HOLLYWOOD — In a social-media-dominated pop-culture environment, high-profile awards ceremonies never fail to stir up controversy. Television’s biggest night, the 77th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, kept that streak alive in demonstrably awkward fashion, airing live on CBS on Sept. 14. Despite a smattering of inspired wins and urgent political statements underneath trademark glitz and glamor, the production left plenty to be desired.
The broadcast was hosted by stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze, whose antics and overall presence felt uninterested in capturing or celebrating the Emmys’ principal intention: spotlighting and honoring the industry’s most outstanding artists.
On top of his flat, bumbling delivery, Bargatze introduced a mystifying comedic stunt that was sustained throughout the night. After a harmless, amusing opening sketch featuring SNL players, a charity tally appeared, showcasing a $100,000 donation to the Boys and Girls Club of America — a sum to come straight from the comedian’s pockets. Bargatze joked that this was a conditional total; for every second a victor’s speech outlasted 45 seconds, $1,000 would vanish; for every second under, $1,000 would materialize.
An initially funny gag mocking the tendency for awards speeches to drag became an unfortunate obstacle, beaten to ground as the money rapidly dwindled. Speeches, rushed and improvised, became commonplace, with actors, writers, directors and producers alike met with an unforeseen ethical barrier looming behind them. By the final award presentation, the total was deep into the negatives.
What made the ongoing joke particularly lame was its counteractive effect, swallowing up more airtime than any impassioned speech could. At the end of the day, plenty of time was available for the champions of the night to deliver memorable remarks; arbitrary time constraints under the guise of comedy robbed winners of that opportunity and stripped audiences of what they tuned in to see.
While commendable that CBS and Bargatze ended up pitching in a combined $350,000 to the Boys and Girls Club, the stunt was a disingenuous way to curb speech length and meet network demands.
Still, despite the lows on the production side of the aisle, the Emmys offered a handful of standout moments. Trammell Tillman won Best Supporting Actor in a Drama for his performance as Seth Milchick in the sci-fi drama “Severance,” becoming the first Black man to take home the award.
The team from Netflix’s chilling limited series “Adolescence” swept their categories, winning eight total trophies. Fifteen-year-old supporting performer Owen Cooper became one of the youngest victors in Emmys history.
The cast and crew behind breakout emergency room drama, “The Pitt,” captured Best Drama Series and Best Lead Actor in a Drama among five victories, shedding time constraints to shout out healthcare heroes nationwide.
Rewarded Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy for her performance in “Hacks,” Hannah Einbinder didn’t shy away from addressing contemporary issues, stating, “Go Birds, F*** ICE and Free Palestine” to cap off her speech. Nominated for his work in “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” Javier Bardem donned a Palestinian keffiyeh to the event, stating, “I cannot work with somebody that justifies or supports the genocide” on the red carpet.
Despite constraints, historic wins and powerful speeches will be remembered. To stay relevant, the show must let artists speak — without gimmicks.
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