Every year, Hollywood’s television bigwigs get together in one room to praise each other and themselves at the Emmy Awards.
This year’s ceremony, hosted by Stephen Colbert, was rife with political commentary and Hollywood’s favourite brand of self-congratulations. But not everyone could stomach the show — so here’s a roundup of the response to what went down Sunday night.
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The Handmaid’s Tale won five awards
Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale pulled in the most of awards of the evening: Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Elisabeth Moss), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Ann Dowd), Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series.
oprah pronounced THE HANDMAID’S TALE like she was about to hand out dystopias to the audience
— mariana dnbv
(@cobrawine) September 18, 2017
Some critics have found these wins unfair: The Guardian’s Stuart Heritage wrote that it was “thrust into the moment by the nature of the current US administration” and was “far from perfect”. A vote for it, he implied, was a vote against US President Donald Trump and not a vote for outstanding television — though he did specify that Ann Dowd’s win was well-deserved.
“The Handmaid’s Tale” deservedly winning the night is the biggest “fuck you” to Trump that Hollywood could offer. #Emmys
— Charles Clymer
(@cmclymer) September 18, 2017
#Emmys : The Handmaid’s tale is winning everything…
Me: I’m sorry but… pic.twitter.com/XH3VbffijT
— Edu (@BR_Edu_BR) September 18, 2017
The Telegraph’s Rebecca Hawkes praised Elisabeth Moss’s “expressive brilliance”, and Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva reminded that the show’s sweep “was a big validation for the streaming services and a disturbance in the pecking order among the three main VOD players, with the once-distant third outpacing rivals Netflix and Amazon to score first the coveted best series Emmy”.
White male accepting the award and giving the victory speech is how you know The Handmaid’s Tale is real
— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) September 18, 2017
Big Little Lies won four awards
HBO’s miniseries Big Little Lies took home silver with four awards Sunday night. These were: Outstanding Limited Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series (Nicole Kidman), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series (Laura Dern), and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series (Alexander Skarsgard).
Despite the wins, actress Shailene Woodley took up much of the news after revealing that she doesn’t own a TV.
#ERedCarpet Shailene Woodley: “I don’t watch TV. I’m a reader. I read books.”
Me: pic.twitter.com/5tcCz5AYXx— Daydream Nation (@daydrmnati0n) September 17, 2017
Shailene Woodley on the #EMMY2017 red carpet all, “I don’t have a TV. I’m a reader.” Girl get the entire fuck out of my face
— Andi Zeisler (@andizeisler) September 17, 2017
It seems many understood her remarks as condescending to those who watch TV, despite profiting off these very people.
Vanity Fair‘s Joanna Robinson wrote that Kidman’s win came down to a mixture of right time, right place and a “graceful and harrowing portrayal of a victim of domestic abuse” — and many are suggesting that the win could signal a second season.
Nicole Kidman coming in with a
#Emmys acceptance speech #BigLittleLiespic.twitter.com/c1VOczTMpd — Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) September 18, 2017
Sean Spicer showed up to mock Donald Trump
Sean Spicer made a cameo to make fun of the lies he spewed when acting as US President Donald Trump’s White House Communications Director.
Vulture called his appearance a low. “For months, Sean Spicer’s job – a job he chose willingly – was to stand up in front of the American people and lie,” it wrote. Those on Twitter agreed.
“I’m not ready to laugh ‘with’ Sean Spicer,” wrote actor Zach Braff.
I’m not ready to laugh “with” Sean Spicer. I think he is an evil, opportunistic liar that hurt our country.
— Zach Braff (@zachbraff) September 18, 2017
Acting like Sean Spicer is just another funny guy is the same blurring of entertainment and politics that led to Trump becoming president.
— Murtaza Hussain (@MazMHussain) September 18, 2017
Five months ago, Sean Spicer denied that Hitler gassed people during the Holocaust. Sorry, but I’m not seeing the humor in that… https://t.co/6ChkFMjl6X
— Caroline O. (@RVAwonk) September 18, 2017
SNL soaked up some wins
Speaking of Trump’s administration, another entertainment entity known for blurring the lines between politics and entertainment was congratulated last night. Saturday Night Live won two awards last night for acting in a comedy series (Alec Baldwin, Kate McKinnon), and won Best Variety Series earlier in the week.
Twitter wasn’t too pleased about the win — largely due to the show letting Trump host during the primary elections, thus empowering him before profiting off his win.
Remember how #SNL let Trump host during the primaries, but then became The Resistance bc Kate McKinnon played “Hallelujah”
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) September 18, 2017
Sean Spicer was so funny! Just like Trump when he hosted SNL! TV teaches us that racists & the liars who protect them are such good sports!
— Frank Conniff (@FrankConniff) September 18, 2017
SNL is my favorite kind of seasonally woke when it’s commercially viable.
— Kevin T. Porter (@KevinTPorter) September 18, 2017
Last night’s complete winner’s list can be found here, and the full 2017 list can be found here.
