My Critics Choices were not Far Off: Reaction to the Broadcast Critics

As I mentioned last week, I was deeply afraid that I would miss the Critics Choice Award because of a conflict between Spectrum and Tribune that basically took channel 11 off the map for the month of January. And then, Friday afternoon – miracle of miracles. Channel 11 and its subsidiaries were back. I don’t know who blinked or what the consequences may be, and frankly, I don’t care – I got to see my awards show.

Usually, after all this buildup, I was deeply afraid it would come as an anticlimax. But in a rare exception, especially after how disappointing it was last year, the actual ceremony was superb. Partly it was due to the fact that the CW decided to give it a full three hours this year – they  still had to edit out some awards, but they do that anyway. But mainly, it was because the awards and the presentation were so well done. The presenters were genuinely more engaged than they were last year – Olivia Munn was more entertaining in presenting Best Limited Series than she was hosting last year. All of the presenters were remarkably self-deprecating and charming. My personal favorite of the night was watching those old pros Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy come out to present, and spend nearly a minute reciting – in movie trailer fashion – all of the comments the critics tend to give in captions referring to themselves, until they were nearly played off stage. (Note to Emmys and Oscars: let them host.)

But, as always, the awards themselves were probably the most entertaining part, and I was right there with them for a lot of them. I was over the moon that The Americans did better than just about any other series of the night – it more than deserved to be listed as Best Drama, and Matthew Rhys and Noah Emmerich more than deserved to triumph in the male acting categories. (I only wish I could have seen them speak; Rhys wasn’t there, and Emmerich’s award was announced along with most of the Supporting Awards.) Sandra Oh has more than proved herself worthy (and good that she remember to thank Jodie Comer this time) and Thandie Newton was definitely worth the time.

I’m slightly disappointed that the Comedy Awards basically followed the Emmys this year. I know that’s not quite true – Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and its female leads, Rachel Brosnahan and Alex Borstein won for the second season, but still it showed a certain lack of creativity. Likewise Bill Hader and Henry Winkler prevailing for Barry – it’s not that I don’t see the logic of it, but since you have been more eclectic in the past, why not recognize Atlanta or The Good Place instead? The latter series, especially, needs all the help it can get.

The Limited Series were also a duplicate of the Golden Globes with one key exception. As I’ve mentioned, one of the reasons this awards show is my favorite is because it has ties a lot of the time. And the one in Best Actress in a Limited Series wasn’t even the biggest shock of the night – but I was thrilled to see that Patricia Arquette, who more than deserved her triumph shared the award with the equally worthy Amy Adams for Sharp Objects. Both were very self-effacing – Adams came up to the stage first, and then rather than give her speech, asked for them to read Arquette’s name out. The two embraced on the stage, and more or less, split giving their speeches in concert. It was endearing, and I was especially glad for Adams who seems to be going mostly hungry this awards season. I was satisfied with the rest of the awards in this category as well.

And it was interesting to see Chuck Lorre, creator of such great series as Mom, The Big Bang Theory, and co-writer of so many other great series get a special award. The Bog Bang Theory crew introduced it by finally dealing with something that has no doubt frustrated millions for decades – the vanity card at the end of each series episode that contain many, many funny jokes, if you could record them and pause at the right time. Not easy when he started doing them in the late 90s, still difficult now. They actually read out some of the best jokes Lorre  has written that we never heard. We actually got an explanation of sorts, as to why he wrote them. And his actual speech –considering all the crap he’s been through – was relatively modest and surprisingly moving. He might be getting humble as he ages. Who’d have thought?

Admittedly, this year’s Critics Choice didn’t give much of foreshadowing for the Emmys as it usually does. But I generally think that many of the winners were the right ones. Which the Emmys doesn’t often do, and its still fun to watch.