By Nathaniel R
The BIG LITTLE LIES cast were first presenters setting the tone for a night devoted to them essentially
8:00 Stephen Colbert managed to work lots of political commentary and Trump jabs into his opening song which hits peak jab with the "even treason's better on TV" lyric with the stars of The Americans giving brief cameo. The also Trump centric post-song monologue is good and the stars are eating it up.
8:16 Colbert actually saves the best joke for last with a surprise cameo by Sean Spicer (yes, actually Sean Spicer with his stand) who he introduces as Melissa McCarthy. Even McCarthy is shook.
8:18 Nice touch to have an ensemble as joyfully in synch as Big Little Lies do a supporting category. Lithgow wins for playing Churchill. That also worked for Albert Finney 15 years ago. Oldman is also going to win the Oscar playing Churchill later this year. It's one of those roles... like Effie White or Mama Rose. And, well, Winston Churchill...
the great ANN DOWD wins supporting actress. Remember when she guest starred here at the blog?
8:28 Earlier in the show Colbert made a joke about Trump tweeting about the show in anger and now Hillary Clinton is even thanked in an accepting speech so Colbert's joke will surely be prophetic.
8:50 Funny Westworld sketch with Colbert nekkid. "Do you mind being naked?" "No, why would I?" insert shot of amazing abs. Hee. The skit ends with Titus Burgess being Emmy worthy yet again. When is he going to win a damn statue? ROBBED AGAIN TONIGHT.
8:52 The orchestra plays a muzak version of "You Don't Own Me" when The Handmaid's Tale wins. I want to thank and punch whoever chose that. And now I want to see Bette, Diane, and Goldie in white wimples.
9:05 Crazy Ex Girlfriend's Rachel Bloom does a music intro about the accountants "it's all downhill from here". She never fails to make me giggle.
9:07 Jean-Marc Vallee thanks David E Kelley for his writing which gives us our first Michelle Pfeiffer reaction shot. She squeezes David's hand. Awww
9:08 OHMYGOD. NINE-TO-FIVE REUNION. Standing ovation. As it should be. They also take jabs at Trump without naming him. Dolly Parton weirdly tries to deflect this to pretend they're talking about someone else. They're introducing supporting actor in a limited series which is a really up-in-the-air category, easy to imagine anyone winning. It's Skarsgård in Big Little Lies with a sweet speech (shout out to his mom who flew in from Stockholm!) and a kiss from Nicole on the way up.
9:20 Emmy statues first sit down interview. It's RuPaul henny!
9:35 Master of None makes history with the first black women to win for comedy writing. Great great speech and shout out to LGBTQIA community.
9:58 Perfect / beautiful Viola Davis introducing Hamilton's Christopher Jackson (who has a Daytime Emmy -- i didn't know that!) who is singing the In Memoriam song
11:04 OOPS. An hour flew by with all the Big Little Lies / Handmaid's Tale excitement. Thrilling to see all four of the top prizes (both series, limited series, and movie) go to female centric shows!
triumphant Nicole
THE WINNERS
Drama
Series The Handmaid's Tale
Lead Actress Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid's Tale (1st win, 9th nomination)
Lead Actor Sterling K Brown, This is Us (2nd win, 2nd nomination)
Supporting Actress Ann Dowd, The Handmaid's Tale (1st win)
Remember when Ann was so sweet to guest blog here with advice for young actors and such?
Supporting Actor John Lithgow, The Crown (his 6th Emmy win, 12th nom)
Writing Bruce Miller The Handmaid's Tale "Offred" (1st win, 1st nom)
Directing Reed Morano The Handmaid's Tale "Offred" (1st win, 2nd nom)
Comedy
Series Veep (3rd consecutive win for the series)
Lead Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep (win)
She's now the record holder of all time most Emmys for the same role
Lead Actor Donald Glover, Atlanta (2nd of 2 wins tonight)
Directing Donald Glover, Atlanta (1st of 2 wins tonight)
Writing Aziz Ansari (2nd win) & Lena Waithe, Master of None (1st win)
Supporting Actress Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live (2nd Emmy win, 5th nom)
Supporting Actor Alec Baldwin, Saturday Night Live (3rd win, umpteenth nom)
Limited Series/Movie
Series Big Little Lies
Movie Black Mirror: San Junipero
Lead Actress Nicole Kidman, Big Little Lies (1st win)
Lead Actor Riz Ahmed, The Night Of (1st win, 2nd nom)
Supporting Actress Laura Dern, Big Little Lies (1st win, 6th nom)
Supporting Actor Alexander Skarsgård, Big Little Lies (1st win, 1st nom)
Director Jean-Marc Vallee, Big Little Lies (1st win, 3rd nom)
Writing Charlie Brooker, Black Mirror: San Junipero (1st win, 2 noms)
Nicole's win brought us this wondrous reaction shot of the Pfeiffer-Kelleys
Randomness
Variety Sketch Series Saturday Night Live (1st win in this new category which was split off from a more broad category two years ago which also included talk shows. Key & Peele won last year)
Variety Talk Series Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Variety Writing Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Variety Directing Don Roy King (7th win) Saturday Night Live
Reality Competition Series The Voice
lots of record breaking last night! congrats to all