Emmys 2022: 5 Ups & 7 Downs

An underwhelming show filled with egregious snubs.

By Jack Pooley /

NBC

There hasn't been a period in modern TV history where awards shows have felt any less relevant - as is reflected by their ratings. And so, there was understandable hope from many that this year's Emmys broadcast would serve as a welcome reminder of why people tune in in the first place.

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Sadly beyond some undeniably historic and memorable moments, this year's Emmys - the ceremony's first proper stage show in three years due to the pandemic - was a relatively anemic, forgettable affair which struggled to make much of a case for itself.

Of course, deserving artists were awarded for their TV accomplishments over the past year, but conceptually it was a disappointingly safe broadcast which lacked the pomp and banner moments necessary to capture the attention of more casual observers.

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Following up an Oscars telecast earlier this year that would've been forgotten in mere days were it not for a certain on-stage slap, it's tough to imagine anyone recalling much from this show within a week or two.

In an era where interest in televised awards ceremonies has dwindled catastrophically, the Emmys had the opportunity to make a screaming case for their own existence, yet from the show itself through to the mixed bag of winners, it was a pure shoulder shrug.

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And so, on with what didn't work...