Wildest Moments in Emmys History

The 76th annual Primetime Emmy Awards is hitting our screens on September 15 and ahead of the occasion, Newsweek has rounded up some of the wildest moments in the award show’s history.

This comes just eight months after the previous ceremony on January 15, as the 2023 ceremony was delayed due to the writers’ and actors’ strikes that took place that year. The show will be hosted by father-son duo, Eugene Levy and Dan Levy, who previously co-created the hit sitcom Schitt’s Creek.

Leading the nominations in 2024 is the drama series Shōgun, adapted from James Clavell’s novel of the same name. It has been nominated for an impressive 25 awards. The Bear—starring Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri—isn’t far behind with 23 nominations. Only Murders in the Building, Hacks, Baby Reindeer and Abbott Elementary are also nominated in multiple categories.

Without further adieu, here are a handful of moments that have gone down in Emmy Awards history.

Bryan Cranston and Julia Louis-Dreyfus Kiss

When presenting an award at the Emmy’s in 2014, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Bryan Cranston reminisced about when they had played a couple on Seinfeld, with Louis-Dreyfus having played Elaine Benes while Cranston played dentist Tim Whatley.

Later in the show, when Louis-Dreyfus was walking to the stage to accept her Emmy win for her role on Veep, Cranston ran up and kissed her passionately.

“You saw it on TV, he’s pretty good, right? He went for it, man. I appreciate that. He goes for it in everything he does,” Louis-Dreyfus told ELLE.com about the kiss once backstage.

When Cranston was asked why he kissed his fellow actor, he responded: “It’s not a question of why but more a question of why not.”

Louis-Dreyfus eventually confessed that the pair had planned the iconic moment.

“Bryan and I were talking on the phone about what we were going to do for the presenting bit—we were kind of going through it—and then it dawned on me that this would be a nice part three of the joke,” she said.

“So I asked my husband if he was okay with that, he said ‘Sure,’ and Bryan checked with his wife and she said ‘Sure,’ and we said we would go for it. But we wanted to really make sure the presenting stuff worked in and of itself. And obviously I might not have won. That was very stiff competition.”

They aren’t the only actors to kiss on stage either. In 2003, Everybody Loves Raymond actor Brad Garrett planted a big kiss on late comedian Garry Shandling. Later on in the evening, the late Friends actor Matthew Perry kissed Doris Roberts when she walked on stage for her win for best supporting actress for the comedy series Everybody Loves Raymond.

Newsweek emailed spokespeople for Louis-Dreyfus and Cranston for comment on Friday.

Director Glenn Weiss Proposes

In 2018, director Glenn Weiss proposed to his then-girlfriend Jan Svendsen during his acceptance speech for outstanding direction for a variety special, having received the award for directing the 2018 Academy Awards

Weiss presented Svendesen with a ring, which he said was the same one that his father had proposed to Weiss’ mother with.

“And to my brothers and sisters, I didn’t swipe it; dad knows I have it, O.K.?” he joked.

“Jan, I want to put this ring that my mom wore on your finger, in front of all these people and in front of my mom and your parents watching from above. Will you marry me?”

After Svendsen said yes the couple kissed as the audience cheered. Before they walked away, Weiss added: “Thank you to the Academy!”

Once backstage, the director said he felt compelled to propose as only two weeks earlier, his mother had died.

“It’s been an interesting couple of weeks in my life. It became a thought. The thought picked up steam as we got here. The timing lined up nicely. So thank you for sharing the moment,” he said, per Vanity Fair.

Newsweek emailed a spokesperson for Weiss for comment on Friday.

Sofia Vergara Podium Controversy

When the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences president Bruce Rosenblum gave a speech during the 2014 Emmy Awards, Modern Family actor Sofia Vergara posed on a revolving platform, replicating the trophies actors are desperate to get their hands on.

According to Business Insider, some people on X (formerly Twitter) weren’t happy. At the time of writing, the below posts can no longer be seen on the social media platform.

“I love @SofiaVergara but did anyone find that schtick somewhat offensive?” journalist Katie Couric wrote.

“This whole spinning platform Sofia Vergara thing is borderline 1950. Just sayin’ #Emmys2014,” commented entertainment journalist Chris Jancelewicz.

Television critic Emily Nussbaum added: “On the plus side, the Vergara bit has magically united everyone in my Twitter feed in mutual sorrow and shame.”

When Vergara caught wind that people were offended, she told reporters that she didn’t think it was sexist, per Business Insider.

“I think it’s absolutely the opposite. It means someone can be hot and also be funny and make fun of herself and enjoy and work and make money, so I absolutely think it’s ridiculous,” she said.

“And somebody who started this, and I know who she was, has no sense of humor and should lighten up a little bit!”

Newsweek emailed a spokesperson for Vergara for comment on Friday.

Jimmy Kimmel’s Bad Joke

Jimmy Kimmel received backlash in 2022 due to a skit he did during the awards show, with many saying he stole the spotlight from Quinta Brunson as she accepted an Emmy.

Kimmel was lying “passed out” on the stage after being dragged on by Will Arnett and continued the joke as Brunson accepted the award for outstanding writing for a comedy series for her show Abbott Elementary. She referenced Kimmel but continued to give her speech as he lay at her feet.

The joke didn’t go down well to some online, with one X user (formerly Twitter) getting thousands of likes for calling the moment “a metaphor for what it means to be a [woman of color] in a white man’s world.”

Kimmel became a trending topic online, with some defending Kimmel for making a joke in a comedy category, while others writing that Brunson “deserved better.”

Brunson spoke to the press in the winner’s room and praised Kimmel, showing that seemingly there were no hard feelings.

“I know Jimmy Kimmel. The bit didn’t bother me. Honestly, Jimmy gave me my first big late-night spot, and he was one of the first people to see Abbott Elementary. He was the first person to message me on Instagram. He was so excited it was going to be on ABC. I was happy it was Jimmy,” Brunson said.

Kimmel later apologized to Brunson for “stealing your moment” when she appeared on his show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, on September 14, 2022.

“I do want to explain this for those who may be confused by this,” he told Brunson, adding: “That was a dumb comedy bit that we thought would be funny.

“I lost, and then I drank too much, and I had to be dragged out on the stage. And then people got upset. They said that I stole your moment, and maybe I did. I’m very sorry if I did do that—I’m sorry I did do that, actually. And also, the last thing I would ever want to do is upset you because I think so much of you, and I think you know that. I hope you know that.”

Newsweek emailed spokespeople for Kimmel and Brunson for comment on Friday.

Jimmy Kimmel Blames Mark Burnett For Donald Trump

Kimmel also caused a stir in 2016 when he blamed the rise of former President Donald Trump‘s political career on Mark Burnett, who picked up Emmys for The Voice and Shark Tank.

“If it wasn’t for television, would Donald Trump be running for president? No,” Kimmel said during his opening monologue, referring to the fact that Burnett cast Trump for The Apprentice.

“He would be at home quietly rubbing up against his wife Malaria while she pretends to be asleep.’

“Thanks to Mark Burnett, we don’t have to watch reality shows anymore, we are living in one.”

Kimmel added: “If Donald Trump gets elected and builds that wall, the first person we are throwing over it is Mark Burnett.”

Burnett later said he thought Kimmel’s joke was “hilarious,” per Daily Mail.

Newsweek emailed a spokesperson for Kimmel for comment on Friday.

“Who still thinks Jimmy Kimmel is relevant? He’s probably still reeling from doing blackface on TV,” Steven Cheung, Trump’s campaign spokesperson, told Newsweek.