It was a night of records, historic recognition and, let’s face it, Matthew Rhys. Jean Smart and Sally Field both made history: Smart is the first woman to win an Emmy for every season of a show – in this case, five trophies for Hacks; and Field became the oldest winner in her category (Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie) after making nice with an octopus in Remarkably Bright Creatures. Along with up-for-anything-host Mariska Hargitay (who won two Emmys this year for her doc My Mom Jayne), they set the evening’s tone of female empowerment – the older the better. But Rhys’s feat was undeniably impressive: the first performer to win two acting awards on the same night, lead in a drama for The Beast in Me and lead in a comedy for Widow’s Bay (which also took home Best Comedy Series). Squeezed between the award celebrations were touching posthumous tributes to Catherine O’Hara from her onscreen kids Macaulay Culkin, Dan Levy, and Annie Murphy; Dolly Parton received a stirring eulogy from Field; and Jamie Lee Curtis broke down in tears remembering how funny “friend to all” Rob Reiner was and how, even in death, he’s reaching new heights. “He now holds the record, at 48 years, for the longest gap between acting Emmys, which was previously held by his father, Carl Reiner, at 37 years.”
It was three hours of highs and lows (we’re looking at you, new Baywatch cast), but here are the moments that we won’t forget.
1 | Sally Field, 79, thanked “Canada, blessed Canada, our neighbours, our friends.” She likes us, she really likes us.
2 | Schitt’s Creek star Annie Murphy, 39, remembered Catherine O’Hara with an anecdote that took place in the LCBO, leaving the Hollywood crowd wondering, “What’s that?”
3 | Canada’s favourite television son made us proud, again, as Michael J. Fox, 65 – pushed out on stage in a wheelchair to accept his award – summons Alex P. Keaton’s wit and Bob Hope’s heart.
4 | Charlie’s Angels turns 50, and its stars are still getting mileage out of that Farrah Fawcett poster.
5 | The stars of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sarah Michelle Gellar, 49, and David Boreanz, 57, celebrated the show’s 30th anniversary with a brave face after losing three co-stars and their executive producer, Dolly Parton, all in the last 18 months.
6 | With a pixie cut and Prada sequined gown, nominee and presenter Zendaya was, according to her stylist Law Roach, “paying homage to another great African American, beautiful actress” – Halle Berry – on her historic 2002 Oscar night. Berry accepted the compliment, saying the Euphoria star “murdered the night.”
