Plate Spinners, Round 14

A few thoughts on the Emmys...

Sep 16, 2022

You can revisit my response to Emmy nominations here, but I’m going to take this opportunity to revisit a few of my previous thoughts in light of the results and winners.

A Black Lady Sketch Show (another show that was nominated this year, which I would love to beat SNL for best sketch/variety series)

It did not beat SNL. Bummer. Longtime cast member Kenan Thompson hosted the Emmys. He did an ok job, as long as you can overlook the opening number of dancing to remixed theme songs of a seemingly random assortment of television shows that had nothing to do with the shows that were nominated this year.

(Re: Quinta Brunson) - She is also the first black woman to be nominated for 3 comedy Emmys in the same year. Not to mention, several other cast members were nominated, including Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tyler James Williams1, and Janelle James.

Quinta won for writing for Abbott Elementary, and Sheryl Lee Ralph won for best supporting actress in a comedy!! Sheryl’s win was probably the biggest highlight of the night for me (watch it here).

Sadly, Ted Lasso won best comedy series (eyeroll), but Quinta had a very gracious reaction:

“There’s this grace that’s given to a show when they haven’t won yet,” she says. “A nation is rooting for it. It’s the underdog. It was so exciting that the first season was so well received by fans, and critically acclaimed. But I want us to be able to keep growing. I’m not sure I wanted audiences to expect prestige yet. I want us to have fun and get to be an awkward toddler.”

They also spent their entire Emmy campaign budget on buying school supplies for underfunded schools. I mean come on, what more could ask for?

Shutouts I was disappointed by:

Better Call Freaking Saul - this show now has more than 50 nominations and still no wins. It’s an absolute shame!!!!
Severance - If you saw any clips of the red carpet where they ask the nominees “what have you been watching lately?” you will hear more than half of them gush about how much they have enjoyed Severance. What a shame to not see it win.
Only Murders In The Building - Watching Steve, Martin, and Selena present an award together was one of the best parts of the broadcast. Fortunately there are more seasons and plenty more chances for them to win in the future. The same can’t be said for Insecure and Issa Rae :/

Julia Garner won for Ozark, which is fair and well-deserved, if not a little boring. I was surprised by Murray Bartlett (White Lotus) and Matthew McFadyen (Succession), but also both well-deserved!

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Kim Wexler Better Call Saul GIF - Kim Wexler Better Call ...

💫 All Consuming

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins - I finally got around to reading this Hunger Games prequel. Prequels are tricky because you have too much information about where it all is headed. This one tells the story of President Snow from the original trilogy as he is growing up in the Capital. We get to see where he comes from, his introduction to the Hunger Games, and what events set him off to become the person we know that he turns into. It was interesting and engaging and I’m looking forward to the movie. It can’t meet the high bar set by the original, but it’s worth a read!