After a four-month postponement due to strikes in Hollywood, the Emmy Awards meticulously followed the script: The big favorites “Succession” and “The Bear” triumphed unchallenged.
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Without any suspense, the final season of “Succession” won the best drama series award for the third time after its coronations in 2020 and 2022. She won six awards over the course of the evening.
Kieran Culkin AFP
Dark and harrowing, this HBO production follows the internal feuds of the Roys, a wealthy family at the head of a vast media empire. This is reminiscent of the influence of a certain Rupert Murdoch in the United States.
“It is true that certain things in our series are very close to American life and American politics,” admitted the screenwriter, mentioning the name of the Australian tycoon, in particular, owner of Fox News and the Wall Street Journal.
Sarah Snook Getty Images via AFP
The series is about “the family, but also about the fact that (…) the partisan coverage of the news is intertwined with right-wing politics, which creates divisions,” he added, the same evening Donald Trump won the Republican primary in Iowa.
The series' cast won the most drama awards: Best Actor for sassy family man Kieran Culkin, Best Actress for Sarah Snook, the Roy's only female heir, and Best Supporting Actor for her husband. On screen was Matthew Macfadyen.
Matthew Macfadyen AFP
In addition to the swan song for “Succession,” the dramatic categories honored Jennifer Coolidge, best supporting actress in “The White Lotus,” a chic and biting satire about the hypocrisy of the rich.
Jennifer Coolidge AFP
“The Bear” reveal
In comedies, “The Bear: Local or Takeaway” confirmed its status as a revelation of the American cathodic landscape with six awards on Monday night.
The first season, which delves into the tumultuous background of a Chicago restaurant, won best comedy as well as best direction and best screenplay.
AFP
Its leading actors Jeremy Allen White (Best Actor), Ayo Edebiri (Best Supporting Actress) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Best Supporting Actor) also won the most acting awards in the comedy categories.
Jeremy Allen White AFP
Ayo Edebiri AFP
Ebon Moss-Bachrach Getty Images via AFP
In the face of this steamroller, only “Abbott Elementary,” a mockumentary parody of the lack of resources at a predominantly African-American elementary school in Philadelphia, could survive. Her heroine Quinta Brunson received the award for best actress.
In the highly competitive category of mini-series limited to one season, the Netflix production “Acharnés” dominated the debates.
This series, which follows the massacre of two rather angry drivers after a collision in a Los Angeles parking lot, was voted best miniseries and allowed its two stars, Steven Yeun and Ali Wong, to win the interpretation prize.
The Emmy Awards, American television's equivalent of the Oscars, normally take place in September, but strikes by Hollywood actors and screenwriters have thrown their calendar into complete disarray.
The industry was completely paralyzed for six months as actors were barred from promotion during the strike, resulting in the ceremony having to be postponed in January.
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“Succinct speeches”
A decision that has not helped the broadcasters who want to counteract the decline in ratings of this large mass of American television.
In its 75th edition, the Emmys unfortunately fell between several major Hollywood awards dates, including the Golden Globes and the announcement of the Oscar nominations.
Not to mention that because of the postponement, they rewarded series whose select seasons often began a year and a half ago, an eternity in the world of entertainment.
The evening's host, Anthony Anderson, tried to remedy the situation by instructing his mother to interrupt the winners who had delayed giving their thanks too long.
“I'd like to ask all of you to keep these speeches concise,” the “Black-ish” star joked, as U.S. awards shows struggle to appeal to younger audiences who are more inclined to listen to a recap of the best moments afterwards view on social networks.
In 2022, the Emmy Awards saw only 5.9 million viewers. That's even less than the 2020 edition, nicknamed “PandEmmys”, where the stars stayed at home due to lockdown restrictions.
The Emmy Awards will be held again next September, this time honoring series that will air starting in fall 2023.