Michael K. Williams has been nominated for five Emmys, and he was considered the frontrunner last night for Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. The voting closed before he passed, but that shouldn’t have mattered. Unfortunately that category went to Tobias Menzies for playing Prince Philip on The Crown. You could assume Williams lost because Lovecraft Country was horror and a lot of Emmy voters overlook that category, but they also overlook actors of color. All of the actors who won last night were white. It was disappointing, but not surprising. Many people compared Williams’ loss to Chadwick Boseman losing best actor at the Oscars to Anthony Hopkins.
A tribute to Williams closed out the In Memoriam segment at least. Kerry Washington presented this category and she had some lovely things to say about him. She said “Michael was – crazy to say was – a brilliantly talented actor and a generous human being,” Washington said. “Michael, I know you’re here, because you wouldn’t miss this. Your excellence, your artistry will endure. We love you.” Like Kerry, I still can’t believe that he’s gone. Williams gave so much to his roles, and was so open and vulnerable in interviews that I felt like I knew him.
Kerry was in a slinky white satin Etro gown with a corset on the outside.
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Jurnee Smollett, who was nominated for lead actress in a drama for Lovecraft, was in Dior. That category went to Olivia Colman for The Crown of course. I just felt sad for the Lovecraft crew, but I know that Williams’ legacy will live on.
I like Tobias Menzies, but his Phillip was really bad.
I really don’t understand why people were obsessed with The Crown’s acting…it’s prestige TV, but there were several episodes this season where I stopped watching and took a break because they were…boring. I also couldn’t get into Gillian’s acting. It was rough.
I hate when shows (especially in their umpteenth season) are still sweeping awards when other shows are so much more deserving. It’s like we hear British accents and just shovel votes toward those shows.
It’s Downton Abbey all over again.
We hear British accents and shovel *everything* at them. The number of mediocre-at-best Brits who either rapidly ascend or parachute into the top of media in the US… It’s astonishing. Pick a magazine, newspaper, TV … If It’s not Brit it’s because the company is Murdoch-owned so you’re looking at an Australian. (I don’t have an explanation for the Canadians other than sheer numbers since most media are 95% white in leadership anyway.)
Whoa, Murdoch is not the reason Australian actors are popular in the US! It’s not related at all. What Murdoch media features Australian actors?
They’re popular because most of them have come from one of two Aussie soaps: Home & Away and Neighbours. In those soaps they do an episode every day and they learn lines and churn out scenes at a cracking pace. A lot of them are also classically trained and theatre trained. US scouts and agents have learned that is a really good combo to hit the ground running and there are now agents that specialise in ex Home & Away and Neighbours Australian actors. They like their training, their work ethic and their attitude. Unlike the Brits, Australian actors are rarely allowed to use their actual accent.
Similarly, British actors are usually classically / theatre trained and they do a tonne of work on British TV. It’s fertile ground for top thespians.
It’s harder in the US to get that initial training and exposure.
I do agree though that way too many awards get thrown at fancy, WHITE, posh British accents that don’t necessarily deserve them. I love Olivia Coleman but that was NOT her best work. Ditto for Tobias Menzies.
Note that the black British show that deserved more love, I May Destroy You, didn’t sweep in the same way.
Jurnee Smollet in that Dior gown is exquisite.
She’s so beautiful, and the gown is great on her. I don’t know if I would like it on many other people.
I like Kerry’s too. I love her but usually don’t care for her fashion choices, but this is a good one.
It’s going to take me a long time to get over losing Michael, our beloved Omar. My god what a brilliant actor.
Not sure I’ll ever get over it. I lived in Baltimore, working as a prosecutor no less!, during the filming of The Wire and I just became obsessed. So authentic and such an unfliching and realistic portrayal of the drug/police/political game in Baltimore. To the day I die, whenever I hear someone whistling “the Farmer in the Dell” I’ll forever think of Omar terrorizing the drug dealers of Baltimore with his shotgun!!
I am with you. Omar will forever be a favorite character of mine. Michael brought such depth to him. I was in love with Omar Little. Incredible actor and I am still just so sad about his death.
So I love the Crown and try to watch each new season as soon as it comes out, and I did enjoy Tobias Menzies as Phillip. But his role this season just wasn’t that meaty? The focus was definitely on Charles and Camilla and Diana, Phillip had a few good scenes (notably the one between him and Diana in the last episode) but overall he felt more like a side character this season. And actually the same with the Queen – there are a few scenes that stand out to me but overall this was the beginning of the Diana era and the show reflects that.
I haven’t seen Lovecraft Country so I can’t say if they deserved to win over the Crown actors, but I definitely feel like the Emmys adore the Crown because royalty so it has a leg up at awards shows before the series even airs.
Tobias’s win feels exactly like Claire Foy’s win for best guest actor. He didn’t win because his acting was so good, or because he elevated the material, he won because of snobbery. The Crown is “prestige” TV and Lovecraft country is horror, and features a black cast. I think it’s people who didn’t watch the nominated series voting for the one the think is the most prestigious.
Love that dress on Kerry.
For me, Kerry is one of the most beautiful actresses of all time. So sad thinking about the untimely passing of Michael K Williams. Gone too soon.
Lovecraft was the best show I watched in 2020…it should have won all the awards! It is a damn travesty that it didn’t. I am happy that Mare of Eastown won, that was another favorite of mine. RIP Michael K. Williams
Lovecraft is definitely on my to watch list.
Just realized I’m commenting on every post as if I were a fashion critic, lol. Jurnee’s dress in motion was incredible, pictures don’t make it justice.
There is so much ground breaking tv and people doing great work and they give ALL the awards to white folks with salty island accents? The more I think about this I think they have a Emmystoowhite problem and it pisses me off
It’s a sign. Once Biden got in ‘racism was over’ (again), so now we don’t need shows with largely Black or PoC casts talking about it.
Watch them try to walk back the last few years of progress on that front by voting for things with all-white casts, repeatedly, from now on.
Also, the Emmys are awful for repeat snubs and favouritism.
I love love love Kerry, but I don’t like this corset. Her dress without the corset, showing off her incredible physique, would have been sublime. But when you’re perfect, I guess it doesn’t matter. And she is perfect.
I couldn’t even finish the latest season of The Crown, and it was mostly because of the casting.
Emma Corrin and Josh O’Connor were so busy with their physical affections that I didn’t feel I was getting real acting performances. And I’ve never thought that Olivia Colman (as much as I love her) and Tobias Menzies should have been cast. It just didn’t feel right.