The color white was a popular fashion choice at the Emmys
From Laura Linney’s peplum gown to Jerrod Carmichael’s fur coat and Seth Rogen’s bleached hair, white was a go-to color at this year’s Emmy Awards. (Sept. 12)
AP
At the Emmys, Jason Sudeikis reluctantly weighed in on a possible Season 4 of “Ted Lasso,” Lorne Michaels dropped some “Saturday Night Live” casting news and Amanda Seyfried revealed the only person she’ll still do the Elizabeth Holmes voice for.
But it all only happened backstage. Just after giving their acceptance speeches, winners were ushered to the Emmys media center, where they fielded questions from reporters.
Celebrities had wide-ranging reactions to their wins. Quinta Brunson took the opportunity to get ahead of Twitter drama, clearing the air between herself and Jimmy Kimmel, who did a peculiar bit with Will Arnett just before she won for best writing for a comedy series for “Abbott Elementary,”
From cracking jokes to emotional reflections, here are the highlights.
Emmys 2022: ‘Succession’ wins best drama, ‘Ted Lasso’ takes top comedy for second time
Jason Sudeikis plays coy on ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4
Could there be a fourth season of Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso,” or will the hit series end as planned after three seasons?
Sudeikis could win best performance for being coy with an answer.
When the star and his castmates arrived backstage to talk to reporters about their big Emmy win for best comedy series, one asked the burning question.
Emmys 2022 winners list: ‘Succession,’ ‘Ted Lasso,’ ‘The White Lotus’ and more big wins
“Are you saying that maybe you would be up for doing a Season 4?”
“I don’t think I was,” Sudeikis responded.
“But now you are?” the reporter said.
“I don’t know if I did,” Sudeikis responded, as the room full of press and co-star Hannah Waddingham began laughing hysterically.
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Sheryl Lee Ralph tears up recalling dream when she was 5
Backstage at the Emmys, you know something special has happened when a room full of jaded journalists applauds.
That happened for Sheryl Lee Ralph, who won her first Emmy as best supporting comedy actress for ABC’s “Abbott Elementary.” In the room, an emotional Ralph was stunned by the win, and the tears soon came.
Once she arrived backstage clutching her golden statue, the 65-year-old explained her raw emotion, recalling when she was a 5-year-old girl watching TV on a Sunday night.
“Tinkerbell came up, went around the steeple putting stars around everywhere, and I remember saying, ‘I’m going to Hollywood, I’m gonna be an actress, and I’m gonna drive a Mustang,’” she said. “The fact that I am here, recognized, after all this time as being one of the best of the best in my industry with a group of women, they are all the best. And to top it off this particular year, tons of great TV and for my little freshman show to break through to be seen the way it is. Oh my God, I got the golden ticket. Yes, I do. Where’s my chocolate? I’m ready.”
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‘Succession’ star Matthew Macfayden loves playing ‘human grease stain’
Before he played a “human grease stain,” as he recalled one critic putting it, Matthew Macfadyen of “Succession” was most known for inspiring swoons for his role as Mr. Darcy in 2005’s “Pride & Prejudice.”
That’s why Macfadyen’s smarmy “Succession” character, Tom Wambsgans, was such a “bonkers gift” for the 47-year-old Brit to play.
“As an actor, you want to play parts you haven’t played before or previously, and so this is a big stretch,” he said, after winning best supporting actor in a drama for HBO’s “Succession.”
“I tend to play a lot of buttoned-up Englishmen, sometimes in period costume, and so to play a Midwestern guy … is really, really good fun and really good therapy, as well. I sort of get to do things that are really embarrassing in the safety of a set, so it’s good.”
‘Ted Lasso’ star Brett Goldstein would ‘kill people’ for Jason Sudeikis
Brett Goldstein won an Emmy for best supporting actor in a comedy series for “Ted Lasso.” But backstage, the actor recalled a time he wasn’t considered for comedic roles at all.
“In the beginning of my career all I was offered was auditions for terrorists,” he said, blaming this on his early actor headshots. He said his career took a turn once he made a name for himself in standup comedy.
Goldstein also credits “Lasso” co-creator and star Sudeikis for changing his life – and joked he’d do just about anything for him.
“Before ‘Ted Lasso,’ I’d always worked, but no one knew who the (hell) I was, so Jason and this show really changed my life, and I’m forever indebted to them. If Jason wants me to kill people, I would.”
After realizing he made a joke about committing murder in a room full of journalists, he added: “Delete that bit.”
Quinta Brunson might have to ‘punch’ Jimmy Kimmel
Brunson’s big night at the Emmys was very nearly upstaged by a bit that might have gone a bit too long.
Brunson had to step around Kimmel as he lay on stage, dragged there by Arnett, after pretending he was drunk on skinny margaritas.
Twitter erupted, dragging Kimmel for drawing attention from Brunson’s first Emmy win.
So what did Brunson think of the awkward moment?
“The bit didn’t bother me that much. I don’t know what the internet thinks,” Brunson said, adding Kimmel was her first big late-night interview and was an early and avid supporter of her show.
“In that moment, I was just really happy that it was Jimmy up there. I kind of consider him one of the comedy godfathers,” she said. “I don’t know. Tomorrow, maybe I’ll be mad at Jimmy. I’m going to be on the show on Wednesday so I might punch him in the face.”
Amanda Seyfried will only do Elizabeth Holmes voice for her doorman
Amanda Seyfried, who won lead actress in a limited series for Hulu’s “The Dropout,” insists she doesn’t have much in common with her character, disgraced CEO Elizabeth Holmes, in real life.
Well, except one thing.
“You know what’s funny?” Seyfried said backstage. “Elizabeth Holmes and I were both on the dance teams in our high schools. … Apparently she was not great, and I was also in the third row, which is where they put you when you’re not that great.”
Seyfried said their shared lack of dance talent was “one of the things that made me really feel connected to her.”
“I know that sounds crazy,” she added. “But that was one of the most fun parts.”
Overall, Seyfried was ready to let go of Holmes once filming wrapped, though she did make an exception for her doorman, who asked her to do the CEO’s infamous voice.
“I was like, ‘Sure dude, I’ll do the voice. Only for you.’ “
Lorne Michaels reveals how many new cast members are joining ‘SNL’
Who needs a press release, when you can blab backstage after winning an Emmy?
After NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” won for variety sketch series, creator Lorne Michaels let it slip to reporters the new season, debuting Oct. 1, will see four new cast additions.
As for who those comedians are, Michaels’s lips are sealed, at least for now.
Earlier this month, USA TODAY learned cast members Alex Moffat, Melissa Villaseñor and Aristotle Athari would exit the show. During the Season 47 finale in May, Aidy Bryant, Kate McKinnon, Pete Davidson and Kyle Mooney announced their departures.
What does ‘Squid Game’ creator think of reality show spinoff?
“Squid Game” depicts desperate people risking gruesome death for a life-changing pot of cash.
So how did its creator Hwang Dong-hyuk react to finding out Netflix plans to turn the dark drama into a new reality competition?
“Yes, I am aware of the reality show being created,” he said through a Korean translator, after winning best directing for a drama series, adding that he met with the reality show’s creator Sunday. “What I hope is that they will be carrying on my vision and intention as much as possible for the show.”
Even though Dong-hyuk says he understands “concerns” about turning “Squid Game” into a reality show, he said it’s important to find levity amid darkness.
“When you take things too seriously, that’s really not the best way,” he said. “It doesn’t really set a great precedent.”
