Kenan Thompson’s first time hosting the Emmys proved that the “Saturday Night Live” veteran is ready for prime time — despite his one-and-done NBC sitcom, “Kenan.”
Thompson, the longest-tenured “SNL” trouper (19 seasons and counting), provided a sure, guiding, self-deprecating hand and deftly kept the Emmy-cast train rolling — while staying as far under the radar as appropriate to allow the night’s winners to bask in their moments of glory.
Thompson did, of course, participate in the usual — contractually obligated — awkward opening segment. This year, it riffed on “legally cleared TV songs” and Thompson showed some fierce dance moves joining the fleet-footed ensemble that strutted to theme songs from, among others, “Friends,” “Game of Thrones” and “The Brady Bunch” (with Thompson replacing Alice in that show’s iconic montage).
Kenan Thompson did a nice job hosting the 74th Primetime Emmys Monday night, which saw Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Abbott Elementary”) and Lee Jung-jae (“Squid Game”) win big.NBC via Getty Images; Los Angele
Emmys host Kenan Thompson in the show’s awkward opening segment.WireImageLater in the telecast, he introduced the accountants from Ernst & Young — then promptly shooed them off the stage. Funny stuff. (And, really, why are the accountants a thing every year?)
“Squid Game” was a huge winner Monday night, snagging statuettes for director Hwang Dong-hyuk and lead actor Lee Jung-jae — both becoming the first foreign-language winners in the show’s 74-year history.
Lizzo made an emotional speech accepting her Emmy for “Watch Out For the Big Grrrls.”AFP via Getty ImagesFollow our up-to-the-minute coverage of TV’s biggest night:
ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” also won big, both for creator/star Quinta Brunson and co-star Sheryl Lee Ralph, a rare double victory for a broadcast network television series.
Ralph’s statuette for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy statuette was a first for the veteran actress — and she belted out lyrics from Dianne Reeves’ song “Endangered Species” in her dramatic acceptance speech that left the audience in the Microsoft Theater in LA wondering what was coming next.
Lizzo made a similarly emotional speech accepting her Emmy for “Watch Out For the Big Grrrls.”
“The White Lotus” winner Jennifer Coolidge ignored her walk-off music and refused to depart the stage.AFP via Getty Images
Rhea Seehorn should have won Best Supporting Actress in a Drama but was edged out by Julia Garner (“Ozark”).Greg Lewis/AMC/Sony Pictures TelevisionAlso victorious was “The White Lotus,” which won three Emmys. Jennifer Coolidge, finally getting her statuette,” refused to heed her annoying walk-off music (“I’m slow!”) and boogied down instead.
“Ted Lasso” scored four, including for Best Comedy, while “Succession” took home the trophy for Best Drama.
The biggest snub of the night? That would be Rhea Seehorn, who turned in a career-defining role as Kim Wexler in “Better Call Saul” and was robbed of a statuette for Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category (losing to “Ozark” co-star Julia Garner).
But worst of all might have been the condescending text bug at the bottom of the screen telling us what the winners want to say — and who they want to thank (“Lizzo would like to say …”).
Was that really necessary? Seems to me the winners were perfectly capable of thanking everyone they wanted to, even with their straitjacketed time constraints.
