Yahoo Entertainment
2021 Emmys: Controversial winners, emotional speeches and some love for Norm Macdonald
The 73rd Emmy Awards took place Sunday night and, while the lack of diverse acting winners didn’t go unnoticed by viewers, as white actors swept all 12 major categories, ultimately, the night was all about honoring the best in primetime television, which included multiple tributes to comedian and former Saturday Night Live “Weekend Update” anchor Norm Macdonald, who died at the age of 61 from cancer last week. While accepting the award for Outstanding Variety Talk Series, Last Week Tonight’s John Oliver stated, “This is an award for late night comedy. No one was funnier in the last 20 years than Norm Macdonald on late night comedy. So if you have any time in the next week, do what I did and just spend time YouTubing clips of Norm and Conan, because it just doesn’t get better than that.” Later, when SNL creator and producer Lorne Michaels accepted the award for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series, Michaels shared, “Weekend Update has been part of SNL for 46 seasons, and here I would like to pay tribute to one of the best we ever had, Norm Macdonald.” Meanwhile, Jean Smart, who won the Emmy for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Hacks, also paid tribute to someone she recently lost – her husband, Richard Gilliland. “I have to acknowledge my late husband, Richard Gilliland, who passed away six months yesterday. I would not be here without him, and without his, kind of, putting his career on the back burner so I could take advantage of all the wonderful opportunities that I have had.” However, the most inspiring and empowering moment of the night went to actress Debbie Allen, who received the 2021 Governor’s award. Allen used her time to express the courage it has taken “to be the only woman in the room most of the time,” while also stating that she hopes the moment resonates with women across the world. “Across this country, and across the world, from Texas to Afghanistan. Let them know, and also with young people, who have no vote, who can’t even get a vaccine, they are inheriting the world that we live, that we leave them. It is time to claim your power, claim your voice, say your song, tell your story. It will make us a better place. Your turn.”