The Emmy Awards’ most stunning and memorable moments
The Primetime Emmy Awards are set to return for their 76th annual event at Los Angeles’s Peacock Theater on Sunday night.
It comes just months after the delayed 2023 ceremony took place in January when the historic Hollywood actors’ strike finally came to an end after 118 days.
Hosted by father-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy, this year’s event will see some of the biggest stars accept statuettes.
Shogun, which transported viewers to early 17th-century Japan, has topped television nominations earning 25 nods while The Bear has broken the comedy record for most nominations in a single year, with 23.
Previous years have seen all kinds of both shocking and memorable moments from Donald Trump performing a skit to historic wins and on stage proposals.
So, as we gear up for this year’s event… here, MailOnline takes a look at some memorable moments from television’s biggest night.
1975: Lucille Ball forgets her glasses
Comedy icon Lucille Ball left audiences in stitches back in 1975 when she took to the stage to read out the nominees and winner of the Outstanding Comedy category
Comedy icon Lucille Ball left audiences in stitches back in 1975 when she took to the stage to read out the nominees and winner of the Outstanding Comedy category.
A problem arose however – Lucille left her glasses on her seat meaning she could not read her cue card and reveal the eventual winner.
Fellow comedian Milton Berle stepped in to help read out… much to the delight of the tickled and guffawing all-star audience.
2001: Ellen DeGeneres mocks Björk
After Icelandic songstress Björk wore that swan dress to the 73rd Academy Awards in March 2001, come November of that year, the Emmy’s host Ellen DeGeneres created her own
After Icelandic songstress Björk wore that swan dress to the 73rd Academy Awards in March 2001, come November of that year, the Emmy’s host Ellen DeGeneres opted to copy the now-iconic gown in dramatic style.
After the show had been postponed from September due to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, she shocked audiences when she said: ‘Everyone knows that it’s fine to wear swan in September, but is it okay to wear it after?’
2006: Donald Trump sings Greenacres theme song
Back in 2006, long before he was the President Of The United States, the world saw a wholly different Donald Trump take the stage at the 58th Primetime Emmy Awards
Back in 2006, long before he was the President Of The United States, the world saw a wholly different Donald Trump take the stage at the 58th Primetime Emmy Awards.
The former-POTUS donned dungarees and clutched a pitchfork, while singing the Greenacres theme song alongside Megan Mullally, of Will & Grace fame.
At the time, Trump was the host and executive producer of the NBC reality show The Apprentice. Incredibly, last year he shared a flashback video of the performance to mark the signing of a farm bill at the White House.
2011: Beauty pageant skit
The ladies in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy category in 2011 took a different angle to the nominee announcements when they hosted a beauty pageant
Opting to shun the usual sage nod and wry smile while their names are announced as nominees, the ladies in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy category took a different angle.
While their names were announced, Melissa McCarthy, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Martha Plimpton, Edie Falco and Laura Linney pretended to stand in a line-up for a beauty pageant, while pulling fake nervous faces.
They held on to one another’s hands in a skit, shortly before Melissa was named winner and the ladies pulled off a hilarious faux, OTT reaction – complete with a dazzling crown and a bunch of flowers in true, pageant style.
2014: Robin Williams is memorialised
Following his passing in August 2014, Robin Williams was memorialised at the award show the following month, with a heartbreaking montage leaving viewers weeping
Following his passing in August, Robin Williams was memorialised at the award show the following month, with a heartbreaking montage leaving viewers weeping.
Following the annual In Memoriam section, Billy Crystal took to the stage to lead a gushing tribute to his long-time pal Robin.
2015: Viola Davis makes history
At 2015’s 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, Viola Davis made history when she became the first African-American woman to win the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
At 2015’s 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, Viola Davis made history when she became the first African-American woman to win the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Annalise Keating on How To Get Away With Murder.
In her showstopping speech, which made headlines all over the globe, the esteemed actress said: ‘The only thing that separates women of colour from anyone else is opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.’
2018: Glenn Weiss gets down on one knee
When Glenn Weiss accepted his award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special he left audiences in shock as he proposed to Jan Svendsen
In yet another iconic moment, while Glenn Weiss accepted his award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special he left audiences in shock.
The iconic director delighted both fans and his girlfriend when he addressed athlete Jan Svendsen and said: ‘You wonder why I don’t like to call you my girlfriend? Because I want to call you my wife.’
He then dropped to one knee, withdrew a ring and popped the question – which was met with an overjoyed yes.
2020: Virtual event
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the winners accepted their Emmys from the comfort of their own homes (left, Regina King, right, Zendaya,)
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the no-audience event in 2020 was presented by Jimmy Kimmel at LA’s Staples Center – who branded the awards the ‘Pand-Emmys.’
Winners accepted their awards from their homes for the first time ever to adhere to social distancing rules.
During the ceremony Zendaya made history to become the youngest person to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at 24 for her work on Euphoria.
Meanwhile, the ceremony took the opportunity to thank everyday people who had worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, such as nurses and delivery drivers.
2023: Pedro Pascal gets censored
Pedro Pascal couldn’t resist the opportunity to roast Succession star Kieran Culkin before presenting the award for Best Supporting Actor but producers were quick to bleep him
Pedro Pascal couldn’t resist the opportunity to roast Succession star Kieran Culkin, before presenting the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama.
While addressing why his left arm was in a sling, the heartthrob, 48, hilariously joked that the father-of-two, 41, caused his injury.
‘Before we get into the nominees for best supporting actor in a drama series, I’d like to take just a second and make this about me,’ Pascal, 48, said. ‘A lot of people have been asking about my arm; it’s actually my shoulder.’
He continued: ‘And I think tonight is a perfect time to tell everyone that Kieran Culkin beat the s**t out of me.’
In response, Kieran stared blankly at the camera, before erupting into laughter.
Pedro’s quip got bleeped for using a cuss word, but the moment quickly went viral on X (previously known as Twitter) as fans explained why he had been censored.
2023: Elton John earns EGOT status
Elton John finally scored an EGOT after winning his first Emmy during the 2024 ceremony but was forced to miss the event
Elton John finally scored an EGOT after winning his first Emmy during the 2024 ceremony.
The distinction goes to artists who have won a top award in television, music, film and theatre — an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony.
The super-selective distinction has only been earned in competitive categories by 19 people, along with six others who became EGOT holders thanks to some honorary awards.
But despite the monumental accomplishment, Elton wasn’t there in person in Los Angeles to accept the award, as he had to sit out the show due to a knee surgery.
