Emmys Thank Yous: The Unexpected & Hilarious
The Emmy Awards are known for their glamorous red carpets, tear-jerking acceptance speeches, and occasional awkward moments. But one thing that always provides a good laugh is the thank you section. It's where we see the heartfelt, the heartfelt-but-weird, and the downright hilarious.
Here's a look at some of the most memorable, unexpected, and hilarious Emmy thank you moments:
The Unexpected:
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Accepting Awards for Others: We've all seen the tearful acceptance speech where the winner gives a shout-out to their loved ones. But have you ever seen someone accept an award on behalf of someone else entirely? In 2017, Julia Louis-Dreyfus won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for "Veep" and used her acceptance speech to thank Donald Trump for "making this moment even more poignant and delicious." While this might seem out of place, it was a clever jab at the current political climate and a reminder that even during award shows, politics can be a hot topic.
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Political Commentary: Regina King used her 2019 acceptance speech for "Watchmen" to call for social justice, stating, "We're living in the midst of a very pivotal time in our history. We need to continue to fight for equality, justice, and opportunity." Her words resonated with many and proved that award shows can be a platform for important social messages.
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Self-Deprecating Humor: In 2019, Phoebe Waller-Bridge won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for "Fleabag" and used her speech to poke fun at herself, calling her show "a little bit like a puddle of filth." Her self-deprecating humor made for a refreshing and relatable moment.
The Hilarious:
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The Awkward Thank You: In 2016, Aziz Ansari won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for "Master of None" and delivered an incredibly awkward thank you to his parents. He joked that he "wasn't sure if he was proud of him," causing widespread laughter.
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The "I'm Not Sure What to Do With This" Moment: In 2018, Rachel Bloom won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" and her entire thank you speech was a comedic masterclass. She started by saying "I'm not sure what to do with this," then proceeded to thank everyone from her family to her dog, and even gave a shout-out to her own "inner child."
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The Shout-Out to the Wrong Person: In 2017, Ted Danson accepted the award for Outstanding Comedy Series for "The Good Place" and mistakenly thanked the wrong person. He called out the name of one of the show's writers, Michael Schur, but Schur was not even in the room. This led to a moment of confusion and awkward laughter.
The Emmy Awards are a time to celebrate the best of television. And while the thank you speeches are often heartfelt and sincere, they also provide a great opportunity for humor, surprise, and even political commentary. From the unexpected to the hilarious, these moments always add an extra layer of entertainment to the award show.
