70th Emmys Takes on Diversity and Marriage Proposal

Paul Drinkwater/NBC

Glenn Weiss “Directing – Variety Special for The Oscars” proposes to his girlfriend during the 70th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Microsoft Theater on September 17th, 2018.

ISABELLA BRANCATO, WRITER

The 2018 Primetime Emmys celebrated their 70th show on Sept. 17. “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” took home the most awards with five wins, including Outstanding Comedy Series, followed by “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” with three.

The award ceremony was hosted by Saturday Night Live stars Colin Jost and Michael Che. They poked fun at the limited diversity on television throughout the night, such as cracking jokes about “an all-white reboot of ‘Atlanta’ called ‘15 Miles Outside of Atlanta.’”

Even opening the show, stars Sterling K. Brown, Kristen Bell, Tituss Burgess, Kate McKinnon, Kenan Thompson, and John Legend sang a song called “We Solved It,” which came to the jesting conclusion that “diversity is not a problem in Hollywood anymore.”

Aside from there not being as many colored winners as those nominated, the colored community received representation from John Legend winning as an executive producer for “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert” at the Creative Art Emmy Awards. This win has not only made him one of fifteen Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT) winners, but also the first African-American to receive EGOT status. There were also notable wins from Thandie Newton (“Westworld), Regina King (“Seven Seconds”), and RuPaul (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”).

Drag queen RuPaul made Emmy history himself by winning both Outstanding Reality/Competition Series and Reality/Competition Host in the same year. His show also broke the reign of previous winners in the Outstanding Reality/Competition Series category. In past years this awards has only gone to “The Amazing Race,” “The Voice,” and “Top Chef.”

Glenn Weiss, winner of Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special shocked the audience and at-home viewers by proposing halfway through the night. While accepting his award, Weiss gave a shout out to his girlfriend, Jan Svendsen, calling her “the sunshine in my life.” He continued saying, “You wonder why I don’t like to call you my girlfriend? Because I want to call you my wife.” An awestruck Svensen then made her way to join Weiss on stage where he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him.

The program also included a memorial for the men and women of television who passed in the following year, such as Aretha Franklin, Burt Reynolds, and Neil Simon. Betty White made an appearance as well, making a speech in recognition of her eighty years in show business that got a standing ovation from the audience.

Awards presented prior to the live show can be found at the Emmys’ website here; http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2018

Below are the winners from the night’s awards.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Henry Winkler, “Barry” (HBO)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Alex Borstein, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Prime Video)

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series – Amy Sherman-Palladino, “Pilot” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Prime Video)

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series – Amy Sherman-Palladino, “Pilot” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Prime Video)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series – Bill Hader, “Barry” (HBO)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series – Rachel Brosnahan, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Prime Video)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series – Merritt Wever, “Godless” (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series – Jeff Daniels, “Godless” (Netflix)

Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series – William Bridges and Charlie Brooker, “USS Callister (Black Mirror)” (Netflix)

Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series – Ryan Murphy, “The Man Who Would Be Vogue” “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” (FX Networks)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series – Darren Criss, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” (FX Networks)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series – Regina King, “Seven Seconds” (Netflix)

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special – John Mulaney, “John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous At Radio City” (Netflix)

Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special – Glenn Weiss, “The Oscars” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones” (HBO)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Thandie Newton, “Westworld” (HBO)

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series – Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg, “Start” “The Americans” (FX Networks)

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series – Stephen Daldry, “Paterfamilias” “The Crown” (Netflix)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series – Matthew Rhys, “The Americans” (FX Networks)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series – Claire Foy, “The Crown” (Netflix)

Outstanding Reality/Competition Series – “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (VH1)

Outstanding Variety Sketch Series – “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)

Outstanding Variety Talk Series – “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” (HBO)

Outstanding Limited Series – “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” (FX Networks)

Outstanding Comedy Series – “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Prime Video)

Outstanding Drama Series – “Game of Thrones” (HBO)

(Cover Photo Source: NBC, Photographer: Paul Drinkwater)