All told, though, there was simply too much “SNL,” past and present, as if producer Lorne Michaels — overseeing the telecast for host network NBC — could scarcely be bothered to reach beyond his comfort zone.
Hosts Michael Che and Colin Jost filled their opening and indeed much of what followed with a surplus of insider-ish jokes, about everything from sexual harassment to recent low ratings for the Emmys.
That almost obscured a strong showing for LGBTQ-themed content, including FX’s “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
Structurally, the producers stuck to the logical approach of breaking down nominees by genre, which continues to make sense. That said, the presenter banter was often painful, making a case for trotting out fewer celebrities and then actually giving them time to do or say something.
Netflix, which for the first time surpassed HBO in total nominations, left its mark on the ceremony, winning seven awards Monday (and tying HBO overall, with 23 each for all the award ceremonies). But Amazon also made its presence felt by nearly sweeping the comedy balloting for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” leaving Hulu – thanks to “Thrones” regaining its throne — as the odd streamer out.
HBO and FX walked away with six and five awards, respectively, which kept streaming services from being the night’s big story. The lone broadcast winners for the night, by contrast, were the aforementioned Weiss for ABC’s Oscarcast and “SNL,” prompting Michaels to note in his acceptance speech that NBC is still alive and kicking, 43 years after the late-night staple made its debut.
The Emmys, it’s worth noting, aren’t eligible to win Emmys. And even if they were, this year’s show — its highlights notwithstanding — certainly wouldn’t be a candidate to land one.
Source : Nbcnewyork