirror: USS Callister
Outstanding documentary or nonfiction series: Wild Wild Country
Outstanding guest actor in a comedy series: Katt Williams in Atlanta
Outstanding guest actress in a comedy series: Tiffany Haddish in Saturday Night Live
Outstanding guest actor in a drama series: Ron Cephas Jones in This is Us
Outstanding guest actress in a drama series: Samira Wiley in The Handmaid’s Tale
Outstanding host for a reality or reality-competition series: RuPaul for RuPaul’s Drag Race
Broadway actor, activist and Black-ish star Jenifer Lewis has worn a shirt with a Nike emblem on the front in support of Colin Kaepernick.
“I am wearing Nike to applaud them for supporting Colin Kaepernick and his protest against racial injustice and police brutality,” she said to Variety on the red carpet.
As mentioned, this year is hosted by SNL head writers and Weekend Update anchors Michael Che and Colin Jost who, according to this promo, are promising a night of, humour?
It’ll be tough to top Stephen Colbert who, Spicer cameo aside, was a perfect choice last year.
Opening credits
Here we go! Tonight sees the 70th Primetime Emmy awards and the unofficial start to the awards season in general. With each year, the Emmys has grown in importance as TV has continued to dominate conversation and attract more and more A-list stars.
This year is one of the most competitive on record with Game of Thrones back in the game (it wasn’t eligible last year) and facing off against Westworld and last year’s big winner The Handmaid’s Tale. On the comedic side, it could be another big night for Atlanta but the return of Curb Your Enthusiasm as well as critically acclaimed newbies The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and Barry could put a stop to that.
It’s also going to be a potential game-changer of an evening. For the first time in 18 years, HBO didn’t score the most nominations with Netflix instead coming out on top. But can they win the night? You can expect big stars including Penelope Cruz, Thandie Newton, Ed Harris, Laura Dern, Jessica Biel, Jason Bateman and Viola Davis and hosts Michael Che and Colin Jost probably deciding against bringing on any much-loathed Trump cronies after last year...
You can and you should stick with us for all the action. The red carpet is underway now with the awards starting in about an hour.
