Awards shows tend to be, ironically enough, some of the most-watched events on TV, and this year's Emmy awards were no exception. Indeed, they're arguably even more of a cultural milestone than ever, since we're (apparently) living in a golden age of TV drama production, where the stories and performances on the small screen have never been more sophisticated.
Not only that, but in the wake of the MeToo and Time'sUp movements, many people expected the awards to be more focused on the political, and maybe open up a discussion on the toxic work culture in Hollywood, and the sexual harassment and abuse that many actors and actresses have been subjected to by those who abuse their power.
Unfortunately, by the sounds of things, many Twitter users ultimately ended up talking more about the seemingly lacklustre performance from hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che, whose opening monologue left many people unimpressed. Indeed, a lot of the criticism of the SNL duo focused on their allegedly problematic past material. For instance, Jost was accused of making transphobic jokes two years ago when he quipped that Tinder was planning to update 37 different gender identity options.
Meanwhile Che got a lot of flak for seemingly defending disgraced comedian Louis CK after he admitting to sexual misconduct. In an Instagram story he wrote : “i really don’t know. i haven’t talked to him in a while. i don’t know any of his accusers. i don’t know what he’s done to right that situation, and it’s none of my business. but i do believe any free person has a right to speak and make a living. [sic]”
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Jost defended Che’s behaviour by saying: “He’s not trying to make a real important point. That’s the misconception, I think—is that there’s this big social point that he’s trying to make … instead of just, ‘This is the reality of how people interact now, and it’s insane.’”
A number of Twitter users took to social media to vent their frustration with the show. On Twitter-user wrote "I'm not strong enough for a Che/Jost 'Isn't it tough to be a comedian in 2018' Emmy show. I'll be watching the Bears game tonight. Let me know if anything crazy happens," while another added: "Since the Harvey Weinstein news last October, men have hosted the Globes, the Oscars AND now the Emmys. I guess more jokes about how awkward it is for guys to host a post #metooawards show is preferable to, like, actually having women host anything?"
So what do you guys think? Did the Emmy hosts miss their chance to provide some much-needed social commentary at the awards? Or should we be keeping politics out of entertainment, and try to focus on the positives at the award's show? Whatever your take, it's clear that for activists, last night's show wasn't good enough.
