Award Shows, Television
Sep 14, 2022

Best Moments of 2022 Emmy Awards

The Emmy’s were live this past Monday, as they continued on the tradition of showing us that award shows are strange, occasionally very dramatic, affairs.

The 2022 Emmys featured some history-making moments, some very amusing moments, as well as some awkward moments. For example, one minute you’re watching host Kenan Thompson do a very weird interpretive dance to television theme songs; the next, Pete Davidson shows up in sunglasses admitting he didn’t go to the presenter rehearsal. Okay. If this is supposed to be relevant it isn’t, it’s weird. Like the company flake had to plan the holiday party and just…got it wrong.

Sheryl Lee Ralph became the first Black woman in 35 years to win Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Abbott Elementary, she marked the occasion with a powerful speech and song, that made us feel we were being ushered in a Disney feature. (next career move for her?).

Jennifer Coolidge picked up the best supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie for her work on HBO’s White Lotus. Jennifer Coolidge had a lot of people to thank. Apparently the Emmys producers had other ideas, though, playing her off after only 70 seconds which she took very tongue and cheek as she used the send off music as a dance cue.

We were rather shocked when both Maid and Only Murders in The Building were snubbed by the academy.

Lee Jung-jae, star of Netflix’s excellent dystopian thriller Squid Game, made history after he became the first Asian star to win in the Best Male Actor in a Drama category. Squid Game walked into the Emmys on Monday having already won four Emmy Awards: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, Outstanding Production Design, Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Single Episode, and Outstanding Stunt Performance. Over the course of the night, the show took home two more Emmys. First, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk won for outstanding Directing for a drama series for his work behind the camera on “Red Light, Green Light.” That was followed up with Lee Jung-jae winning for outstanding lead actor in a drama series, making him the first South Korean actor to win as well as the first Asian actor to win in Emmys history.

“Thank you to director Hwang [Dong-hyuk] for making realistic problems we all face come to life so creatively on the screen with a great script and amazing visuals,” said Lee. “Thank you!”

After winning the Competition Program Emmy for Watch Out For The Big Grrrls, Lizzo took to the stage and gave a powerful speech about self impowerment.

“When I was a little girl, all I wanted to see was me in the media. Someone fat like me, Black like me, beautiful like me,” Lizzo said. “If I could go back and tell little Lizzo something, I’d be like, ‘You gonna see that person, but bitch it’s gonna have to be you.'”

Zendaya also made history as the first actress to win two Emmys in a row for the same character in the leading lady category.