“Duuuu-uu-uuuu, you have what I need!” It was fitting that presenter Cedric the Entertainer began this evening with a homage to the unforgettable song “Just a Friend” by the recently deceased rapper Biz Markie. The 73rd edition of the Primetime Emmy Awards, the most important prize in the TV and streaming industry, should not only be a celebration of one’s own greatness, but above all an assurance of social relevance; And what else have been the past twelve months other than proof that the entertainment industry has a lot to offer in times of low contact: inspiration, information, distraction, i.e. what a good companion, in the best moments even a friend, can offer.
In the case of the big winner The Crown this Netflix series still has to offer an attitude to life of a higher way of life, exclusivity and gossip. Eleven Emmys went to the royal contemporary history series, seven of them in major categories for best drama series, screenplay, directing and all four categories of actors. Among other things, Olivia Colman for her portrayal of Elizabeth II and Josh O’Connor as Prince Charles were each awarded for the best female and male leading role in a drama series.
Olivia Colman accepts the award for her portrayal of Elizabeth II as the outstanding leading actress in a drama series.
(Photo: PETER NICHOLLS / REUTERS)
In the comedy categories, the series about an unsuspecting US soccer coach in England stood out. Ted Lasso shows how unimportant it is to always have to be right – and how much more important it is in life to be nice, helpful and optimistic. Award for best comedy series, plus awards for actors Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham and Brett Goldstein (who, like his character Roy Kent, once swore on stage) – and probably the most beautiful acceptance speech of the evening when co-inventor Bill Lawrence said: ” We all know how lucky we are to be making a living from it. “
Or the prices for the satirical broadcast Saturday Night Live as well as for the political talk shows Last Week Tonight With John Oliver and Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020: Satire is easy, if you crack it down in the belief that you are on the historically (or at least morally) correct side – it becomes brilliant if you decipher and satirize, if you scientifically justify your attitude and then prepare it in a funny way. And if it doesn’t matter whether people are watching live, as long as the message is spreading somehow (on Twitter, for example), people smile about it (with satire always better than laughter on the thigh) and think. Then satire becomes relevant and the debate about it fruitful.
Of course there was a debate: not a single actor award went to non-fair-skinned people
There was a debate despite some socially relevant prizes: The dark-skinned author Michaela Coel won for her series I may destroy you. Ru Paul is now the most awarded black person with eleven trophies. And Kate Winslet, as best actress for Mare of Easttown excellent, shouted to people, “This is the decade of women helping each other.” On top of that, Jessica Hobbs and Lucia Aniello won the directing categories. But: not a single actor award went to non-fair-skinned people – so “#EmmysSoWhite”, as the magazine says Variety headlined immediately? Yes, Billy Porter (pose) and Kenan Thompson (Saturday Night Live) delivered Emmy-worthy performances, as did the recently deceased Michael K. Williams (Lovecraft Country) – but they are not, as people like to say in the USA, “snubs”, that is, snubs that Josh Connor and Tobias Menzies and Sudeikis have won.
It was the night of the streaming portals Netflix (The Crown, The Queen’s Gambit), Apple TV + (Ted Lasso) and HBO Max (Hacks) and thus another signal for the change in the industry. What, however, has not yet recognized, although she sniffs out every trend: a three-hour award show? Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo need that.