Emmy winners and presenters make biting political remarks

[Refugee 7]

WITH THE presidential race grabbing much of the national spotlight, politics naturally shaded this year's Emmy ceremony featuring references ranging from subtle and sarcastic to burning.

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin took much of the heat. Only minutes into the broadcast, co-host Howie Mandel fired the first shot, comparing a mostly failed comic routine involving him and his fellow reality show co-hosts to being on "Sarah Palin's bridge to nowhere.

One of the most pointed barbs at the Alaska governor was fired by Laura Linney, following her win for best lead actress in a miniseries or movie in HBO's "John Adams." In a clear dig at Palin who mocked Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's roots as a community organizer at the Republican National Convention earlier this month, the actress said her experience in working on the miniseries made her "so grateful and thankful for the community organizers that helped found our country."

Linney was more blunt backstage.

"Our founding fathers were community organizers," she said in the media tent. "I just feel it's been disparaged a bit. I don't feel anyone should be disrespected, no matter what party they're in. No matter who they are."

Perhaps the most anti-Palin comment came from Tina Fey, who recently impersonated Palin on "Saturday Night Live."

"I want to be done playing this lady Nov. 5," said Fey, who won Emmys in comedy for her acting and writing. "So, if anyone can help me be done playing this lady, that would be good for me."

In one of the show's comedic highlights, Stephen Colbert of "The Colbert Report" and Jon Stewart from "The Daily Show" staged a routine in which they promised to stay away from politics. Colbert then pulled out a bag of prunes and started eating.

"I think right now America needs a prune," he said. "Granted, it is shriveled and at times hard to swallow . . . ...but this dried-up fruit has the experience we need."

When Stewart replied, "After eight years of prunes, you would think . . ." But he was interrupted by Colbert, who added, "Never enough. What could possibly go wrong?"

Colbert got a little more pointed backstage in the media tent.

Asked which actor he would cast as Republican presidential candidate John McCain, Colbert said, "[Don] Rickles, obviously, would be good. And maybe me for Sarah Palin, because I also have absolutely no business being vice president."

A more serious note was struck by Tommy Smothers, who accepted a commemorative Emmy for outstanding writing for his work on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," which aired on CBS from 1967 to 69.

"Freedom of expression and freedom of speech aren't really important unless they're heard," said Smothers, whose costar and brother Dick was in the Emmy show audience. "It's hard for me to stay silent when I keep hearing that peace is only attainable through war."

Freedom of speech also was on the mind of Kirk Ellis, who won an award for writing "John Adams." Backstage, he was still reeling after being cut off during his acceptance speech.

"I love freedom of expression in this country," he said sarcastically, adding that he was told to wrap it up "as soon as I got up and opened my mouth."

Edited September 22, 2008 by Refugee

[Echosoftom 3]

God bless, Tina Fey, LOL!

[Starfish 0]

and bless Tommy Smothers!

"It's hard for me to stay silent when I keep hearing that peace is only attainable through war."

[watchtheparkingmeters 0]

Freedom of speech also was on the mind of Kirk Ellis, who won an award for writing "John Adams." Backstage, he was still reeling after being cut off during his acceptance speech.

"I love freedom of expression in this country," he said sarcastically, adding that he was told to wrap it up "as soon as I got up and opened my mouth."

That was ridiculous! He praised the period covered in John Adams as one where "articulate men articulated complex thoughts in complete sentences," and they immediately cut to commercial. No wrap it up music, just "that's enough of that," and he was cut off mid-sentence. They made a much bigger statement by cutting him off than they would've by letting him finish his acceptance speech.

[Refugee 7]

^ I think what they did was very disrespectful to Mr. Ellis.

[Magnolia 171]

I missed that. Why did they cut him off?

[agirl 0]

Asked which actor he would cast as Republican presidential candidate John McCain, Colbert said, "[Don] Rickles, obviously, would be good. And maybe me for Sarah Palin, because I also have absolutely no business being vice president."

LMAO!!

[Refugee 7]

I missed that. Why did they cut him off?

The producers or network for the show was determined to keep it under 3 hours. People who won awards were on a time limit to say thanks and get off the stage. They played the "get off the stage right now" all night long.

When Keifer Sutherland came on to announce the nominess in a category, he came on, said since we are running behind, here they are, he announced the nominees and that was that.

The show was very rushed last night.

Shame too, because they had some classic shows highlighted and the actors/actresses who were on them. Like The Smothers Brothers and Laugh-In. < Funny, some of the uproar those shows caused back then are still so relevant now.

[KansasPettyFan 1]

Tina Fey...:icon_laugh:

[PumpkinBumpkin 1]

Haha,Colbert is one funny guy. :003:

[watchtheparkingmeters 0]

The producers or network for the show was determined to keep it under 3 hours. People who won awards were on a time limit to say thanks and get off the stage. They played the "get off the stage right now" all night long.

I think there was more to it than that. His remarks clearly insulted Bush, even if they weren't specifically aimed at him. And it's not like they started playing music over his acceptance speech, they literally just cut to a commercial without letting him finish. Which was, as Refugee said, very disrespectful, but also came across as political paranoia. I mean, how controversial is it to criticize the President for being inarticulate? That's hardly stretching the limits of freedom of speech, even for network television.

[PumpkinBumpkin 1]

^Exactly. Why was it such a big deal that they cut away to commercial? Seems really odd to me.

[watchtheparkingmeters 0]

Well, they didn't just start the music to play him off, they cut away when he was in the middle of a sentence. It seemed more abrupt, like they thought he might say something scandalous.