The 2023 Emmy Awards are finally here. The ceremony took place on January 15, after being delayed due to the Writers and Actors Guilds strike of last summer. But those four months of delay didn’t diminish the Awards’ success. Yesterday’s event was one of the best in recent memory.
While the awards were at the center of everyone’s attention, the ceremony was full of events. From Christina Applegate’s surprise appearance to a slew of reunions, here are our favorite moments from the 2023 Emmy Awards.
Three shows dominated the stage like never before
The shows: “Succession,” “The Bear,” and “Beef.”. It’s not rare for a handful of shows to lead the way at the Emmys, but it’s also not common for one show to get 11 nominations and 6 awards.
Winning looks good on these Emmy winners! 🤩#Emmys #75thEmmys #TelevisionAcademy https://t.co/HLlei6GfLc pic.twitter.com/iU2LinsuRl
— Television Academy (@TelevisionAcad) January 16, 2024
While Succession led the way, The Bear and Beef were not far behind, with six and five awards, respectively. What puts Succession apart is how many awards the series already won for its previous three seasons. In total, the show’s four seasons won 14 Emmys, including three in the Outstanding Drama Series category.
It certainly helped that this year’s major shows were all competing in different categories. Beef won the most awards for Limited and Anthology series, while Succession was the most awarded Drama series.
Surprisingly, The Bear competed in the Comedy Series category, a choice that certainly helped it sweep the awards.
A moving speech by Christina Applegate
Christina Applegate made a surprise guest appearance at the awards to present the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series award. The former child actress on “Married… with Children” and the star of the black comedy “Dead to Me” received a standing ovation during her speech.
Christina Applegate announced she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in August 2021. She then quit acting and reduced her public appearances. It was a real surprise, then, to see her walk on the stage next to host Anthony Anderson.
She gave a brief speech, joking that her body was “not by Ozempic,” a widespread antidiabetic drug. She also made fun of the audience when the crowd stood up for the long applause, saying: “You’re totally shaming me with disability by standing up.”
Christina Applegate receives a standing ovation at the #Emmys. https://t.co/SiaGD3jesB pic.twitter.com/rGZF8ooLiq
— Variety (@Variety) January 16, 2024
Elton John: EGOT winner
Elton John was already one of the most celebrated musicians alive. During the last Emmys, his vault of awards found a new addition. The British pop icon won his first Emmy, an Outstanding Variety Special Live award for “Farewell from Dodger Stadium,” crowning him with prestigious EGOT status.
Elton John is now an EGOT winner — but a recent surgery kept him from celebrating the accomplishment in person. https://t.co/mH3qENMZH2
— Us Weekly (@usweekly) January 16, 2024
What is an EGOT?
EGOT is short for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. Those are the most prestigious American arts awards. The Emmys are (usually) dedicated to television, the Oscars to cinema, the Grammys to music, and the Tony Awards to Broadway Theater.
His road to EGOT started with five separate Grammys. He then won an Oscar for Best Original Song for “The Lion King” and later for “Rocketman.” Lastly, he won a Tony for Best Original Score, for the 2000s “Aida,” which in total won four Tonys.
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It’s important to note that the EGOT, while considered the ultimate prize for artists, leaves out a lot of arts and a lot of the world. It’s hard to win an award for best Broadway Performance if your primary language isn’t English.
Still, Elton John is undeniably one of the most important artists of the last few decades. This last victory only confirms how far his influence has spread.
What’s a little victory kiss between friends?
The Bear, Hulu’s premiere food drama show, has swept this year’s Emmy Awards. Then, midway through a speech, Ebon Moss-Bachrach swept a kiss from Matty Matheson.
We love you dude. Let it rip. 🫡🌟 #75thEmmys #Emmys #TelevisionAcademy https://t.co/zveDhXsyW2 pic.twitter.com/AgnsLWDM7m
— Television Academy (@TelevisionAcad) January 16, 2024
Moss-Bachrach interrupted Matheson’s speech, an incisive comment on his past as a real-life chef:
“I just love restaurants so much. The good, the bad. It’s rough. We’re all broken inside, and every single day we got to show up and cook and make people feel good by eating something and sitting at a table. It’s really beautiful.”
The Bear had just won its 6th Emmy of the day, this time for Outstanding Comedy Series. And what better occasion is there to celebrate with a victory kiss?
New cast reunions for old shows
'Grey's Anatomy' Stars Scrub Up Well in Emmys Reunion Nearly 19 Years After Show's Debut https://t.co/orZmxkH3sV
— People (@people) January 16, 2024
Not only “Grey’s Anatomy,” but “Game of Thrones,” “American Horror Story,” and even old names like “Cheers.” The (late) 2023 Emmys have been full of celebrations for past TV shows.
“The Sopranos” stars Michael Imperioli and Lorraine Bracco paid homage to the series’ 25th anniversary. The iconic TV show opened an entire era of premiere television and was especially popular at the Emmys. Throughout its six-season run, the show was nominated for 111 of its awards and won 21.
The Grey’s Anatomy reunion was also a pleasant surprise, boosting some major cast members, including Ellen Pompeo and Katherine Heigl. The reunion, like most others at the awards, took place on a set styled after the TV show.
Cheers was the surprise reunion of the year, even if it was announced a few days in advance. Some of the 1980s hit sitcom’s biggest stars made a comeback on the Emmys’ stage, this time taking the shape of the show’s titular bar.
Cheers stars that joined the reunion include Rhea Perlman, Frazier’s Kelsey Grammer, and Ted Danson, also known for his role in “The Good Place.”
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of Impakter.com — In the Featured Photo: An Emmy Award resting in front of the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Featured Photo Credit: Walt Disney Television.
