We like her. We really like her.
That would be Sally Field, who took her Emmy-winning moment Monday night at the 78th Annual Emmy Awards to single out the country where her series was shot.
“It’s Canada, blessed Canada, our neighbours, our friends.”
Field picked up her fourth career Emmy for her role as lead actress in the BC-lensed Netflix feature Remarkably Bright Creatures. She also worked in a shot at the proposed mega-meger between Paramount and Warners-Discovery. Field, 78, is among those who fear that contentious deal will limit opportunities for storytellers and other talent in the industry. “We can’t let those voices be silenced or compromised or merged.”
There were other moments Monday night which leaned into the current political climate, although you-know-who’s name was never mentioned.
Field’s shout out wasn’t the only part of the show that had the attention of Canadian viewers. Michael J. Fox was awarded the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award. Dressed formally in black and seated in a wheelchair, Fox began his comments by praising Hope, who spent many years raising morale by touring military bases. This hit home for Fox’s military family in BC. Hope was always accompanied by a Hollywood glamour star, and Lola Falana got name tagged twice by Fox.
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Also honoured was SCTV great Catherine O’Hara, eulogized by her Home Alone co-star Macauley Culkin and Schitt’s Creek castmates Annie Murphy and Dan Levy.
Emmy host Mariska Hargitay was game, and probably set a record for wardrobe changes, but the writers did her no favours in the few comedy bits that were attempted, especially the lamest one of all featuring Taylor Swift. The Law & Order SVU star did come to play and helped make the night fun for those at home and in LA’s Peacock Theater.
The night’s comedy highlight came at the end of the evening when presenters Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey (costarring in the AppleTV series Brothers, which premieres September 23) were asked to stretch out their shtick. This posed a problem as the pair were clearly half baked! They managed to announce the runaway winner in the Best Comedy category, Widow’s Bay.
It was great to see Rhea Seehorn finally recognized as Best Actress in a Drama for her role in Pluribus, which, in my opinion, was the best new show last season. With the award show eventually running short, it was a mistake to try and play her off so early in the evening.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert won for Best Variety and flooded the stage with what seemed like 200 people. Colbert was gracious and positive and didn’t mention you-know-who or The FCC once.
AppleTV was the big winner on the night thanks to a record 14 wins for Widow’s Bay, which romped in the comedy category led by Best Actor Matthew Rhys. He set a precident by winning a second statue Monday night for his lead role in the anthology drama The Beast in Me.
Jean Smart set a record winning her fifth Best Actress Emmy in a row for Hacks, which was at least one statue too many in my opinion. There were at least three others funnier than Smart on that series in its final year, including Canadian-born Robby Hoffman.
Allison Janey won for The Diplomat, and it is hard to argue that. Harrison Ford did not win in comedy support on Shrinking, with Stephen Root instead picking up his first Emmy in a long career for playing it largely straight on Widow’s Bay.
The best show on television last season, in my opinion, was Slow Horses. Robbed again, especially the great Gary Oldman, who lost to Noah Wyle in over-recognized drama The Pitt. The British-based Horses did pick up a Best Director award. Season six premieres Wednesday night on AppleTV.
