As is the tradition, the 65th version of the Emmy Awards came complete with compliments and complaints from those of us in the peanut gallery. Shown on Sunday, September 22nd on CBS, the show had a slow start with a lackluster beginning involving host Neil Patrick Harris interacting with a bunch of characters in a roomful of TVs. It could have been a great bit but in the end, was just so-so.
Instead of an opening song and dance number that many were expecting from Harris, the special went a different direction. Harris started the show with short jokes and soon was challenged from former Emmy Award Hosts including, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Jane Lynch and Conan O’Brien. Then after Harris got them cleared off the stage, he was heckled by Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. Unfortunately, Harris couldn’t help himself and got his own song and dance number at the middle of the celebration with “help” from Nathan “Castle” Fillion and comedian, Sarah Silverman. The forgettable performance just added to the length of the program and not much else.
Later, Harris was also featured in a tribute to choreographers, which overall was a much better performance, but in the end, did anyone care? Harris is very likeable in small doses and it is well-known how much CBS love the former “Doogie Houser” actor, but he was featured way too much for the role of host. There was a clever skit presented by his fellow cast mates of “How I Met Your Mother,” who presented a public service announcement for the “Ryan Seacrest Excessive Hosting Program” of which Harris is a reluctant member of.
Highlights for the 2013 Emmy’s:
- ABC’s “Modern Family” won for Outstanding Comedy Series for the fourth time in a row, “Breaking Bad” won for Outstanding Drama, and Steven Colbert beat out Jon Stewart for Outstanding Variety Series for the first time in 11 years.
- Merritt Wever, recipient for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, gave the best speech of the night: “Thank you so much. I’ve gotta go.”
- Sir Elton John sang “Home Again” as tribute to Liberace, which was fitting as the TV movie, “Behind the Candelabra” won for “Outstanding Miniseries or Movie” as well as for art direction, casting and Michael Douglas received his first Emmy for his role as Liberace.
- Carrie Underwood sang, the Beatles’ hit, “Yesterday” as a tribute to the 1960’s television.
- This year’s Memoriam segment was stretched throughout the night highlighting five special tributes to James Gandolfini by Edie Falco, Producer Gary David Goldberg by Michael J. Fox, Jean Stapleton by Rob Reiner and Jonathan Winters by Robin Williams. The fifth presentation made headlines before the show even began. Fans of Larry Hagman felt that a special tribute should have been presented for him instead of the one for “Glee” star, Cory Monteith which was given by Jane Lynch.
- Bob Newhart was awarded his first Emmy ever for his guest star role on the comedy, “The Big Bang Theory.”
- Derek Hough of “Dancing with the Stars” won the Choreography category over many other contenders from “So You Think You Can Dance.”
List of the night’s awards include:
DRAMA
- Outstanding Drama Series: “Breaking Bad”
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Claire Danes for “Homeland”
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Jeff Daniels for “The Newsroom”
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Anna Gunn for “Breaking Bad”
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Bobby Cannavale for “Boardwalk Empire”
- Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Carrie Preston for “The Good Wife”
- Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: Dan Bucatinsky for “Scandal”
COMEDY
- Outstanding Comedy Series: “Modern Family”
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus for “Veep”
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Jim Parsons for “The Big Bang Theory”
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Merrit Wever for “Nurse Jackie”
- Outstanding Supporting actor in a Comedy Series: Tony Hale for Veep
- Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Melissa Leo, “Louie”
- Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Bob Newhart, “The Big Bang Theory”
REALITY
- Outstanding Reality Competition Program: “The Voice”
- Outstanding Reality Program: “Undercover Boss”
- Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program: Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum for “Project Runway”
ANIMATION
- Outstanding Animated Program: “South Park”
- Outstanding Short-Format Animated Programs: Disney Mickey Mouse Croissant de Triomphe
VARIETY
- Outstanding Variety Series: The Colbert Report
To see the entire list of winners, visit, www.emmys.com.
