“Shogun” star Anna Sawai on “chaotic” Emmys and future projects
“Shogun” star Anna Sawai talks with USA TODAY’s Ralphie Aversa on the red carpet about her role, the Emmys and her upcoming projects.
Awards and political commentary are often inevitable co-hosts at major awards shows, and the 2024 Emmys were no exception.
Candace Bergen, who presented the award for outstanding actress in a comedy (to Jean Smart, who won for the third time for “Hacks”), used her time at the microphone to provide wry yet biting political humor.
The five-time Emmy winner and star of shows like “Murphy Brown” and films like “Miss Congeniality” mentioned the point during the run of her beloved sitcom when then-Republican Vice President Dan Quayle spoke out against “Murphy” after the unmarried character, played by Bergen, became pregnant and decided to raise her baby alone.
She then made a well-aimed joke about current Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance without even mentioning his name.
“Today, a Republican vice presidential candidate would never attack a woman for having children. So, as they say, my work here is done. Meow.”
The double joke alluded to Vance’s earlier remarks that only women with families cared about the nation’s fate. He also lamented that the nation was run by “a bunch of childless cat ladies.”
Other Emmy hosts and winners also couldn’t resist using their time in the spotlight to make their own political jabs, many of which took up the same cat theme.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach of “The Bear,” who won best supporting actor, said: “Thank you to my parents. They take such good care of my cat.”
When Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez took the stage, the “Only Murders In The Building” stars also delivered a cat joke.
“Steve, let me just say what an honor it is for me to work with someone who looks like he fell down and can’t get up,” Short said.
“And let me say what an honor it is for me to work with someone who looks like a former women’s tennis champion,” Martin said.
And then Gomez: “And let me tell you what an honor it is to work with two guys who The far from being childless cat ladies.”
Others took a more direct approach to politics. Liza Colón-Zayas, who plays chef Tina Marrero in “The Bear,” was emotional after winning the Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy series. It was considered a surprise after most pundits had predicted either Meryl Streep (“Only Murders in the Building”) or Hannah Einbinder (“Hacks”).
Colón-Zayas seemed equally surprised, admitting that she had not prepared a speech despite her husband’s encouragement to do so. But after thanking many colleagues and some friends, she ended her speech with a simple, nonpartisan appeal: “Thank you for giving me a new life with this show, and to all the Latinas who watch me: keep believing and vote. Vote for your rights.”
Starring: Kelly Lawler, Brendan Morrow and Laura Trujillo
