Emmys Most Bizarre Moments: 2007 Edition

At least, Britney didn't show.

The results of Sunday's Emmy telecast were so bizarre, that this exclamation -- remember, Spears was offered the chance to show up and apologize for her career-killing performance at the MTV awards a week ago -- was the last refuge for us critics, tearing our hair out on deadline trying to make sense of it all.

Extras' Ricky Gervais instead of Alec Baldwin, Steve Carell or even (shudder) Tony Shalhoub? 30 Rock as best comedy instead of The Office? Sally Field as best dramatic actress instead of Kyra Sedgwick or Edie Falco? James f-ing Spader as best dramatic actor instead of the magnificent James Gandolfini?

Looks like Emmy voters were spending way too much time on the set of Showtime's ganja-focused comedy Weeds.

Making matters worse, this was probably the most entertaining Emmycast in years. Host Ryan Seacrest was smart enough to do what he does best; crack a few jokes and step aside to let more talented folks take the wheel. So Steve Carell, Lewis Black, Ellen DeGeneres, Rainn Wilson, Wayne Brady and yes, Kanye West stepped up with skits and presentations that brought more than a few laugh out loud moments.

Still, the odd moments piled up. Here's a few:

82-year-old Emmy winner Elaine Stritch getting confused while presenting an award, then confessing to the crowd "I'm not faking this -- I really don't know what the hell I'm doing."

Often-discombobulated American Idol judge Paula Abdul's clueless look when the spotlight fell on her after Seacrest suggested SHE spent too much time at the Weeds cast party.

The last line of Sally Field's acceptance speech getting totally cut from the broadcast -- the screen went to a wide shot of the the auditorium with no audio (for the record, she said ""And, let's face it, if the mothers ruled the world, there would be no g-d--- wars in the first place.") Contrary to what MoveOn.org or the Huffington Post may say tomorrow, I think the blip was all about profanity and not about the antiwar thing.

80-year-old Tony Bennett sweeping the variety, music awards, singing a duet with a very pregnant Christina Aguilera and smiling at his 47-year-old, blondiful wife. Does life just keep getting better for this guy, or what? At this point, going to heaven in the afterlife would be a step DOWN.

Katherine Heigl getting pissed that announcers mispronounced her name, then confessing while accepting her supporting actress honor that “My own mother told me I didn’t have a shot in hell of winning tonight, so I didn’t have anything prepared. But she’s a big supporter.” That tough dame image is starting to wear a bit, my dear.

Skeevy points to Seacrest, both for a joke about a blogger looking at nude pics of High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens and for cracking the first of TWO jokes about Heroes star Hayden Panettiere recently turning 18. At some point, it just looks creepy, dude.

Broken Trail star Thomas Haden Church noting he jumped out of his limousine to pee and that's why his pants don't fit. TMI, dude. And what the hell does that mean, anyway?

Cool points to a writer for Conan O'Brien who noted he prepared an acceptance speech "because Katherine Heigl's mom told me we were gonna win" and to Daily Show host Jon Stewart, who congratulated correspondent Rob Riggle for traveling to Iraq where he "found laughs in Hell."   

 

Comments

[Chuck]

Where is the diversity? I can see people of color are not allowed at the Emmy's. Seriously, this really does not reflect what we se in America. And this year's crop of shows are no better?

[Eric Deggans]

Well, when the nominees are not diverse, the winners aren't going to be, either -- which is something I've noted in past columns.

[Adrienne]

Well, I guess there should be affirmative action for award shows too. (Ugh) People, there have to be shows with strong minority characters in them FIRST in order for them to win awards. Oh, and apparently America Ferrera means nothing to you people.

[Eric Deggans]

Which you people are you talking about, I wonder?

For the record, there were lost of strong roles for people of color on TV this year. HBO's The Wire was packed with strong performances by a cast which was at least 50 percent black.

Vanessa Williams, Masi Oka, Forrest Whitaker on The Shield, Everybody Hates Chris...all these actors and shows were nomination-worthy.

But if they're not nominated, they can't win...

America Ferrera annoys the crap out of me. There's just something about her that grates on my nerves and makes me change the channel everytime I see her.

Sally Field? What a train wreck. There are 3 people in Alabama with Gidget posters above the mantle. Nobody else gives a damn what you think about foreign policy. Shut up and thank the crowd for your best old hack that nobody remembers award.

[Mark Jeffries]

Nice to see that wingnut morons don't have to sign their names to their personal attacks. In case you didn't notice, Sally Field is one of our finest actresses, who has had a distinguished career for a long time since Gidget and is a key member of a hit series. She very much deserved her Emmy because she's one of the best.

Bet you'd be praising her if she in favor of Shrub the Moron and his scheme to improve the value of Halliburton stock. (Please tell me how Saddam Hussein was responsible for 9/11, trailer-park-trash.)

And it's obvious from your attack on America Ferrera that you're a racist along with being a sexist pig. What's your opinion of African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Native Americans, Jews, gays and lesbians, wingnut--as if we didn't already know?

Wow Mark, I bet you were typing so furiously that your thong rode up on you. Were you hysterically crying like the Youtube Britney guy? I'm very happy that you're so passionate about Sally Field, Judy Garland, and your collection of pink triangle bumper stickers, but you may want to consider popping a xanax or something.

[Adrienne]

The "you people" I am refering to are the ignorant people writing in this column. Vanessa Williams WAS nominated, but she only knows how to play the "stuckup" act. Apparently, when we say "people of color", we have to narrow that category to black personas. "Bury My Heart" I guess doesn't count for much either.
I am a proud Hispanic woman, but if I don't see talent in my own people, I wouldn't vote for them.
Stop using the term equality when you really just want to lower the bar.

[Eric Deggans]

I think you better check out some of the other shows i mentioned before you talk about lowering the bar....

And you don't have to take my word for it; many Tv critics across the country have nbame the Wire and Chris among the best shows on TV.

But still, actors from those shows are never, ever nominated...talk about things which make you say hmmm....