Emmys 2021: The Crown dominates, streamers get ahead, and three more talking points

Television’s biggest night took place in Los Angeles

Michaela Coel dedicates her win to all survivors of sexual assault

The 2021 Emmys took place on Sunday, with attendees joining from Los Angeles and London as the ceremony returned to an in-person format.

Only a limited amount of nominees were invited to attend, and all had to present proof that they were vaccinated against Covid – as well as negative tests – in order to gain access to the event.

Actor and comedian Cedric the Entertainer was on hosting duties. Heading into the evening, The Crown and The Mandalorian were leading this year’s nominations.

During the ceremony, The Crown, The Queen’s Gambit and Ted Lasso won the evening’s top awards. Mare of Easttown also scored several high-profile wins, including Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie for Kate Winslet.

Here are the main talking points from the 2021 Emmy Awards:

Powerful women

Wonderful women stole the show at this year’s ceremony, from Kate Winslet’s speech about her detective in Mare of Easttown being a “middle-aged, imperfect, flawed mother who made us all feel validated”, to Michaela Coel dedicating her win to “every single survivor of sexual assault”. A big shout-out to Olivia Colman too, who we’re pretty sure got bleeped out for shouting “Michaela Coel, f*** yeah!” (or similar) in her own acceptance speech. (EH)

Covid concerns

The coronavirus pandemic, as it has become known to do, wormed its way into many speeches over the course of the night. Seth Rogen criticised the event’s perceived lack of Covid measures, calling it “insane”, while host Cedric the Entertainer joked that the vaccine did not lead to his testicles becoming swollen, in a reference to Nicki Minaj’s comments this week. Ewan McGregor and Kate Winslet, meanwhile, were among the winners to thank their shows’ crews for keeping them safe during filming. (EH)

All-white winners in major categories

Despite calls and efforts to get major awards shows to reward the work of actors of colour, white actors won all 12 major acting awards during Sunday’s ceremony. This applies to the lead and supporting actor and actress trophies in the Drama, Comedy, and Limited or Anthology Series or Movie categories. This despite the fact that – as reported by The Hollywood Reporter – performers of colour made up 44 per cent of this year’s nominees. (CM)

The Crown wins big

Netflix’s British royal saga was crowned Outstanding Drama Series in one of its many wins of the evening. With seven trophies, it emerged as the top programme of the 2021 Emmys. Many of its stars won acting awards, including a tearful Olivia Colman, a giggling Josh O’Connor, Tobias Menzies and Gillian Anderson. Its director Jessica Hobbs also triumphed, as well as creator Peter Morgan. (CM)

A great night for streamers

The Crown, a Netflix series, won Outstanding Drama Series, one of the evening’s top three awards. Outstanding Comedy Series went to Ted Lasso, an Apple TV+ programme, while The Queen’s Gambit, another Netflix show, won Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. In other words: streamers ruled television’s biggest night, and the streaming wars aren’t going to ease off any time soon. (CM)

Follow the ceremony as it happened with out live blog:

Key Points

• All the winners as they’re announced
• Kerry Washington pays tribute to Michael K Williams
• Gillian Anderson confuses viewers by accepting award in American accent

[19 September 2021 17:30 · Jacob Stolworthy]

Britain’s biggest chance at a win tonight comes via Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You.

[19 September 2021 18:00 · Jacob Stolworthy]

However, it will face extremely stiff competition from The Queen’s Gambit, which swept up at last week’s creative Emmy Awards ceremony. It’s currently odds on favourite to win.

[19 September 2021 19:00 · Jacob Stolworthy]

Here’s Anya Taylor Joy, Yvette Nicole Brown, Kathryn Hahn, Evan Peters and more at a pre-party alongside several other nominees last night.

[19 September 2021 19:30 · Jacob Stolworthy]

Earlier this year, our very own Kevin E G Perry waxed lyrical about Jean Smart. He predicted she would win her fourth Emmy for Hacks back then. Will his prediction come true?

[19 September 2021 20:00 · Jacob Stolworthy]

It’s worth noting that Smart was also fantastic as Kate Winslet’s mum in Mare of Easttown – but it would be nice to see her co-star Julianne Nicholson (who has been amazing in everything for so long) get the recognition she is long overdue.

(HBO)

[19 September 2021 20:30 · Jacob Stolworthy]

So, who will reign supreme in the battle of the Handmaid’s Tale cast? The Hulu series received EIGHT acting nominations – however, it looks like The Crown could snatch victory.

[19 September 2021 21:00 · Jacob Stolworthy]

Similarly, Ted Lasso has seven acting nominations. As opposed to The Handmaid’s Tale, it looks like the Apple tV+ sitcom will emerge victorious. Jason Sudeikis, Brett Goldstein and Hannah Waddingham all look set to take home trophies tonight.

[19 September 2021 21:30 · Jacob Stolworthy]

It’s around this time we should probably point out that Emily in Paris – the critically-maligned Netflix show – somehow managed to get a nomination for Best Comedy Series...

(Netflix)

[19 September 2021 22:00 · Jacob Stolworthy]

It’s not long to go until the red carpet coverage begins! The excitement is building...

[19 September 2021 22:30 · Jacob Stolworthy]

The ceremony tonight will be hosted by Cedric the Entertainer. Not all the nominees will be present due to Covid restrictions.