The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards took place in Los Angeles. The evening passed without harsh political statements: restrained calls for civic responsibility and overcoming social divisions were heard from the stage. Actor Alan Cumming reminded viewers of National Voter Registration Day, and actress Sally Field spoke out in support of Canada and spoke out against the Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. merger deal. Discovery. Stephen Colbert, whose late-night show ended its run as best entertainment show, made no mention of the controversy that surrounded the program's final months.
While accepting the award for Best Reality TV for his work on Traitors, actor Alan Cumming urged viewers to make sure they are registered to vote in the November midterm elections.
“We got the most votes tonight, but tomorrow is Voter Registration Day in this country. So please make sure you are registered to vote because the time to talk is over. Now it’s time to vote, America,” Cumming said.
“One of Many” showrunner Vince Gilligan spoke about the polarization of society while accepting the award for best writing for a drama series. He addressed those present and advised them to “stop listening” to those politicians who benefit from dividing people.
“A world where everyone gets along is science fiction. Think about it: there is nothing stranger than our current reality. A real world in which people can get along with each other is no less plausible than the one we live in now. And such a world is completely achievable. We will never agree with each other on everything, but we can treat each other with respect and perhaps even kindness. And we can stop listening to those few who convince us that this attitude is for fools, and who derive their power from dividing us,” he said.
For Gilligan, this award was long-awaited – his last series, Better Call Saul, received a total of 53 Emmy nominations over the years of its run, but did not win a single one.
Actress Sally Field, who won an Emmy for Best Actress in the Netflix miniseries Extraordinarily Smart Creatures, mentioned in her speech that the project was filmed in Canada. The actress's statement came against the backdrop of a new round of the trade war between the United States and Canada. In August, American 50 percent tariffs came into force on a number of Canadian goods with a total value of about $28 billion. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded by introducing a package of duties against the United States on a dollar-for-dollar basis.
“Blessed Canada! Our neighbors, our friends,” Field emphasized. The audience greeted her words with applause.
The actress also hinted at a deal between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, championing creative voices.
“I am incredibly grateful and proud to have been a part of this community—the art world—for 62 years. We are art. We matter. Our voices matter. Our diversity and our unique stories matter. We cannot allow these voices to be silenced or swallowed up by a merger,” the actress said.
A few months ago, a coalition of prosecutors general from 12 American states appealed to the federal court with a demand to block the merger of companies due to possible monopolization of the entertainment market. Subsequently, Paramount, which is led by David Ellison, the son of billionaire and Donald Trump ally Larry Ellison, agreed not to close the deal until June 2027, pending the outcome of the lawsuit in California.
Field previously won the Oscar for Best Actress twice, for 1979's Norma Rae and 1984's Places in the Heart.
Stephen Colbert won the award for best variety show. In his speech, he first thanked the staff of The Late Show, which CBS canceled in May of this year.
“This is the future of our industry, which we must take care of. Hire them. They will make your show better and your job easier,” he said.
CBS said last July that the decision to cancel the program was made solely based on “financial considerations” and the “changing landscape” of such programming. However, members of the Writers Guild of America then said that they had “serious concerns” that CBS ended its cooperation with the popular host in order to “bribe” Trump.
The presenter gained popularity due to his sharp criticism of the president during monologues at the beginning of the program and in conversations with guests. Trump himself subsequently rejoiced at Colbert's dismissal, saying that the comedian's “talents were less than his ratings.”
The ceremony also featured a pre-recorded sketch with Taylor Swift and the evening's host, Mariska Hargitay, who plays Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Hargitay became the first woman to host the Emmys alone since Jane Lynch in 2011.
Hargitay and her colleagues tried to “solve the case” and find out whether Swift would appear at the Emmys. At some point, the singer herself appeared in the frame as a detective along with her cat Olivia, named after Hargitay’s on-screen character.
