Emmys recap: Women of 'Abbott Elementary,' 1, Jimmy Kimmel, 0

On Sunday, September 12, the Emmy Awards were back and more mediocre than ever. This year's show was hosted by the agreeable comedy legend Kenan Thompson and showcased the who’s who of Hollywood.

While the event itself was colorless as usual, there were some moments worthy of TikTok virality that successfully stopped viewers from turning off the TV before Thompson said good night. Here are my most notable moments from the evening, both good and bad, that made me not regret (well, kind of not regret) tuning in that weekend.

I would be remiss not to include, or start with, the most radiant moment of the show featuring actress, comedian and now acclaimed improv dancer, Jennifer Coolidge. If Tom Hanks is America’s dad, then Jennifer Coolidge is America’s fun aunt who you can always count on to get you through a breakup or a bad haircut.

Coolidge won an Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a mini-series for her role in HBO's class-centric thriller, “The White Lotus.” While Coolidge was graciously accepting her award and running through a list of thanks, she was played off before she could finish. Instead of getting flustered and hauling herself off stage, like most recipients are bluntly forced to do, Coolidge made the music a part of her speech and danced and lip-synced to the tune.

The image of her brightly grooving to the “get your ass off the stage now so NBC doesn't lose money by broadcasting overtime” music in her stunning green mermaid dress and feathery hair will forever be remembered in the Emmys history books as a beam of light in an otherwise stale show.

Similarly to Coolidge, Sheryl Lee Ralph delivered a show-stopping acceptance speech. Although, Ralph's was more likely to bring tears of joy and affection than those of laughs and cheers.

Ralph won her first Emmy Award, outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series, for her role in “Abbott Elementary.” “Abbott Elementary” is a hilarious and biting show, chronicling the journey of teachers, faculty and students at an underfunded school in Philadelphia. The show is written by the magnificent Quinta Brunson, who breathes life into the sitcom genre and puts the spotlight on the struggles of underprivileged and predominantly Black schools in the U.S.

Ralph played her part as a seasoned elementary-aged teacher flawlessly and authentically. So when she ascended to the stage crying and singing an emotional Dianne Reeves song, it is safe to say there were few dry eyes in the house.

Later in the night, when it was Brunson’s turn to receive her wildly deserved award, outstanding writing for a comedy series, she was sabotaged by Jimmy Kimmel, proving white men in Hollywood are just as unaware and egotistical as they’ve always been.

The sabotaging involved Kimmel laying on the floor in front of Brunson for the entirety of her speech. He was, in his words, performing a “dumb comedy bit” in which he pretended to be too drunk to walk himself on stage. Kimmel was right about something — his “comedy bit” was equal parts dumb and disrespectful.

He put all of the attention on him instead of a deserving Black woman, which already happens so often in this industry. Brunson’s Emmy win will now always be synonymous with the “king of late-night TV” ridiculously laying on the stage, which makes me think that these award shows haven’t changed for the better at all.

Despite that misstep, there were a few more bright spots throughout the evening that gave me some hope for the future of Hollywood.

Zendaya took home her second lead actress in a drama series Emmy for her role as Rue in “Euphoria.” She is now the first Black woman to win two Emmys in the same category and the youngest person to win two acting Emmys.

Furthermore, Lizzo won an Emmy for outstanding competition program for her competition show "Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls." She is now halfway to EGOT status which is an impressive feat for anyone, let alone someone as young as Lizzo, who's only 34 years old. 

Despite the strides in representation seen through Zendaya's, Lizzo’s, Ralph’s and others awards, my jury is still out on whether Hollywood awards shows are worth the watch, considering their fractured history that seems to repeat itself.