Eugene and Dan Levy Made Hosting the Emmys Look Easy

As a long-time TV enthusiast who has patiently sat through countless awards shows, I can confidently say that the Levys’ hosting of the 76th Emmy Awards was a breath of fresh air. The charm and chemistry between father and son, reminiscent of their bicker-banter in Schitt’s Creek, made for an enjoyable and entertaining evening. It was refreshing to see TV fans excited about the hosts, a stark contrast to the bland and forgettable performances of past years.

On Sunday evening, during the 76th Emmy Awards, Eugene and Dan Levy, known for their roles in Schitt’s Creek, began by expressing a disclaimer. They clarified that unlike many award show hosts, they were not professional comedians. Instead, Dan explained, “We’re more like actors playing hosts,” and Eugene humorously added, “If things go wrong, you can call me ‘Martin Short.'” This was a gracious self-deprecation from the Levys, who hail from Canada. However, their humility wasn’t necessary as they successfully infused what is often a lengthy event, made more so by predictable wins this time, with enjoyable humor without resorting to overly critical or attention-grabbing jokes. It’s important for TV producers to remember that charm and camaraderie can significantly enhance any awards ceremony, including the Emmys.

With ratings for award shows plummeting, ABC decided to mix things up by bringing on personalities that TV viewers were genuinely looking forward to seeing. Over the past decade, the hosts of Emmys have been quite predictable, featuring late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel (twice), Stephen Colbert, and Saturday Night Live’s Michael Che and Colin Jost, as well as comedians who have seen better days such as Cedric the Entertainer and Kenan Thompson. The last time a woman hosted was Jane Lynch in 2011. My guess is that I’m not the only one who can’t remember Anthony Anderson’s performance from the 2023 ceremony, which was delayed by a strike.

The Levys were an inspired choice, in part because they excel at what they have evocatively described as “bicker-banter” (while they didn’t technically host the 2020 SAG Awards, they did open the ceremony, wonderfully) and in part because there is still so much goodwill for the sleeper-hit Canadian sitcom they created and starred in together. They also seemed to have the right perspective going into what is, more often than not, a thankless gig. “The challenge,” Dan noted in the pair’s recent Good Morning America interview, “is not humiliating yourself on television in front of millions and millions of people.” (Doesn’t Jo Koy know it.)

The duo’s opening remarks established a relaxed, amiably cheerful atmosphere, with jokes primarily directed at nominated programs and each other instead of personal lives or controversial topics like “wokeness” or American politics. (By the way, what do we call an opening speech delivered by a pair? A monologue seems incorrect, but so does dialogue.) The banter between the Levys was sharp enough to complement the sweetness. “My most fulfilling role as a father,” Eugene said to Dan, “[pause] has been playing your father [on Schitt’s Creek].” In essence, he won an Emmy for it. When the audience applauded, Dan humorously pretended to be hurt: “Why are we clapping for bad parenting?

Though you wouldn’t know it to watch the standard awards show, funny jokes don’t have to be mean jokes. Eugene got in some smartly written meta-humor by referencing the endless debate over whether The Bear was actually a comedy (a category it would all but sweep, notably losing best comedy series to Hacks), then saying: “In the true spirit of The Bear, we will not be making any jokes.” Dan struck the right tone with his layered one-liner on the Emmys finally nominating the excellent Native American dramedy Reservation Dogs, for its final season: “The Academy found a show that has been creatively thriving for years and said, ‘Look what we discovered!’”

The bicker-banter carried the rest of the night, as the Levys settled into the roles of neurotic, out-of-touch dad and cheeky, easily exasperated son. Dan dispensed “fun facts” about iconic roles his father had lost to other actors and Eugene finally struck back with: “And how was your audition for Ripley?” Introducing a segment on memorable TV dads, Dan sang the praises of Tony Soprano—a murderer, as Eugene noted. Dan: “Well, his heart was in the right place.” Eugene spoke for all of us at home, forced for too many years to endure bad awards-show crowd work, when he complained that going out into the audience was “uncomfortable.” Speaking of discomfort, Dan almost managed to defuse the telecast’s celebration of a perennially loaded sort of character: “And now, a TV archetype everyone in this room agrees on: Cops!”

The event concluded slightly ahead of schedule, a rarity for live television, especially this genre. It wrapped up in the most fitting manner possible – a gathering of the Schitt’s Creek family, the Levys. First to appear was Annie Murphy, mirroring her character Alexis Rose’s flair for drama and self-importance, only to be outshone by Catherine O’Hara’s portrayal of Rose matriarch, Moira. Eugene Levy’s on-screen partner graced the stage to announce the nominees for the final category, best comedy series. As tension filled the air or perhaps people were eager to retire for the night, she delivered a heartfelt speech reminiscent of Moira’s dramatic flair: “And the Emmy goes to… Should we really select just one winner? All the nominees have produced such exceptional, hilarious work.

Frankly speaking, I was hoping for a bit more screen time with the reunited Roses. It’s rare for television events like the Emmys to leave us craving more, but this year, they managed it exceptionally well. The Levys truly deserve recognition for their outstanding work in the 2024 ceremony; perhaps they will be asked back for another performance in 2025.

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2024-09-16 08:06