The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards, airing in January after a four-month postponement, had its share of memorable moments. From unexpected kisses between The Bear’s Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Matty Matheson to the ongoing “feud” between Succession’s Kieran Culkin and The Last of Us’ Pedro Pascal, the ceremony featured a mix of good, bad, weird, and wild moments. Notable moments include Niecy Nash-Betts’ heartfelt acceptance speech, the Two and a Half Men reunion, and a cringe-worthy red carpet encounter with Hannah Waddingham.
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Christina Applegate’s Standing Ovation
Christina Applegate received a standing ovation as she presented the award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series at a recent event. The Dead to Me star, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021, walked onto the stage in a red velvet gown with a cane. Touched by the audience’s reaction, she said, “Thank you so much. Oh my god, you’re totally shaming me with disability by standing up. It’s fine … Body not by Ozempic!” Applegate was visibly moved to tears and stood arm in arm with host Anthony Anderson.
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Quinta Brunson’s Emotional Acceptance Speech
On Monday night, Quinta Brunson made history by becoming the first Black actress in 42 years to win the award for outstanding lead actress in a comedy. Brunson received the honor for her portrayal of Philadelphia school teacher Janine Teagues in Abbott Elementary. The last Black woman to win this award was Isabel Sanford for her role in The Jeffersons in 1961.
While accepting the award from Carol Burnett, Brunson expressed her gratitude, saying, “Thank you so much. I love making Abbott Elementary so much, and I am so happy to be able to live my dream and act out comedy. I say it every time, and I just love comedy so much that I am so happy to be able to get this.” Overwhelmed with emotion, she continued, “I didn’t prepare anything because I just didn’t think … Oh god. I love my mom, my dad, my sisters, my brothers, my entire family so much. I love my husband. I’m so happy. I love my cast. Oh, I love Abbott Elementary. Thank you so much.”
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Pedro’s Fightin’ Words
The playful feud between Kieran Culkin and Pedro Pascal escalated at the Emmys, with Pascal jokingly claiming his shoulder was in a sling because “Kieran Culkin beat the s—t out of me.” Culkin responded with a deadpan expression in the audience, adding a touch of humor to their ongoing banter. The playful dynamic between the two actors has become a highlight of recent award shows, reminiscent of Jimmy Kimmel and Matt Damon’s famous fake feud. The audience enjoyed the comedic exchange, and Culkin’s commitment to the bit was evident even when he broke into laughter later on.
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Ayo Edebiri’s Purse Handoff
Ayo Edebiri, before accepting the award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for “The Bear,” was seen closing her purse and attempting to place it in her seat. Instead, she decided to pass it off to her seatmate, Carson Daly, who humorously responded with, “I got it,” as she handed it over. This lighthearted moment added a touch of humor to the Emmys, showcasing the camaraderie among attendees. Edebiri’s win, alongside Quinta Brunson’s, marked a historic moment as the first time a pair of Black actresses won the two female comedy acting categories in the same year.
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The Many, Many Cast Reunions
During the Emmys broadcast, fans were treated to numerous cast reunions as former costars came together as presenters. Cast members from fan-favorite shows like The Sopranos, Two and a Half Men, Martin, Cheers, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Ally McBeal, and Grey’s Anatomy participated in the fun segments. A notable reunion occurred with original Grey’s Anatomy cast members Katherine Heigl and Justin Chambers, who joined former costars Ellen Pompeo, James Pickens Jr., and Chandra Wilson on stage in front of a hospital room set to present the award for outstanding supporting actor in a limited or anthology series or movie.
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Niecy Nash-Betts’ Big Thanks
Niecy Nash-Betts delivered a passionate, eloquent, and succinct acceptance speech for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series. A standout moment came towards the end when, after expressing gratitude to Dahmer co-star Evan Peters and executive producer Ryan Murphy, the seasoned performer took a moment to thank herself. “I want to thank me for believing in me and doing what they said I could not do,” she declared. “And I want to say to myself, in front of all you beautiful people, ‘Go on, girl, with your bad self! You did that!'” A powerful acknowledgment indeed, Niecy!
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Rob McElhenney’s Secret Screen
Rob McElhenney demonstrated that his devotion to the Philadelphia Eagles knows no bounds, not even for the Emmy Awards! At the ceremony, the actor shared a photo captured by his wife, Kaitlin Olson, showing him glued to his phone, watching the Philadelphia Eagles’ playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while the Emmys unfolded. He humorously captioned the photo: “Who schedules the Emmys the same night as the @eagles #gobirds #FlyEaglesFly.”
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Kieran Culkin’s Shocking Ask
Succession’s Kieran Culkin continues his winning streak this awards season, adding the outstanding lead actor in a drama award at the Emmys to his recent Golden Globes and Critics Choice wins. In his heartfelt acceptance speech, Culkin expressed gratitude to his family, specifically thanking his mom for his great childhood and his wife, Jazz Charton, for sharing her life and giving him two amazing kids. Culkin humorously concluded, “and Jazz, I want more. You said maybe, if I win!”
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Tracee Ellis Ross and Natasha Lyonne’s ‘I Love Lucy’ Moment
Tracee Ellis Ross and Natasha Lyonne paid homage to the classic sitcom “I Love Lucy” with a reenactment of the iconic chocolate line scene. In the bit, Ross took on the role of Lucy, donning a red wig, as she and Lyonne attempted to manage a fast-paced conveyor belt of candy. The tribute was a fun nod to one of the most famous moments in television history.
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John Oliver’s Time Killer
John Oliver added a humorous touch to the end of his acceptance speech for outstanding scripted variety series. Knowing his time on stage was coming to an end, Oliver expressed his desire not to leave without being played off by Anthony Anderson’s mom, Doris Bowman, who had been signaling winners when their time was up throughout the night. Oliver started reading off the names of the Liverpool football team before Bowman intervened, and he concluded his speech with a lighthearted nod, saying, “I’d like to thank Jesus and my family.”
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Jennifer Coolidge Gets A Shout Out
Jennifer Coolidge added a humorous touch to her acceptance speech for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series. Paying tribute to her character in “The White Lotus” and referencing a memorable moment from the show’s second season, she joked, “I wanna thank all the evil gays,” before being playfully nudged off the stage by Anthony Anderson’s mom. Coolidge’s award marked her second Emmy for the role and added to the accolades she has received for her performance in “The White Lotus.”
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Kiss Cam
Matty Matheson celebrated The Bear’s win for Outstanding Comedy Series with a surprising and enthusiastic kiss from co-star Ebon Moss-Bachrach. As he began, Matheson — who was a chef and restaurateur before adding actor to his résumé — said, “I just love restaurants so much. The good, the bad. It’s rough. We’re all broken inside and every single day we gotta show up and cook and make people feel good by eating something and sitting at a table. It’s really beautiful.”
The unexpected moment added a touch of humor and warmth to the acceptance speech.