Emmy Awards In Memoriam Honors Chadwick Boseman

The 72nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards took place Sunday night in a virtual ceremony hosted by Jimmy Kimmel from the Staples Center in Los Angeles recognizing excellence in the television industry. While this year's ceremony looked a bit different due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the event still featured many familiar elements as it honored some of the best performances and programs on the small screen over the past year, including taking a moment to honor and remember the influential and beloved figures in the television industry that we sadly lost since the last Emmys. This year's Emmy Awards In Memoriam paid tribute to a number of those we said goodbye to too soon, including Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman.

 

This year's tribute featured a performance by of "Nothing Compares 2 U" by H.E.R. while images of those who've passed were presented, including Boseman as well as Regis Philbin, Naya Rivera, Caroll Spinney, and more.

Boseman died August 28th at the age of 43 following a four-year battle with colon cancer. The actor The actor, who also starred in films such as 42, Marshall, Da 5 Bloods, and the upcoming Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, had never publicly spoken about his illness. While Boseman is best known to many for his role as T'Challa in Marvel's Black Panther, the actor had an extensive career in television as well, including appearances in Castle, Fringe, and Justified.

"I was deciding whether or not directing Black Panther was the right choice for me. I'll never forget, sitting in an editorial suite on the Disney Lot and watching his scenes," Black Panther helmer Ryan Coogler wrote in his tribute to Boseman. "His first with Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, then, with the South African cinema titan, John Kani as T'Challa's father, King T'Chaka. It was at that moment I knew I wanted to make this movie."

Coogler's statement concluded, "In African cultures we often refer to loved ones that have passed on as ancestors. Sometimes you are genetically related. Sometimes you are not. I had the privilege of directing scenes of Chad’s character, T’Challa, communicating with the ancestors of Wakanda. We were in Atlanta, in an abandoned warehouse, with bluescreens, and massive movie lights, but Chad’s performance made it feel real. I think it was because from the time that I met him, the ancestors spoke through him. It’s no secret to me now how he was able to skillfully portray some of our most notable ones. I had no doubt that he would live on and continue to bless us with more. But it is with a heavy heart and a sense of deep gratitude to have ever been in his presence, that I have to reckon with the fact that Chad is an ancestor now. And I know that he will watch over us, until we meet again."

Watchmen's Regina King Wins Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

The 2020 Emmy Awards took place in a unique, virtual event hosted by Jimmy Kimmel broadcasting live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles Sunday night. While things were certainly different for the ceremony the show went on with the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences recognizing some of the best in television from the past year -- including Regina King. The actress took home the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her role as Angela Abar/Sister Night in HBO's Watchmen.
 

One of Watchmen's impressive 26 total Emmy nominations, King had some strong competition in the category. Also nominated was Cate Blanchett for Mrs. America, Sira Haas for Unorthodox, Octavia Spencer for Self Made, and Kerry Washington for Little Fires Everywhere. King's win this year marks her fourth Emmy win having previously won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Television Movie for her role in American Crime in both 2015 and 2016 as well as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Television Movie for Seven Seconds in 2018.

Watchmen was also up for numerous other awards specific to Sunday's ceremony, including Outstanding Limited Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for Jeremy Irons (Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Cal Bar/Jon Osterman/Doctor Manhattan), Jovan Adepo (Will Reeves/Hooded Justice), and Louis Gossett Jr. (Will Reeves/Hooded Justice), and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for Jean Smart (Laurie Blake).

 

During the previously-awarded Creative Arts Emmys, Watchmen brought home several awards as well: Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or Movie, Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Limited Series or Movie, Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-FI Costumes, Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie, and Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score), given to composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

Tonight's Emmy win also isn't the first award King has won for her Watchmen role. She previously won the Critic's Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series for the role as well.

Eddie Murphy Wins First Emmy for Saturday Night Live Return

Last December, Eddie Murphy returned to Saturday Night Live for the first time in 35 years. One of the most anticipated television events of the year, Murphy's return was lauded by all who tuned in, and now, it's netted the comedian his first-ever Emmy win. Saturday evening, the Television Academy revealed Murphy won the Guest Actor Comedy Series Emmy, a category packed to the brim with stiff competition.

Also nominated in the category this year were Brad Pitt and Adam Driver, both for their roles hosting Saturday Night Live this past year, Dev Patel (Modern Love), Luke Kirby (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), and the late Fred Willard (Modern Family). It was Murphy's fifth Emmy nomination.

His first three nominations came during his time on SNL in the early 1980s. In 1983, Murphy was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy, Variety, or Music series while he tallied two nominations in 1984 — Writing in a Variety or Music Program, and Oustanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program. His fourth nomination was in 1999 for The PJs.

Murphy's fame largely came in part to his involvement in SNL from 1980 until 1984. He served as host twice throughout his career on the show. The funnyman's SNL return right before Christmas last year wasn't just one of the show's highest-rated episodes of the season, but of the previous decade. Nielsen reported 9.921 million viewers watched the show live and a whopping 16.3 million viewers were counted in the DVR +7 numbers, making it the highest-rated episode of Saturday Night Live since 2008.

As a whole, SNL Season 45 is one of the most divisive seasons rated on Rotten Tomatoes. While it was a hit with critics (72-percent Fresh,) the season has a paltry 34-percent Rotten Audience Score.

Murphy can now add his Emmy next to the Golden Globe he won in 2007 for Dreamgirls, a role he also earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for at the 2007 Oscars.