Last night’s groundbreaking 2016 Primetime Emmys Awards was revolutionary, heartbreaking, and filled with so many amazing moments. A giant step ahead of the whitewashed Oscars, this year’s Emmys was about so much more than celebrating the ridiculous amount of good television out there. The awards honored the creative achievements across genders, races, and sexualities.
But the night wouldn’t have been complete, if the host, Jimmy Kimmel, didn’t comment on the Emmys diversity achievement with the punching statement, “The only thing we value more than diversity is congratulating ourselves on how much we value diversity…The Emmys are so diverse this year, the Oscars are now telling people we’re one of their closest friends.”
These are our top 7 amazing and inspiring moments from the night:
1. Alan Yang serves sass for lack of Asian Americans onscreen
Alan Yang and Aziz Ansari, creators of Netflix’s Master of None, won the award for Outstanding Writers, Comedy Series. Yang accepted the award with a call for more representation of Asian Americans. “There are 17 million Asian Americans in this country, and there are 17 million Italian Americans, They have The Godfather, Goodfellas… We got Long Duk Dong” (referring to the stereotypical character, Gedde Watanabe’s from Sixteen Candles).
He ended the speech with a call to Asian parents: “Just a couple of you, get your kids cameras instead of violins, and we’ll be all good.”
2. Sarah Paulson tells Holland Taylor “I Love You” in her speech
Sarah Paulson’s speech was for winning Outstanding Lead Actress for portraying Marcia Clark in The People v. O.J. Simpson was amazing and heartening on so many levels But her ending was absolutely the best part, when she told her girlfriend, Holland Taylor, “I love You.” Taylor’s twitter reaction was enough to make me tear up.
3. Jeffrey Tambor hopes he is the last cis male to play a transgender woman
Jeffrey Tambor won Best Actor in a Comedy for Transparent — and made a call to be the last cis male to win for a transgender role. “Give them auditions, give them their stories..I would not be unhappy if I was the last cisgender man to play a female transgender on TV.” Well said, Tambor.
4. Jill Soloway said “Topple the patriarchy” on live TV!
Yes, you heard right. Soloway said, “Topple the Patriarchy” on primetime. While they still cut out her cursing during her speech for winning Outstanding Direction for Comedy Series for her show Transparent, Soloway was still able to say, “When you take women, people of color, trans people, queer people and put them at the center of the story…you put them at the center of the story, these subjects instead of the objects…you change the world. We need to stop violence against women and topple the patriarchy.” A phrase that will go down in history.
5. Laverne Cox says give trans actors a right
Last night was all about supporting the trans community. Previous Emmy winner Laverne Cox asked the industry to give other transgender actors a chance to make it in Hollywood. Hopefully, next year we will see a plethora of new trans actors up on stage.
6. Amy Schumer can’t resist talking about her tampon
Love or hate her, Amy Schumer is hysterical with her blunt honesty. When asked what she was wearing, she politely named the designers of her outfit and “OB Tampon!!!” Nothing is off limits for this badass comedian. Giuliana Rancic looks horrified.
7. Leslie Jones gets real about her hack
I saved the best for last. Leslie Jones has reminded us once again why she is fucking amazing. During the annual boring speech from Ernst & Young security team, Jones interrupted, and insist they forget about the Emmys and focus on her twitter account. “Y’all over here using your skills to protect best voice-over in a French sitcom, meanwhile I’m butt naked on CNN…I just wanted to feel beautiful y’all. Can a sister feel beautiful?” Only the one and only Leslie Jones can joke about her awful twitter and personal information hack. We love you!
Top photo screenshot via YouTube
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