You probably had a good night during the 2014 Primetime Emmy Awards on Aug. 25 if you already had an Emmy or two under your belt. The awards heavily favored past winners, including Jim Parsons ("The Big Bang Theory"), Julia Louis-Dreyfuss ("Veep"), Aaron Paul ("Breaking Bad"), Anna Gunn ("Breaking Bad"), Julianna Margulies ("The Good Wife") and Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad"). "Modern Family" now has an "Outstanding Comedy Series" Emmy for each of its five seasons, and "Breaking Bad" followed up last year's win with another Emmy for "Outstanding Drama Series."
But the Emmys telecast is so much more than the awards. The ceremony was filled with shocking moments, hilarious gaffes and heartwarming tributes that could have filled a show by themselves. In case you missed all of that, take a look at the best and worst moments from the 2014 Emmy Awards.
Best: Seth Meyers does "Billy on the Street" with Billy Eichner
It's always great to see the hilarious Billy Eichner get some air time, and you can't help but laugh at the shocking and silly answers from the passersby he harasses in his "Billy on the Street" show. Emmys host Seth Meyers joined Eichner for this installment, which was extra-funny because the contestants didn't know who Meyers was or they threw some shade at the talent in the audience, with Eichner's help of course.
Worst: Stephen Colbert's imaginary friend
I love Stephen Colbert as much as the next person, but when he presented the award for "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie," he introduced us to his imaginary friend Rosco, and the bit just fell flat. Even though Colbert probably doesn't really have an imaginary friend, the whole thing was just kind of sad.
Best: Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Bryan Cranston
These two stole the night. They first had a delightful moment while presenting the award for "Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series" when Julia Louis-Dreyfus told Bryan Cranston how much he looked like the actor who played Tim Whatley on "Seinfeld," Jerry's dentist who dates Elaine. (It's funny because Cranston did play him!) Then, when Louis-Dreyfus won her third Emmy for "Veep," Cranston planted a big old wet kiss on her as she walked up to accept her award. Louis-Dreyfus had a perfect response when she finally got up to the mic: "Yeah, he was on 'Seinfeld.'"
Worst: Gwen Stefani's flub
Perhaps Gwen Stefani was nervous about being in front of so many TV folk, but when she announced the award for "Outstanding Variety Series," she mistakenly said "The Colbort Report" instead of "Colbert." Her co-presenter Adam Levine tried to save it by kind of mumbling "The Colber Report," but the damage had already been done. Oh well. It looked like Stephen Colbert was just as happy to accept the award even with the gaffe.
Best: Key and Peele presenting the accountants
No offense to the accounting firm of Ernst & Young and accountants everywhere, but everyone knows that meeting the accountants at the Emmys is one of the duller parts of the night. Not so with the comedy duo of Key and Peele who gave a funny and altogether adorable intro as they tried to improvise and failed because they kept talking in sync. Oh, these two.
Worst: Sofia Vergara was put on a pedestal
Nobody likes that moment in an awards show when the president of the organization giving the awards makes his or her speech. But we know we have to hear it, and we just deal with it. The Emmys tried to liven up this part of the night by having Sofia Vergara stand on a rotating platform so we all had something nice to look at as the CEO and chairman of the Television Academy spoke. Of course, the segment tried to be lighthearted and funny, but it came off as a bit sexist, and Vergara even perpetuated the stereotype of a foreigner not understanding American television. Yet again, the Television Academy's speech was a low point of the night.
Best: Standing ovation for Larry Kramer
HBO's "The Normal Heart" won the Emmy for "Outstanding Television Movie," and the entire Nokia Theatre gave Larry Kramer, who wrote the script and play on which the film is based, a standing ovation. Ryan Murphy, the director of "The Normal Heart," also honored the AIDS activist in his acceptance speech for the film and said, "This is for all of the hundreds of thousands of artists that have passed from HIV/AIDS since 1981. Your memory and your passion burns on in us and this is for them." I most definitely got chills from this moment.
Worst: The horrible wind chimes over the "Breaking Bad" theme song
The orchestra played the theme song to the winning show for each award as the person accepting the honor made his or her way to the mic. During all of the awards "Breaking Bad" received, a cringeworthy chime sound played over the typically laid-back theme song for the drama. I almost wished "Breaking Bad" didn't win so much so I wouldn't have to hear that clamor.
Best: Robin Williams tribute
The Emmys tribute to Robin Williams was incredibly moving with friend and colleague Billy Crystal providing anecdotes about Williams' life and how his legacy will live on long after his death. "But miraculously, because they float in the heavens so far away from us now, their beautiful light will continue to shine on us forever. And the glow will be so bright, it'll warm your heart. It'll make your eyes glisten, and you'll think to yourselves, 'Robin Williams... what a concept,'" Crystal said.
Worst: Seth Meyers as host
Oh, Seth Meyers. You tried, you really did. But your opening monologue didn't inspire too many laughs from the audience, and when you start out the wrong way, it's difficult to come back. Toward the middle of the show, I kind of forgot your were even hosting. Hopefully, a bit more experience on "Late Night" will give you the showmanship to really lead an awards show.
