The Emmys’ Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, ‘The Big One’ and More

Matt Webb Mitovich

15 September 2024 at 2:02 pm·8-min read

The Emmys’ Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, ‘The Big One’ and More

Just as the Academy Awards will always have Adele Dazeem, “You like me!” and Sacheen Littlefeather to remember, the Primetime Emmy Award telecasts have delivered memorable TV moments over the years as well.

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Now more than seven decades old, the Primetime Emmys have gotten emotional — with historical wins, heartfelt tributes to fallen stars, and even the occasional on-stage question-popping — and they have brought the funny (even if by threatening to asphyxiate a beloved TV icon). Acceptance speeches have left us a bit befuddled, in stitches or, on at least one occasion, blushing.

Bookending the awarding of assorted accolades, there have been production numbers and comedic/”comedic” bits that had us grinning… or audibly groaning. Though maybe nothing on the Emmys has ever measured “up” to the Oscars’ quite infamous Rob Lowe/Snow White bit, phew.

Review our rundown of some of the Primetime Emmys’ most memorable moments, pressing play on handy video links where available, and then chime in with the memories that will always stick with you.

1960: HARRY BELAFONTE MAKES HISTORY

In the 12th annual Emmy Awards (and the sixth to be televised), Belafonte made history when he won Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Musical Program (for Revlon Review: Tonight with Belafonte) and became the first Black performer to ever take home TV’s top prize. (NO VIDEO AVAILABLE)

1970: PATTY DUKE SPARKS SPECULATION

In accepting the first-ever Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Made-for-TV Movie (for My Sweet Charlie), Duke meandered on-stage and then seemed detached, spoke incoherently. Duke would later explain that she had been in the midst of a “serious mental breakdown,” and in 1982 was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

1975: OHHHH, LUCY!

Funny lady Lucille Ball went to announce the winner for Outstanding Comedy… but simply couldn’t, having left her eyeglasses at her seat. What followed was a bit of impromptu physical comedy by her and a helpful (?) Milton Berle.

1979: ALAN ALDA FLIPS OUT

So excited to win his first Emmy for writing (an episode of M*A*S*H, on which he starred), Alan Alda performed a full-on cartwheel in the theater aisle before grabbing his gold.

1991: KIRSTIE ALLEY GIVES HUSBAND ‘BIG’ PROPS

In accepting her Emmy for best actress in a comedy, the Cheers star’s thank-yous eventually led to her singling out husband Parker Stevenson “for giving me ‘the big one’ for the last eight years.”

2001: THE FIRST POST-9/11 EMMYS

Ellen DeGeneres had the unenviable task of hosting that year’s twice-postponed ceremony, yet rose to the occasion with a perfect blend of pathos and tension-releasing barbs (e.g. “What would bug the Taliban more than seeing a gay woman in a suit surrounded by Jews?”). Later in the night, she delivered a “swan” song of sorts by evoking a get-up made famous by Bjork. (WATCH HIGHLIGHTS ABOVE)

2006: WHAT ABOUT BOB?

To make sure the 58th Primetime Emmy Awards stayed tight and bright, host Conan O’Brien revealed that Bob Newhart had been sealed in a glass chamber with only enough air for three hours — which “appeared” to be alarming news to the iconic comic.

2006: THIS.

Apprentice host. “Karen Walker.” Green Acres theme. Yeah.

2010: THE MOST GLEE-FUL OPENING EVER

A quintet of Glee stars + host Jimmy Fallon + Tina Fey + a booty-shaking Jon Hamm + Nina Dobrev literally springing onto the scene + other fun treats added up to a rousing “Born to Run” singalong that has never been rivaled by any other opening number.

2011: FUNNY LADIES’ FAKE BEAUTY PAGEANT

As each of the nominees for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy were announced, Amy Poehler, Melissa McCarthy, Tina Fey, Edie Falco, Martha Plimpton and Laura Linney one by one stepped on stage, held hands, and “anxiously” awaited the winner’s name, beauty pageant-style — complete with explosive tears and a tiara for the Mike & Molly star.

2014: BRYAN CRANSTON, KISSING BANDIT

As Julia Louis-Dreyfus headed toward the stage to accept her Emmy for best actress in a comedy (for Veep), Bryan Cranston broke bad and intercepted her to plant a big, passionate, prolonged kiss — a pre-planned “kicker” for an earlier bit in which JLD pretended to not remember her onetime Seinfeld beau.

2014: SEXIST… OR A SEND-UP?

As TV Academy CEO Bruce Rosenblum spoke of the medium’s mission to give “the viewer something compelling to watch” (wink-wink), vivacious Modern Family star Sofia Vergara stood on a turntable and at key points showed off her assets. When some cried “objectification,” Vergara later insisted that the stunt proved “somebody can be hot and also be funny and make fun of herself.”

2014: ROBIN WILLIAMS, REMEMBERED

There surely was not a dry eye in the house after Billy Crystal capped that year’s In Memoriam montage by appearing on-stage and lovingly paying tribute to longtime friend Williams, who had passed about a month prior.

2015: FREE HBO FOR EVERYONE!

Referencing HBO’s claim that they don’t mind the sharing of accounts, host Andy Samberg gave out “his” working HBO GO login — khaleesifan3@emmyhost.com, along with the password shown on-screen. “Gotta have a number in there, throw them off the scent,” he explained. (NO VIDEO AVAILABLE, ODDLY)

2015: JON HAMMS IT UP

Hearing his name called as the winner for best drama actor for the first time after eight nominations, Mad Men‘s very relieved Jon Hamm crawled onto the stage, before delivering an overdue acceptance speech.

2015: TRACY MORGAN IS WELCOMED BACK

Appearing on-stage at the Emmys some 15 months after a fatal six-vehicle crash left him in a coma and with numerous broken bones, Tracy Morgan presented the award for Outstanding Drama — after, that is, he received a standing ovation. “Thank you, thank you so much,” the 30 Rock alum told the crowd, warmly. “I missed you guys so much.”

2015: VIOLA DAVIS MAKES HISTORY

For her Season 1 run as How to Get Away With Murder‘s provocative and inscrutable Annalise, Viola Davis made history as the first African American to win best actress in a drama. “Let me tell you something — the only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity,” she declared. “You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.”

2017: SPICING THINGS UP

Just months after he had stepped down as President Donald Trump’s White House Press Secretary — and two years before he would hit the Dancing With the Stars parquet — Sean Spicer showed up as part of host Stephen Colbert’s opening skit, to (grossly over)estimate the crowd size.

2018: WE DO!

While accepting his Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special, Glenn Weiss took the moment to address his girlfriend, Jan Svendsen, saying in front of millions of viewers, “You wonder why I don’t like to call you my girlfriend? Because I want to call you my wife.” After he dropped to bended knee and produced a ring, she emphatically said yes.

2019: JHARREL’S BIG WIN

From the note of pride in Angela Bassett’s voice when she announced Jharrel Jerome as Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie winner, to the chill-inducing standing ovation he got from the audience, everything about his victory was emotional and poignant. The cherry on top, of course, was the When They See Us star’s shout-out to the real Exonerated Five, who cheered, wept and raised their fists in solidarity as he accepted the award.

2022: SHERYL LEE’S DREAM COMES TRUE

You had to love every single moment of Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph’s win for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, a category in which costar Janelle James was prognosticated to win. From Ralph’s utter shock at hearing her name announced to her triumphant singing of Dianne Reeves’ “Endangered Species,” to her joyful assertion “to anyone who has ever, ever had a dream and thought your dream wasn’t, wouldn’t, couldn’t come true, I am here to tell you that this is what believing looks like,” it instantly became one of the Emmys’ very best speeches in a long while.

2023*: ALLY GETS DANCING, BABY

Capping a night of very fun cast reunions (including Grey’s Anatomy and Martin), Calista Flockhart, Greg Germann, Gil Bellows and Peter MacNicol — the men emerging from a unisex bathroom stall, clown car-style — winningly channeled their dance party-prone Ally McBeal characters.

*Held Jan. 15, 2024

2023*: APPLEGATE GETS A STANDING O

Emmy nominee Christina Applegate, who in 2021 revealed that she’d been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, was brought to tears when the entire audience got up on its feet and applauded her as she made her way to the podium to present the award for Supporting Actress in a Comedy. Even better than seeing how happy it made her was how she chose to respond. “Oh my God! You’re totally shaming me with disability [sic] by standing up,” she deadpanned. “It’s fine!”