73rd Emmy Awards Features Palisadian Appearances

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

The 73rd Emmy Awards, which aired on Sunday evening, September 19, featured a bevy of Palisadians, both in special appearances and throughout the nominations.

The evening, hosted by Cedric the Entertainer, opened with a rap performance by Riviera resident Rita Wilson who joined the host, Tracee Ellis Ross and Brendan Hunt for a retooled version of Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend,” highlighting TV.

“Who knew, who knew they had so much TV,” she said, adding in a bit about getting HBO Max for free and commenting about “Sesame Street.”

Another shout out to a Palisadian came when Seth Rogan expressed concern over the room Emmy night took place in.

“There’s way too many of us in this little room,” Rogan said, before pointing out how Emmy organizers seemed to prioritize the decor over keeping Eugene Levy, current honorary mayor of Pacific Palisades, safe.

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has since responded, stating that everything about the show was done in line with current mandates and guidance from the department that applied.

After sweeping last year’s Emmys, Levy, along with son Dan, Annie Murphy and Catherine O’Hara, reunited during this year’s show to present awards.

“I may have passed the writers room this morning and asked them to lift the dialogue a little bit,” Eugene joked after a tech mishap where the teleprompter did not work during their presentation.

“You casually told a room of comedy writers to lift your dialogue?” Dan responded. “Lift was the word that you used?”

When it comes to the awards doled out, “Ted Lasso” beat out “Cobra Kai” (executive produced by Palisadian Hayden Schlossberg) and “The Kominsky Method” (executive produced by Palisadian Chuck Lorre) for Outstanding Comedy series. “Ted Lasso” star Jason Sudeikis also won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, which Michael Douglas was also nominated in for his role in “The Kominsky Method.”

With four “Ted Lasso” nominations within Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, Brett Goldstein took home the award for his role of Roy Kent, which Paul Reiser was also nominated in for “The Kominsky Method.” Hannah Waddingham for her role of Rebecca Welton in “Ted Lasso” received the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series award.

“The Crown” won Outstanding Drama Series over “Lovecraft Country,” executive produced by Palisades Charter High School graduate J.J. Abrams. Josh O’Connor and Olivia Colman in “The Crown” also won the Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress in a Drama Series award over Jonathan Majors and Jurnee Smollett in “Lovecraft Country.”

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series went to Courtney B. Vance as George Freeman in “Lovecraft Country,” which Palisadian Don Cheadle was nominated in for his role in Marvel’s “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.”

Another Marvel show, executive produced by Palisadian Kevin Feige, “WandaVision” lost the award for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series to Netflix’s “The Queen’s Gambit.” Ewan McGregor won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie award for his role in “Halston” over Paul Bettany in “WandaVision.”

The other titular character in “WandaVision,” Elizabeth Olsen, faced the same outcome, with Kate Winslet taking home the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie award for her role of Mare Sheehan in “Mare of Easttown.”

Three episodes of “WandaVision” were nominated in the Outstanding Writing for a Limited Anthology Series or Movie, but the award ultimately went to Michaela Coel for an episode of HBO’s “I May Destroy You.”

Mark Worthington, Sharon Davis and Kathy Orlando won Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour) for their work on “WandaVision.”

In the Outstanding Variety Talk Series category, Palisadian Conan O’Brien’s final season of “Conan” was beat by “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”—but his presence at the show was made known, including with a shout out from Oliver himself.

“Thank you so much,” Oliver shared while accepting the award. “I think, like many of us in this room, I was kind of rooting for Conan, so this is bittersweet. Thank you so much, Conan, for 30 years of inspiring comedy writers a ridiculous number, you’re the best.”

O’Brien also made an on-screen appearance when Chairman and CEO of the Television Academy Frank Scherma took the stage, insisting the audience give a standing ovation before Scherma could finish his speech. As Scherma spoke, O’Brien stayed standing up, saluting him for the duration.

O’Brien also was seen on stage when Stephen Colbert accepted the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) for “Stephen Colbert’s Election 2020: Democracy’s Last Stand Building Back America Great Again Better 2020.” Colbert told Entertainment Tonight that it was his idea, he invited O’Brien to join if they won.

When it comes to Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded), “Hamilton” took home the award over “Friends the Reunion,” which featured former Palisadian Matt LeBlanc and current resident Matthew Perry. “Bo Burnham: Inside” also beat “Friends the Reunion,” winning Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special.

Former Honorary Mayor Anthony Hopkins was nominated for Outstanding Narrator for his work on “Mystic Quest,” with the award going to Sterling K. Brown for “Lincoln: Divided We Stand.”

Derek Hough for “Dancing with the Stars,” which is now hosted by Palisadian Tyra Banks, was awarded Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming. The show was beat out by “Saturday Night Live” in the Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Series category.

For a complete list of nominees and winners, visit emmys.com.