By Natalie Hamil, Staff Writer, Emerson College
On September 22nd, I popped a bag of popcorn, cuddled up under a blanket, and watched the Emmy Awards. While watching, I noticed that something felt a little strange, but at the time I couldn't put my finger on it. But when I checked my Twitter feed during commercial breaks, I noticed that other people had felt the same unusual vibe that I had. #WeirdEmmys was trending, and as I continued to watch, I noticed more and more weird things about the Emmy Awards 2013.
Some things were weird because nobody was expecting them. Who honestly could have seen it coming that Jeff Daniels (“The Newsroom”) would win best actor in a drama series over Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”) or Jon Hamm (“Mad Men”)? People were shocked when Bobby Cannvale (“Boardwalk Empire”) took the best supporting actor award over actors like Mandy Patinkin (“Homeland”) and Aaron Paul (“Breaking Bad”). And everyone was shocked when “Modern Family" lost its hold on slots for the best supporting actor/actress in a comedy series.
Other things were weird because they were just... weird. It felt like the entire show was based around memorials, where many individuals were singled out solely for their own tribute. These actors certainly should be rewarded, but the excessive tributes slowed the show’s pace significantly.
But perhaps the most surprising aspect of #WeirdEmmys was Neil Patrick Harris. NPH has hosted so many awards shows recently that it’s almost comical, but even he couldn’t save the Emmys this year. His sketches were not nearly as funny as those in the past. The interpretative dance segment in the middle of the show felt disconnected, out of place, and just plain strange. Each show received its own troupe of dancers who interpreted the show, but the choreographed routines didn’t have much to do with the shows they were honoring at all. The entire segment seemed a little underwhelming, especially knowing what Harris is capable of. After seeing Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s banter during the opener, it almost felt like they would have been easier-to-watch hosts, which was definitely weird, considering that Harris typically can do no wrong.
So what made the Emmys the #WeirdEmmys? I'd chalk it up to bad writing for Neil Patrick Harris as an underprepared host, and some very strange judgement calls by the voting committee. If only we could have been saved by the dance number! At least we can hope for a stellar Tony Awards ceremony, and let’s be honest – those actors are more fun to watch anyway.
Natalie Hamil is a Writing, Literature and Publishing major at Emerson College. She is on the pursuit of happiness. Her passions include reading, writing, crocheting and wearing interesting/colorful pants. You can contact Natalie on her Twitter.
Some things were weird because nobody was expecting them. Who honestly could have seen it coming that Jeff Daniels (“The Newsroom”) would win best actor in a drama series over Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”) or Jon Hamm (“Mad Men”)? People were shocked when Bobby Cannvale (“Boardwalk Empire”) took the best supporting actor award over actors like Mandy Patinkin (“Homeland”) and Aaron Paul (“Breaking Bad”). And everyone was shocked when “Modern Family" lost its hold on slots for the best supporting actor/actress in a comedy series.
Other things were weird because they were just... weird. It felt like the entire show was based around memorials, where many individuals were singled out solely for their own tribute. These actors certainly should be rewarded, but the excessive tributes slowed the show’s pace significantly.
But perhaps the most surprising aspect of #WeirdEmmys was Neil Patrick Harris. NPH has hosted so many awards shows recently that it’s almost comical, but even he couldn’t save the Emmys this year. His sketches were not nearly as funny as those in the past. The interpretative dance segment in the middle of the show felt disconnected, out of place, and just plain strange. Each show received its own troupe of dancers who interpreted the show, but the choreographed routines didn’t have much to do with the shows they were honoring at all. The entire segment seemed a little underwhelming, especially knowing what Harris is capable of. After seeing Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s banter during the opener, it almost felt like they would have been easier-to-watch hosts, which was definitely weird, considering that Harris typically can do no wrong.
So what made the Emmys the #WeirdEmmys? I'd chalk it up to bad writing for Neil Patrick Harris as an underprepared host, and some very strange judgement calls by the voting committee. If only we could have been saved by the dance number! At least we can hope for a stellar Tony Awards ceremony, and let’s be honest – those actors are more fun to watch anyway.
Natalie Hamil is a Writing, Literature and Publishing major at Emerson College. She is on the pursuit of happiness. Her passions include reading, writing, crocheting and wearing interesting/colorful pants. You can contact Natalie on her Twitter.