On Monday night, the majority of awards went to well-liked shows such as “Succession” and “The Bear.” Despite the ceremony being postponed from September, there were still a couple of unexpected surprises.
The 2023 Emmys finally took place in 2024 after being delayed from September. Anthony Anderson hosted the event on Monday night in Los Angeles. The awards mostly went to popular shows like “Succession,” “The Bear,” “Beef,” and “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver.” Some surprises included passionate speeches, Elton John achieving EGOT status, and funny moments like Kieran Culkin asking for another child in his acceptance speech. Anthony Anderson’s mom, Doris Bowman, stole the show by playfully teasing winners who spoke too long.
The highlights and lowlights from the event.
Unexpected Triumph: ‘The Daily Show With Trevor Noah‘
The award for the best talk series was uncertain this year after some changes. John Oliver moved to another category and won there. While many expected Stephen Colbert from “The Late Show” to win because it’s a popular show, the surprising winner was “The Daily Show.” Even though Trevor Noah accepted the award and spoke, he left the show in 2022. This created some confusion, and during the speech, a former correspondent joked about hiring a new host.
Christina Applegate impressed everyone with her amazing comeback on stage, earning the title of Best Return.
Christina Applegate, famous for her roles in “Dead to Me” and “Married With Children,” has been out of the spotlight since revealing her multiple sclerosis diagnosis. During the Emmys, where she presented an award, she used a cane and leaned on an escort. Despite tears, she humorously remarked about the standing ovation, saying, “You’re totally shaming me with disability by standing up.” Her witty and complex personality, like the characters she portrays, shone through. Although she didn’t win for “Dead to Me,” her presence was a standout moment in the ceremony.
Outstanding Speech: Niecy Nash-Betts
Niecy Nash-Betts consistently stands out as one of the best performers in any program she’s part of, and the Emmys were no different. Accepting for “Dahmer,” Nash-Betts delivered a powerful speech dedicating her victory to the struggles of “unheard, yet overpoliced” Black and brown women like Glenda Cleveland, Sandra Bland, and Breonna Taylor. She emphasized her role as an artist, stating, “As an artist, my job is to speak truth to power. And, baby, I’ma do it till the day I die.” In a moment that resonates with many past award winners, she thanked herself, saying, “And you know who I want to thank? I want to thank me, for believing in me and doing what they said I could not do.” It was a powerful night for her on Monday.
Moderate Hosting: Anthony Anderson Performs Adequately
Anthony Anderson began the Emmys by paying tribute to the TV shows from his childhood. He walked on stage, hung up his fur coat, and played the piano, starting with the “Good Times” theme song. Anderson humorously mentioned that without “Good Times,” there would be no “black-ish,” “grown-ish,” or “mixed-ish.” He continued with the themes from “The Facts of Life” and “In the Air Tonight,” featuring Travis Barker on drums. This lively performance helped Anderson avoid the awkward moments seen at the Golden Globes.
Outstanding Working Mom: Doris Bowman
Anthony Anderson added a funny twist to long acceptance speeches at the Emmys. He brought his mom, Doris Bowman, on stage as a “playoff mama” to playfully tell winners to hurry up. His mom interrupted even well-known people like John Oliver and Jennifer Coolidge. Kieran Culkin kept his speech short, saying he didn’t want to be yelled at. When Anthony wore a latex suit for a joke, his mom told him to wash. It was a humorous and entertaining moment during the awards ceremony.