9 Greatest Emmy Moments Of All Time
With the biggest stars gearing up for the 76th Primetime Emmy nominations coming out this Wednesday, we’re taking a trip down memory lane to revisit nine of the greatest Emmy moments ever! From groundbreaking wins and unforgettable speeches to laugh-out-loud moments, here are nine memorable highlights from awards night. Get ready for a nostalgia-packed journey through Emmy history!
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1. Viola Davis Makes History
In 2015, Viola Davis made history by becoming the first African American woman to win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in “How to Get Away with Murder.” Annalise Keating is an iconic role on television and cemented Viola Davis as a force to be reckon with. Her win was a groundbreaking moment that highlighted the importance of diversity and representation in Hollywood. In her powerful acceptance speech, Davis stated, “The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity.” Her words resonated deeply within the industry, sparking conversations about inclusion and inspiring future generations of actors.
2. 2011 Emmys Turns into a Pageant
The 2011 presentation of the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series became an unforgettable and viral moment. All the nominated actresses, including Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, and Edie Falco, humorously joined hands and rushed to the stage together when their names were called. This playful display added a sense of camaraderie and spontaneity to the ceremony. Ultimately, Melissa McCarthy won the award and was crowned with a tiara, further adding to the joyous and memorable nature of the event.
3. Ricky Gervais Skipping The Emmys Makes For Celebratory Moment
In 2007, when Ricky Gervais won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for “Extras,” he was notably absent from the ceremony. This led to a hilarious and iconic moment when Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, and Jon Stewart took to the stage. Colbert and Stewart humorously pretended to be upset about Gervais’ absence, then spontaneously decided to give the award to Carell. The three comedians shared a joyous, impromptu celebration, hugging and jumping around, creating a memorable and endearing highlight of the evening.
4. Sterling K. Brown’s Speech Cut Short
In 2017, Sterling K. Brown won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Randall Pearson in “This Is Us.” His acceptance speech was heartfelt and eloquent, reflecting on the significance of his win and expressing gratitude. However, the moment took an unexpected turn when the orchestra started playing music to signal the end of his speech, cutting him off mid-sentence. Brown tried to continue speaking over the music, but the producers ultimately lowered the microphone and dimmed the stage lights. The abrupt interruption drew criticism from fans and the media, highlighting the often contentious issue of time constraints at award shows. Despite the interruption, Brown’s speech remains a memorable moment from the 2017 Emmys.
5. Lucille Ball’s Humor Makes Crowd Erupt In Laughter
In 1975, Lucille Ball experienced a humorous and memorable moment at the Emmy Awards when she struggled to read the winner’s name on the envelope. As she opened the envelope to announce the award, she found the print too small to decipher. Laughing at the situation, Ball famously quipped, “I can’t read it,” prompting the audience to burst into laughter. A helpful assistant quickly came to her aid, enlarging the text for her to read. This charming and relatable moment endeared Ball even more to the audience, showcasing her quick wit and ability to turn a potential mishap into a delightful piece of Emmy history.
6. Shortest Emmy Speech in History
Merritt Weaver won the Emmy in 2013 for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in “Nurse Jackie”. She was so shocked that she won that she could not even find the words. She hilariously just said “Thank You So Much. I gotta go, bye”. This made for a record-breaking shortest Emmy speech in history.
7. 2018 Marriage Proposal Takes the Emmy Stage
The 2018 Emmy Awards featured an unforgettable and heartwarming moment when Glenn Weiss, upon winning the award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special, proposed to his girlfriend, Jan Svendsen, during his acceptance speech. After thanking the Academy, Weiss mentioned his late mother and how she adored Svendsen. He then surprised everyone by saying, “You wonder why I don’t like to call you my girlfriend? Because I want to call you my wife.” As the audience erupted in applause and cheers, Svendsen made her way to the stage, where Weiss presented her with his mother’s engagement ring and officially proposed. She accepted, creating an emotional and joyous moment that instantly became one of the most memorable in Emmy history.
8. Billy Porter’s Iconic Win
In 2019, Billy Porter made history at the Emmy Awards by becoming the first openly gay Black man to win the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He won for his portrayal of Pray Tell in the groundbreaking series “Pose,” which focuses on New York City’s African American and Latino LGBTQ+ ball culture scene in the late 20th century. Porter’s win was a monumental moment for representation and diversity in the entertainment industry. In his emotional acceptance speech, he quoted James Baldwin, saying, “It took many years of vomiting up all the filth I’d been taught about myself and halfway believed before I could walk around this earth like I had the right to be here.” Porter’s victory was celebrated as a significant step forward for inclusivity and visibility of marginalized communities in mainstream media.
9. Iconic Casts Reunite
In 2023, the Emmys had to be delayed due to the 2023 SAG & WGA strikes. This led for the 2023 Emmy ceremony to be pushed back until January 2024. When the show returned at the top of the year, it was a memorable ceremony because it was celebrating the 75th Emmy Awards. This meant that many of the presenters were iconic television casts from many decades reuniting to present the awards. Some of the casts that reunited included: “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Sopranos,” “Martin,” “Cheers,” “SNL Weekend Update” and “All in The Family.”
The Emmys always bring iconic moments that make award show history. What will this year bring? Check out the nominations on July 17th 2024 and tune into the show on September 15th 2024.
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