Emmys: Primed with nostalgia and plenty of politics

[spicedogs]

An interesting article about the Emmy. It even has Michael Emerson's red-carpet chatter, which I placed it in a boldface, larger font.

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By Gary Strauss, USA TODAY; with reports from Bill Keveney, Donna Freydkin and Marco R. della Cava in Los Angeles

Viewers may have overdosed on Hollywood's night of TV nostalgia. But as much of the action at the 60th Emmys occurred off camera as on. A sampling of what you may have seen — and didn't:

 

By Mark J. Terrill, AP    A new wrinkle: Winners Stephen Colbert, of The Colbert Report, left, and Jon Stewart of The Daily Show. (Click to enlarge )

More than a word or two about politics

Hollywood has long been considered a bastion of liberal activism. While Sunday's Emmy broadcast may have seemed subdued compared to past celebrity-honors events — think Michael Moore's vitriolic bashing of George W. Bush over the Iraq War at the 2003 Oscars — Sunday's political barbs were softer, but more prevalent.

"We've been specifically asked by ABC not to make any political statements," Stephen Colbert, whose show won for variety writing but whose Colbert Report lost to friend Jon Stewart's Daily Show for variety or comedy series, said before the ceremony. "And of course, (Jon) and I will abide by that. The last thing anybody wants us to do is talk about politics."

Colbert wasn't being entirely serious. He and Stewart, among other Emmy winners and presenters, managed to work in political references — some veiled, some less so.

When Colbert and Stewart appeared on stage as presenters, Colbert was eating from a bag of prunes.

"Right now, America needs a prune," Colbert said. "It may not be a young, sexy plum. Granted, it is shriveled and at times hard to swallow. But this dried-up old fruit has the experience we need."

Countered Stewart, "You know after eight years of prunes, you would think …"

"Never enough," Colbert responded. "What could possibly go wrong?"

The comedy pair was later followed by a trio of award winners for HBO's miniseries John Adams. Writer Kirk Ellis, an Emmy winner for best miniseries or movie, thanked his producers and HBO for "giving me this amazing opportunity to talk about a period in our history when articulate men articulated complex thoughts in complete sentences," a not-so-subtle barb at syntax-challenged President Bush, before Ellis' acceptance speech was cut short.

Later, he elaborated. "What I wanted to say about articulate men talking in complete sentences was simply that for the Founding Fathers, the word was primary. They believed in the power of the word over the sword. We've heard a lot during this election season about whether someone's words matter. Well, I'm just a writer, but of course words matter. They always matter."

Actor Tom Hanks, who won for producing Adams, noted how little had changed in the election process. "The election between Jefferson and Adams was filled with innuendo, lies, a bitter, partisan press and disinformation," Hanks said, adding with sarcasm, "How great we've come so far since then."

Paul Giamatti, who won as best actor for portraying the nation's second president, noted, "I'm living proof, kids at home watching, that anybody can play the president. Anybody can play the president."

Another HBO production, Recount, about the contested 2000 presidential election, provided producer Paula Weinstein a pulpit for encouraging viewers to exercise their right to vote. "This award really belongs to the men and women on the ground who fought to have every vote counted. They will be there on Nov. 4 fighting again. Vote."

The message was echoed by Martin Sheen, who played the president on NBC's The West Wing. He lauded TV for giving America a front-row seat to real presidential campaigns, then he urged viewers to vote for "the candidate of your choice — at least once."

Comedian Tommy Smothers, who received an honorary Emmy for his '60s variety series, delivered a rambling discourse. "Freedom of expression and freedom of speech aren't really important … unless they're heard. So the freedom of hearing is just about as important as the freedom of speaking," he said. "So I dedicate this Emmy to all people who feel compelled to speak out."

Later, Smothers was asked why the award was given now. "I don't know," he said. "Maybe it's because times are hard again: 1968, 2008, unpopular war, unpopular president, unhappy times."

Even at spontaneous times, politics provided humor. During an awkward moment in the opening monologue with four fellow reality-show hosts, Deal or No Deal star Howie Mandel said: "We don't have an opening. We have nothing. We are like on Sarah Palin's Bridge to Nowhere. … This is not a joke. The government can't even bail us out."

Thanks, etc., from the winners

•Matthew Weiner, creator of best drama Mad Men, had advice for writers: "If you write something and it's good, don't give up on it. I don't want to open myself up to see everyone's spec script, but I believe things happen in a way they're supposed to happen. I wrote part of it at the library, at Starbucks. I was one of you."

•Glenn Close, who won for best actress in a drama for FX newcomer Damages: "You just choose something because you think it's outstandingly good and will keep challenging you. This role certainly has done that. The fact that I get an award for it is the cherry on top."

•Tina Fey, on 30 Rock's successful awards season: "It's been a good year for that kind of stuff."

•Bryan Cranston, best actor in a drama for AMC's edgy Breaking Bad, said offstage, "Isn't that something? I can honestly tell you I'm totally surprised. … I owe it all to (creator) Vince Gilligan, who somehow remembered me from an X-Files episode he wrote 10 years ago. He became my champion for this project from that moment. Uncanny."

•On winning his third best supporting actor in a comedy award for HBO's Entourage, Jeremy Piven said, "This was more shocking than the first two. I do believe the show is getting better. The brilliance of HBO is that they stick with their shows. The characters are getting more intricate."

•"I'm thrilled. I'm kind of stunned," said Jean Smart, who won as supporting actress in a comedy for ABC's Samantha Who? She said that when star Christina Applegate, who just underwent a double mastectomy, told her she had cancer, "I was shocked. I cried. I told her, 'I know you're going to be fine.' But she's very spiritual and strong and she's 100%." She added the show is shooting: "Christina is a total pro. Next week, she's in every single solid scene."

•Zeljko Ivanek, who won best supporting actor for Damages, on going up for the award against co-star Ted Danson, joked: "The blood feud was deep and a lasting rivalry. I hope we can bury the hatchet now. No, we have the best time together."

•Barry Sonnenfeld, who won for directing Pushing Daisies, said, "Right now I think television is a great place to be, because they want to do different and interesting things. We embrace color and saturation and fantasy and that's all due to (creator) Bryan Fuller." He said this award could help bring attention to the show, which aired only nine episodes last season. This season, "Kristin (Chenoweth) goes to a nunnery, and in addition to the dog Digby, there is now a pig named Pigby."

Red-carpet chatter

•Mad Men leading man Jon Hamm on the show's multiple nominations — including best drama, which it later won: "It's incredible." How would his Don Draper like the Emmys? "I don't know if he'd be here. I don't think this is his kind of thing."

•Michael C. Hall, nominated for Showtime's Dexter, said, "I anticipated (the show) having its appeal, but I didn't know the breadth of it. People from all walks of life seem drawn to it." On his serial-killer character: "He has this undeniable need for connection, coupled with a built-in aversion for it. Those things continue to get him into trouble."

•Michael Emerson, a repeat supporting-actor nominee for Lost: "It's been two years I've been here. People seem to respond to the part." And on the series? "The show is as strong as it ever has been." Lots of cast members were there too, but "I have to fly out (today). I'm in front of the camera Tuesday."

 

Source:  USA Today