The mission for Emmycast 2009: Eradicate all memory of Emmycast 2008.
Last year’s Emmy Awards show fell to a historic low when five reality-show hosts — Tom Bergeron, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, Jeff Probst and Ryan Seacrest — collectively bombed, squandering any remaining dignity attached to the event and drawing dreadful ratings.
Thankfully, this year was different.
Neil Patrick Harris took on the near-impossible mission of restoring the spark to TV’s biggest night, and through song, wit and jokes at his own expense, he prevailed. He did more than keep it moving. He kept it fun, even if he didn’t win his own Emmy.
The 61st annual Emmy telecast Sunday was free of political grandstanding. It was an entertaining night of trophy-taking — and retaking: most notably by “30 Rock” and “Mad Men.”
Harris, who hosted the Tonys earlier this year, opened with a clever showy number. (“Don’t go to the loo and, whatever you do, put down the remote!”) He was affable without being intrusive. John Hodgman, best known as the PC in Apple computer ads, provided wry “color commentary” during dull walk-to-the-stage shots (observing “the first time a musical number was written for a wolverine” when Hugh Jackman’s Oscar opener won an award).
The most biting joke of the evening: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, saying she was “glad to be presenting on the last official year of network television.”
With the broadcast audience shrinking, prestige and awards shifting to cable and certain networks finding more inspiration in cost-cutting than in creative programming, that joke addressed the elephant in the room.
By contrast, the best comic bit was Dr. Horrible interrupting the accountants from Ernst & Young to deliver word that “Television is dead.” Harris, in character from the online “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog,” poked fun at emerging technology and, ultimately, knocked the naysayers about the future of television.
Emmy producer Don Mischer reconfigured the stage, liberating the band from the pit, providing live music for the first time in five years and featuring the control room. Allowing viewers to see backstage moments via split screen (like Harris conferring with producers) helped keep the pace lively. Having the director audibly call cues was an interesting touch at first, distracting after a while. Dividing the awards by genre was a good idea, except that it was a dodge because the big awards were saved until the end.
We didn’t have to wait long for Tina Fey and Jon Hamm, stars of the shows that won for best comedy and drama. They were the first presenters. Best comedic line by a dramatic actor: “Good evening, and thank you for looking at us,” said perfect specimen Hamm.
Biggest upset: Alec Baldwin’s (“30 Rock”) win over Jim Parsons (“The Big Bang Theory.”)
A running gag that worked: Harris introduced actors by minor, forgotten works, for instance, Jennifer Love Hewitt, “who you’ll remember as Andrea Kurtz in ‘Munchie,’ ” or Simon Baker, “you know him as Retaux de Vilette in ‘The Affair of the Necklace.’ ” Bless him.
Brilliant idea: a wave but no speech from the president of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
It was a night of major repeat winners: Glenn Close, Bryan Cranston, “30 Rock” and “Mad Men.” TV historians note that the last time we had this kind of rerun awards show was 1968. That was when ’67 best drama winner “Mission: Impossible” won again, along with repeaters Bill Cosby from “I Spy,” Barbara Bain from “Mission: Impossible,” Don Adams from “Get Smart” and Lucille Ball from “The Lucy Show.”
This year’s repeaters will be remembered for better roles and scripts.
Sarah McLachlan performed “I Will Remember You” during the always stunning In Memoriam segment, which seemed especially lengthy this year (Natasha Richardson, Bea Arthur, Paul Newman, Patrick Swayze, Farrah, MJ, Cronkite).
What a legacy, Close said. It’s true. And this was a night to make you appreciate it.
“May we see you next year on broadcast television,” Harris concluded. No joke there. Depending on the ratings, the Emmy telecast could end up on cable.
Joanne Ostrow: 303-954-1830 or jostrow@denverpost.com
Emmy winners
Partial list of winners at Sunday’s 61st annual Primetime Emmy Awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences:
Drama Series: “Mad Men,” AMC.
Comedy Series: “30 Rock,” NBC.
Actor, Drama Series: Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad,” AMC.
Actress, Drama Series: Glenn Close, “Damages,” FX Networks.
Actor, Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock,” NBC.
Actress, Comedy Series: Toni Collette, “United States of Tara,” Showtime.
Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Jon Cryer, “Two and a Half Men,” CBS.
Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Kristin Chenoweth, “Pushing Daisies,” ABC.
Made-for-TV Movie: “Grey Gardens,” HBO.
Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Brendan Gleeson, “Into the Storm,” HBO.
Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Jessica Lange, “Grey Gardens,” HBO.
Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Ken Howard, “Grey Gardens,” HBO.
Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Shohreh Aghdashloo, “House of Saddam,” HBO.
Directing for a Comedy Series: “The Office: Stress Relief,” Jeff Blitz, NBC.
Reality-Competition Program: “The Amazing Race,” CBS.
Writing for a Comedy Series: “30 Rock: Reunion,” Matt Hubbard, NBC.
— The Associated Press
