Hammond: emmys – the good, the bad and those late night parties

Emmy 2011 is officially over and those I talked to at the Governors Ball, HBO and AMC celebrations generally liked it. The consensus is that Jane Lynch was a sharp host, the pace was good

and the Mark Burnett-produced show came to life enough times to make it all worthwhile despite the deja vu feeling from repeat winners _Modern Family (_two years in a row), _Mad Men _(four

years in a row), _The Daily Show With Jon Stewart _(9 wins in a row) and _The Amazing Race _(8 wins in the past 9 years). The highlight was when the six nominees for Best Actress in a Comedy

Series came on stage as their names were announced and lined up in beauty pageant fashion — before (surprise) winner Melissa McCarthy of CBS’ _Mike And _Molly was given roses, a tiara and

an Emmy. I caught up with McCarthy at the HBO party and she told me it was barely planned. “We had talked about it but when (first nominee) Amy Poehler got up and walked on stage I guess I

realized then we _were _really going to do this,” she said. “The whole experience was so surreal. McCarthy has also been winning lots of praise for her scene-stealing performance in the

summer smash comedy, _Bridesmaids. _Universal campaign insiders are telling me they are likely planning a Supporting Actress campaign for her. She was practically speechless when I asked her

how she felt about this, but finally said: “If they do it I am all for it. I loved doing that film and working with Kristen Wiig and the rest of the cast. Go for it.” WATCH ON DEADLINE

Before her big moment there was the much-talked about awkward “surprise” appearance of Charlie Sheen. His ex-producer Chuck Lorre and Warner Bros’ Bruce Rosenblum (whose studio produces _Two

and a Half Men)_ were among the people who objected to the plan, which Deadline broke, according to Nellie Andreeva’s Sunday post. Academy officials at the Governor’s Ball told me there was

great sensitivity to Sheen’s appearance. One top officer said it might be too soon — but  they reluctantly agreed after Fox, the network that aired the Emmys, said it was important to have 

Sheen on. Warners’ Rosenblum (who is running for TV Academy Chair in November) confirmed to me that he did place a call to Fox Network’s Peter Rice to ensure the appearance would be handled

in good taste. “I just wanted to make sure there was a five second delay in place at the very least”, he said. Another officer said they had a contingency plan in place for anything that

might have gone wrong, but didn’t tell me exactly what that plan_ was._ There was no need for worry. Sheen was on his best behavior as he came out to present Best Actor in a Comedy Series,

the category he lost four times for _Two And A Half Men_. “From the bottom of my heart I wish you nothing but the best in the coming season,” he told his former co-workers before ironically 

announcing Jim Parsons, the star of_ another_ Chuck Lorre _show The Big Bang _Theory as the winner. Sheen seemed so contrite that it seemed like someone had a gun to his head if he went off

script for a second. Did we say _awkward?_ Whatever spontanaeity or fun this appearance was meant to have was completely lost. Academy Chair John Shaffner told me he was particularly happy

with the In Memoriam segment that featured the Canadian Tenors and that he introduced by singling out the late Stephen J. Cannell. “That was one thing (the producers) actually listened to me

on,” he said. The clip tribute to departed TV figures also ended with Cannell. Shaffner said he’s wary about comedy and musical numbers but thought they were just right this time. (I could

have done without the Michael Bolton pirate number, guys.) Shaffner says the Emmys is an _awards_ show and that is what it ought to be about first and foremost. That should comfort the 

writers, directors, and  producers of the Movies and Mini-Series categories: They worry the Academy wants to boot them off the show. Shaffner indicated just the opposite. One of the

highlights was _Modern Family’s _Steve Levitan’s funny acceptance for Writing in a Comedy Series. He repeatedly discussed his sex life as cameras caught the less-than-amused reactions of his

wife in the audience. Among the other highlights: Loose cannon Ricky Gervaiswas taped a funny bit about censorship. _Justified_ supporting actress Margo Martindale’s was infectiously

gracious during her acceptance speech — as was  Peter Dinklage in the corresponding Supporting Actor category (particularly when he thanked his dog sitter). _Downtown Abbey’s _Julian

Fellowes also provided a classy acceptance. Then there was Lynch’s clever intro when she said, “A lot of people are curious about why I am a lesbian. Ladies and Gentlemen: The cast of_

Entourage.” _Lynch, a brilliant improv comedian, was generally spot-on in this gig particularly during the opening musical number in which she showed up on sets of TV shows — and later when

she performed in a wickedly clever takeoff of _Jersey Shore_. It was also nice to see some shocker wins including _Friday Night Lights‘ _Kyle Chandler for Actor in a Drama Series (Jon Hamm

got robbed again for his best season ever on _Mad Men) _and the absent Barry Pepper’s jaw-dropping lead actor Emmy in a movie or mini for the widely lambasted _The Kennedys._ But what was up

with the constant flip voice over narrative from announcer Roger Rose every time someone won an award? It was like producer Burnett could not fathom a single moment of silence as winners

came to the podium so instead we had to listen to constant inane voice over patter (all of it pre-written according to Rose). Also not so hot was some of the presenter talk and some of the  

lame presenters whose celebrity credentials I am still trying to ascertain. Identify who these people _are _and why they are there,_ _Academy. Also _come on_, do we really believe there is

no show better than _The Daily Show with Jon Stewart _or _The Amazing Race _which dominate their categories every year to the point of complete boredom? It’s a sad commentary on the

predictability of these categories when a presenter leads into a list of nominees by saying “Okay let’s see who is going to lose to _The Daily Show_ this year!”  And then, of course, _The

Daily Show _wins. Yawn. The Academy has talked about ways to stop the repeat factor but as one officer told me, “who has the cajones to really change the rules?” It does frustrate those who

come every year and leave empty-handed while the same shows win over and over. “I was really disappointed tonight,”  _American Idol _Exec Producer Nigel Lythgoe told me afterwards at the HBO

party. _Idol _has lost to _Amazing Race (_and _Top Chef _last year) for a solid decade. “I thought this was our year. We really turned the show around . It’s frustrating. I think the

problem is the category . We really are probably seen as more of a variety show,”  he said knowing this losing streak will probably keep on happening as long as there are no changes. Still

the Emmys mean a lot to those who win. I walked out to my car with _Modern Family’s _Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series first time winner Julie Bowen who was still in a state of

shock as she held her Emmy tightly next to her husband. “It’s our eighth anniversary tonight. I still can’t believe I am even a celebrity,” she said  saying she was _sure_ her Emmy had Betty

White‘s name on it instead. She also confessed she loves reading Deadline — just as friend and one-time co-star Christopher McDonald passed her on the up escalator while she was headed

down. Somehow they managed to french kiss each other right in front of hubby on her anniversary no less. That’s what winning an Emmy will do to you. One guy who knows a _lot _about winning

Emmys is _Mad Men _creator Matt Weiner who couldn’t believe he won Best Drama Series for the fourth year in  a row, especially when his show only had cashed in one of 18 nominations (for

Hairstyling) before that final award was announced.  “You know me, I am never speechless  but tonight I was speechless,” Weiner told me at AMC’s  late night bash at Mr. C Beverly Hills Hotel

From Cipriani. It was nearly 1:30AM and the party was just getting started for this exuberant crowd. Apparently it never gets old even when you tend to win every year. Weiner said he was

convinced the show was going to lose. It is  unusual to just win hairstyling and Best Drama Series but the Emmys are often unpredictable.  Although HBO should be happy with eight Emmys

including Directing in a Drama for Martin Scorsese for _Boardwalk Empire. T_hat show now has the dubious distinction of winning the most Emmys without also taking Drama Series. With the

Emmys over, most of these winners and losers will be back on the set bright and early working on shows that might bring them back to the Nokia Theatre next September. But this is one night

some just didn’t want to see end._ _“My call time for tomorrow got moved to 11:30AM. I can stay a little longer,”  _Mad Men _co-star and nominee Christina Hendricks said. And why not?