From the second Eugene and Dan Levy casually strolled on stage — with out a lot as a pre-taped lead-in video — the 2024 Emmy Awards felt like nothing particular. In any case, lots of the attendees had already been to an Emmys ceremony this 12 months. Getting hyped to look at the identical winners, 12 months after 12 months, is a recurring difficulty for TV‘s grandest evening, however the problem turns into that a lot more durable when a chunk of these winners had been rewarded lower than 9 months in the past. Equally buzz-killing is the concept the brand new winners are predetermined, as many anticipated “Shōgun,” “Baby Reindeer,” and “The Bear” to do effectively on the 76th Emmy Awards, which they did. For probably the most half.
However regardless of slight early surprises (Liza Colon-Zayas! Lamorne Morris!) and a main late stunner (“Hacks” placing the “comedy” again in Finest Comedy Sequence), ABC‘s telecast was constantly fighting familiarity, if not outright redundancy. Where January’s Emmys sparked to life with low-key charms and reunion after reunion, September’s ceremony felt like a poor imitation. A traditional “Happy Days” reunion of two? A contemporary “SNL” reunion of 4? A “West Wing” reunion… once more? In the meantime, the “archetype”-themed presenter groupings had been so random they got here off nearer to a bait-and-switch. You’re telling me the orchestra will play the “Friday Night Lights” theme, Connie Britton will present as much as bear in mind Tami Taylor, and the published will tease well-known TV “coaches” arising subsequent, and Coach — the Coach — isn’t there? Neither of them?!
Oft-puzzling presenter picks apart, the 2024 Emmys (the second) by no means felt impressed or inspiring. Anna Sawai gave one of the best speech, and Richard Gadd made probably the most of his a number of journeys to the stage, however the return of the chyrons to get in additional thanks’s appeared sporadic. Some winners bought them, some didn’t, and none appeared to appreciate it anyway. Plus, honorees are hardly ever what’s mistaken with an awards present. If something, they have an inclination to rescue reveals from the poor choices made round them, and this 12 months was no totally different. The closest something produced by the producers got here to a viral second was when John Leguizamo touted the TV Academy’s variety efforts… which didn’t precisely maintain as much as the web’s speedy scrutiny. However reasonably than do this or that and threat additional criticism, the 76th Emmy Awards didn’t strive a lot in any respect.
And it began with the hosts. The daddy-son duo made certain to set the bar low for his or her opening monologue, reminding everybody from the highest that they weren’t stand-up comedians, however actors appearing like hosts. “In the true spirit of ’The Bear,’ we will not be making any jokes,” Eugene quipped, and whereas that wasn’t precisely true — Dan delivered a strong jab when he flatly said that Matt Bomer’s “Fellow Travelers” nomination “proves you can be nominated for playing gay, even if you’re not straight” — they missed a few gimmies. Dan mocking Eugene’s more and more nonsensical textual content messages was too straightforward. Eugene mistaking the “+” in Apple TV+ for the corporate’s help of LGBTQ+ people was too labored. However what actually had my blood boiling was when, after Dan stated to ensure to pronounce his identify “Lev-y,” not “Leave-y,” that Eugene adopted up with, “And if things go south, my name is pronounced, ‘Martin Short.’” I’m sorry… what? Eugene, you might be actually starring in an Emmy-nominated present with Martin Brief proper now, however they didn’t solid you to reflect Martin Brief, they solid you to reflect Steve Martin. So why not say “Steve Martin”? That is smart! And it’s about TV! And it promotes your present!
Not that the Emmys wanted any extra product placement, Disney-branded or in any other case. The duo dropped “Schitt’s Creek” twice within the first three minutes, and following their perfunctory non-monologue (nonologue?), they referred to as again to their Emmy-winning sitcom to shut the present. (Catherine O’Hara, you might be at all times welcome.) In between, there was an egregious mid-ceremony piece of sponsored content material, the place Ebon Moss-Bachrach — the evening’s first Emmy winner — acted out a “scene” with “Red, White, and Royal Blue” star Taylor Zakhar Perez for a scotch firm that I cannot identify right here. They bought loads of promotion already, and fairly frankly, ABC ought to be extra ashamed of forcing an advert into the precise ceremony than all these unfounded, repeated cuts to Disney CEO Bob Iger all through the telecast.
To be honest, lots of the presenters that weren’t saddled with inconceivable promoting factors did nice. The “Only Murders” trio was as fantastic as ever, which didn’t quiet the earlier requires them to host. Rob McElhenney and Kaitlin Olson managed to make a jockstrap joke work, even one which referred to as out Meryl Streep and Carol Burnett by identify. Candice Bergen made her mark shortly and then punctuated it with a pointed meow. Billy Crystal’s little brown e book was virtually as successful as his recollection of his first stand-up set on “The Tonight Show.”
Winners had been highlighted by good stars, large feelings, and the few surprises. Jean Sensible pretending to combine up HBO and Max, solely to quip, “Just what we needed, another network,” made her third straight win for “Hacks” that rather more memorable. John Oliver, like his present “Last Week Tonight,” continues to be good and humorous regardless of succeeding for therefore lengthy we’d anticipate to be sick of him. (Sure, the present remains to be elite TV, however he’s personally received 21 instances, and that’s a lot of speeches!) Alex Edelman’s acceptance was candy, as was his onscreen chyron. (“I want to thank my kids– wait, I don’t have any kids!”) The “Hacks” and “Slow Horses” writers made all writers look good, and the parade of “Shōgun” winners by no means grew tiring, partly as a result of they had been all so honest, so excited, and so deserving. (Justice for Tadanobu Asano.)
However ultimately, the Emmys felt like yet one more awards present resigned to its diminishing destiny. The vibes had been sleepy, the tempo was sluggish, and any experimentation was solely absent. Hollywood has lengthy bemoaned the dwindling audiences for these telecasts, however with reveals as lackluster as this, how do you anticipate to win anybody again? Hell, how do you anticipate to protect the viewers who’s nonetheless tuning in? Scores for Sunday’s present could show to be increased than the final ceremony, which weren’t simply delayed but additionally aired on a Monday evening, however they’ll pale compared to Sunday Evening Soccer and in all probability a few different of the night’s TV choices. Decline could also be inevitable to a sure extent, however with many extra reveals like this one, and even long-time viewers will solely hassle discovering out who received through e-mail.
Grade: D+
The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards had been held Sunday, September 15 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. The complete telecast will likely be obtainable to stream Monday on Hulu.
