Emmy Awards 2023 Recap: The Good, The Bad And The Winners
LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) – The 2023 75th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards arrived late due to the double strikes by the Writers Guild of America / SAG-AFTRA and followed an awkward Golden Globes (thanks to host Jo Koy). Hosted by actor, comedian, and game show host Anthony Anderson – the broadcast aired Monday (January 15) live from the Peacock Theater (formerly Microsoft Theater) on FOX.
In recognition of its 75th anniversary, numerous cast members from several TV series reunited to present awards throughout the broadcast. The shows included Cheers, Martin, Grey’s Anatomy, The Sopranos, Ally McBeal, and more.
The show opened with Anderson in a montage of songs from TV shows, including The Facts of Life and Good Times. And in the most “MTV” moment of the night – blink-182’s drummer Travis Barker took center stage on the drums, covering Phil Collin’s hit “In The Air Tonight” in a Miami Vice tribute segment.
The big awards of the night went to Succession for Outstanding Drama Series, and they led the nomination count with 27. Outstanding Comedy Series went to the FX network show The Bear, while Netflix’s Beef was awarded Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. Succession and The Bear tied with six wins each, and Beef followed – taking home 5 wins.
HISTORICAL MOMENTS:
Ayo Edebiri and Quinta Brunson won Best Supporting AND Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, marking the first time both wins went to Black actresses in the comedy category in the same year. Viola Davis and Uzo Aduba accomplished that in the drama category in 2015.
Brunson is the first Black actress in 42 years to take home the trophy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her portrayal of Philly school teacher Janine Teagues in Abbott Elementary. The Jeffersons’ Isabel Sanford was the previous winner – taking home the win in 1981. Brunson, visibly emotional, acknowledged what it meant for her to receive the award from the great Carol Burnett.
The legendary Elton John is the most recent star added to the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony award winners) list. The piano-playing icon took home the award for Outstanding Variety Special for his concert, Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium. He joins a roster of previous EGOT winners, including Rita Moreno, John Legend, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Viola Davis, and more.
RuPaul Charles, whose show RuPaul’s Drag Race is a five-time best reality competition winner and is the most awarded host in Emmys history with eight wins and now holds the record for most wins by a person of color.
Grey’s Anatomy’s past and present cast members, including Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson, Katherine Heigl, Justin Chambers, and James Pickens Jr., revealed during its reunion that it is now the longest-running primetime medical drama in American TV history with over 420 episodes and 19 seasons. During the cast reunion, Wilson thanked the fans who stuck with the series, saying, “And through it all, there’s been plane crashes, super storms, earthquakes, and a global pandemic.”
GREAT MOMENTS:
Christina Applegate – Applegate, who bravely shared her multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis in 2021, received a standing ovation as she navigated the platform with a cane and the assistance of show-host Anderson, emphasizing her resilience while fighting MS. She reminisced about her roles in beloved shows such as Married… With Children, Samantha Who?, Dead to Me, and even humorously acknowledged her stint as a baby on Days of Our Lives. Moved with visible emotion, she playfully remarked about the audience “shaming” her disability by standing, then chided them for the continuing applause, noting, “You don’t have to applaud me every time I do something!”
Applegate presented the winner for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series to The Bear’s Ayo Edibiri, exclaiming, “Ayo, get your ass up here!” Her unfiltered and heartfelt energy resonated with the audience, creating a touching and authentic moment of both humor and celebration.
Niecy Nash-Betts Acceptance Speech – In a powerful acceptance speech for the award of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a limited or anthology series or movie, Nash-Betts went beyond traditional expressions of gratitude, thanking notable figures like Ryan Murphy and Evan Peters. In a comedic turn, Nash-Betts took a moment to express gratitude to the person who had been with her from the very beginning – herself.
She acknowledged her self-belief, defying those who doubted her abilities. “For believing in me and doing what they said I could not,” she declared. Unapologetically celebrating her own journey, Nash-Betts addressed herself in front of the audience, encouraging, “Go on, girl, with your bad self. You did that!”
She then dedicated the award to every Black and brown woman who has been unheard and over-policed, invoking the names of Glenda Cleveland, Sandra Bland, and Breonna Taylor. She affirmed her commitment to speaking truth to power, vowing to do so until her last breath. In a triumphant conclusion, she declared, “Mama, I won!”
Pedro Pascal and Kieran Culkin – Pascal hit the stage with the swagger of someone ready to spill the beans, or in this case, spill the mystery behind his sling. With a smile, he tackled the burning question head-on, “A lot of people have been asking about my arm. It’s actually my shoulder. And I think tonight is a perfect time to tell everyone that Kieran Culkin…” Here’s where the TV censors had a field day and bleeped out the details of “Kieran Culkin beat the shit out of me,” as the camera panned to Culkin in the audience deadpanned amid audience laughter.
This hilarious exchange unfolded a week after Culkin’s Golden Globes moment. While snatching the award for Best Actor in a Drama Series, Culkin couldn’t resist firing a playful shot at Pascal, declaring, “Suck it, Pedro. Mine!”
NOT SO GREAT MOMENTS:
The “Light Housekeeping” Announcement – Anderson kicked off the show with what was supposed to be a lighthearted housekeeping announcement, but it quickly became a point of contention on social media. The plan was to distribute a total of 27 awards, leading to an equal number of acceptance speeches. Anderson suggested streamlining the speeches by just thanking “Jesus and your mama” and then gave his real-life mom, Doris Bowman (aka Mama Doris), the role of the speech timekeeper. She then shouted from the crowd, “Time’s up, baby, cut to the chase!” and it was funny … until it wasn’t.
Jennifer Coolidge, who won for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for The White Lotus was the first to get her speech interrupted. As Coolidge acknowledged that “time’s running out,” Bowman shouted from the audience saying, “I love you, baby, but time.” Social media lit up with comments regarding the interruption with most seeing it as a disrespectful intrusion into what should be a moment of genuine thankfulness for the winners. Being heckled by the audience suggested a lack of respect for the artists and their contributions. It is worth noting that the broadcast DID succeed in keeping within the 3-hour runtime.
Missing Cast Members – Throughout the broadcast, multiple casts from TV shows like Cheers, Grey’s Anatomy, Martin, The Sopranos, and others. However, many prevalent cast members were visibly missing. Patrick Dempsey (McDreamy), Sandra Oh and Eric Dane (McSteamy) from Grey’s, Shelley Long and Woody Harrelson from Cheers, and Edie Falco from The Sopranos to name a few. Viewers posted on social media how some of the reunions left them wanting more and wondered why their favorite characters and those who portrayed them were absent from the broadcast.
However, winning the most heartfelt reunion was the cast of the TV sitcom Martin, which starred Tisha Campbell, Martin Lawrence, Carl Anthony Payne II, and Tichina Arnold (Thomas Mikal Ford passed away in October 2016, but his photo was present in the table). They comedically “mentioned” how during their show’s run (1992-1997), it was never actually nominated, with Payne thinking they were getting an award, and that’s why they were there. It was a very “real” moment for the former co-stars to get back together and present the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, which went to Jeremy Allen White for The Bear.
Other notable moments in the broadcast included:
The In Memoriam segment was done with elegance and sophistication. It featured Charlie Puth on the piano and husband and wife duo, The War and Treaty, all delivering a soulful rendition of Puth’s hit, “See You Again,” seamlessly transitioning into the iconic Friends theme, “I’ll Be There For You,” as a video montage of those who passed played behind them.
Yet, as the segment unfolded, social media became a sounding board for observations on notable omissions. Viewers were quick to point out exclusions such as Ryan O’Neal, Euphoria and The Idol producer Kevin Turen, Richard Moll from Night Court, and Jerry Springer, sparking discussions. However, those who were missing from the montage are listed in the In Memoriam section of the Emmys website.
Notwithstanding these omissions, the segment paid tribute to several revered figures in the television industry who passed away in the last year. Among those remembered were Norman Lear, Matthew Perry, Angela Lansbury, Angus Cloud, Andrew Braugher, Barbara Walters, and more. The tribute served as a moment of reflection, honoring the impact of these individuals on the television landscape.
The ceremony and the Television Academy delivered a classy, well-paced, funny, and nostalgic show with very few displeasing moments. They included more diversity and inclusivity as the broadcast took place on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and occurred the year that would have been Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 95th birthday. This year’s Emmys made notable strides in diversity and inclusivity, with five out of the 12 awards going to performers of color – a significant achievement that tied the record set in 1991.
The ceremony concluded with a poignant and necessary tribute, as Anderson paid homage to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by presenting a moment from his iconic speech – a segment recognized by the Academy as one of the most impactful in television history. The thoughtful execution of this tribute demonstrated the producers’ adeptness in striking an emotional chord, culminating in a show that not only entertained but also paid homage to a pivotal day in history.
“When we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, Black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: ‘Free at last, free at last. Thank God almighty, we are free at last.”
The full list of winners is below.
Outstanding Drama Series
Andor
Better Call Saul
The Crown
House of the Dragon
The Last of Us
Succession – WINNER
The White Lotus
Yellowjackets
Outstanding Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary
Barry
The Bear – WINNER
Jury Duty
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Only Murders in the Building
Ted Lasso
Wednesday
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Jeff Bridges, The Old Man
Brian Cox, Succession
Kieran Culkin, Succession – WINNER
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us
Jeremy Strong, Succession
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Sharon Horgan, Bad Sisters
Melanie Lynskey, Yellowjackets
Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale
Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us
Keri Russell, The Diplomat
Sarah Snook, Succession – WINNER
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Bill Hader, Barry
Jason Segel, Shrinking
Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
Jeremy Allen White, The Bear – WINNER
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Christina Applegate, Dead to Me
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary – WINNER
Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face
Jenna Ortega, Wednesday
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
F. Murray Abraham, The White Lotus
Nicholas Braun, Succession
Michael Imperioli, The White Lotus
Theo James, The White Lotus
Matthew Macfadyen, Succession – WINNER
Alan Ruck, Succession
Will Sharp, The White Lotus
Alexander Skarsgård, Succession
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus – WINNER
Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown
Meghann Fahy, The White Lotus
Sabrina Impacciatore, The White Lotus
Aubrey Plaza, The White Lotus
Rhea Seehorn, Better Call Saul
J. Smith-Cameron, Succession
Simona Tabasco, The White Lotus
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Carrigan, Barry
Phil Dunster, Ted Lasso
Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso
James Marsden, Jury Duty
Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear – WINNER
Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary
Henry Winkler, Barry
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear – WINNER
Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary
Juno Temple, Ted Lasso
Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso
Jessica Williams, Shrinking
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
Beef – WINNER
Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Daisy Jones & The Six
Fleishman Is in Trouble
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Taron Egerton, Blackbird
Kumail Nanjiani, Welcome to Chippendales
Evan Peters, Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Daniel Radcliffe, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
Michael Shannon, George & Tammy
Steven Yeun, Beef – WINNER
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Lizzy Caplan, Fleishman Is in Trouble
Jessica Chastain, George & Tammy
Dominique Fishback, Swarm
Riley Keough, Daisy Jones & the Six
Kathryn Hahn, Tiny Beautiful Things
Ali Wong, Beef – WINNER
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Murray Bartlett, Welcome to Chippendales
Paul Walter Hauser, Black Bird – WINNER
Richard Jenkins, Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Joseph Lee, Beef
Ray Liotta, Black Bird
Young Mazino, Beef
Jesse Plemons, Love & Death
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Annaleigh Ashford, Welcome to Chippendales
Maria Bello, Beef
Claire Danes, Fleishman Is in Trouble
Juliette Lewis, Welcome to Chippendales
Camila Morrone, Daisy Jones & the Six
Niecy Nash-Betts, Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story – WINNER
Merritt Wever, Tiny Beautiful Things
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Murray Bartlett, The Last of Us
James Cromwell, Succession
Lamar Johnson, The Last of Us
Arian Moayed, Succession
Nick Offerman, The Last of Us – WINNER
Keivonn Montreal Woodard, The Last of Us
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Hiam Abbass, Succession
Cherry Jones, Succession
Melanie Lynskey, The Last of Us
Storm Reid, The Last of Us – WINNER
Anna Torv, The Last of Us
Harriet Walter, Succession
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Becky Ann Baker, Ted Lasso
Quinta Brunson, Saturday Night Live
Taraji P. Henson, Abbott Elementary
Judith Light, Poker Face – WINNER
Sarah Niles, Ted Lasso
Harriet Walter, Ted Lasso
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Jon Bernthal, The Bear
Luke Kirby, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Nathan Lane, Only Murders in the Building
Pedro Pascal, Saturday Night Live
Oliver Platt, The Bear
Sam Richardson, Ted Lasso – WINNER
Outstanding Television Movie
Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas
Fire Island
Hocus Pocus 2
Prey
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story – WINNER
Outstanding Competition Program
The Amazing Race
Survivor
Top Chef
The Voice
RuPaul’s Drag Race – WINNER
RuPaul for “RuPaul’s Drag Race”
Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program
Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski, and Jonathan Van Ness, Queer Eye
Nicole Byer, Nailed It
Padma Lakshmi, Top Chef
Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph, Baking It
RuPaul, RuPaul’s Drag Race – WINNER
Outstanding Host for a Game Show
Mayim Bialik, Jeopardy!
Steve Harvey, Family Feud
Ken Jennings, Jeopardy!
Keke Palmer, Password – WINNER
Pat Sajak, Wheel of Fortune
Outstanding Talk Series
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah – WINNER
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Late Night with Seth Meyers
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
The Problem with Jon Stewart
Outstanding Scripted Variety Series
A Black Lady Sketch Show
Saturday Night Live
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver – WINNER
Outstanding Variety Special (Live)
The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna
Chris Rock: Selective Outrage
Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium – WINNER
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