Originally created by Nox Quiroz on 25 September 2025
The Emmy Awards are meant to help uplift and highlight the best in television each year. There was plenty of that this year, but last weekend’s ceremony was quite memorable to us here at FBC for several other reasons. Here’s why we’re still thinking about the Emmys more than a week later!
1. Hannah Einbinder’s Acceptance Speech
Multiple actors have used their acceptance speeches at awards shows to speak up for human rights. This Emmys season saw many attendees show up in support of a free Palestine, such as Javier Bardem wearing a keffiyeh on the red carpet, and Hacks star Meg Stalter wearing a purse with “CEASEFIRE” emblazoned across it. One of the most memorable shows of support that night, however, was when another Hacks star, Hannah Einbinder, ended her acceptance speech for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series with “Go Birds, fuck ICE, and free Palestine.”
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The next day, the Internet was flooded with responses against Einbinder. Among them was a Hollywood Reported guest column titled “No, Hannah, That Wasn’t Brave.” Ricky Gervais and other celebrities claimed Einbinder was vulgar and ignorant. Even the DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin released a statement, declaring that Einbinder “...fans the flames of hatred…” toward ICE members.
Einbinder later spoke more about her speech, sharing why it was so important for her to speak in support of a free Palestine. “I have friends in Gaza who are working as front-line workers, as doctors right now in the north of Gaza to provide care for pregnant women and for school children. To create schools in the refugee camps,” she said. “And it’s an issue that’s really close to my heart for many reasons. I feel like it is my obligation as a Jewish person to distinguish Jews from the state of Israel because our religion and our culture are such an important and long-standing … institution that is really separate from this sort of ethnonationalist state."
2. “In Memoriam”... for Some People
One of my favorite parts of awards shows is the “In Memoriam” tribute. It’s a lovely way to look back and honor those who are no longer with us. This year’s Emmys tribute included TV luminaries like Michelle Trachtenberg and Julian McMahon. However, two notable stars were left out of this year’s tribute:
Tony Todd–most known for his roles in movies like Candyman and Final Destination, but with numerous TV credits under his belt–was left out. His widow, Fatima Cortez Todd, noted that “Tony had a long list of TV credits but he was not respected as much by the industry [to which] he gave his artistic life.” Todd was also left out of the Oscars “In Memoriam” tribute earlier this year.
Jonathan Joss–also left out of the tribute–is most known for his roles in Parks and Recreation and King of the Hill. Joss was murdered this past June when he pushed his husband out of the way of gunshots after a neighbor yelled homophobic slurs at them and opened fire.
Multiple other actors were also left out, but these two were the most noticed. It’s heartbreaking that they were not given the respect they were due in life or in death.
3. Tramell Tillman Becomes the First Black Actor to Win “Best Supporting Actor in a Drama”
Tillman won “Best Supporting Actor in a Drama” for his role as Seth Milchick in the show Severance. In the first season, Milchick appears to be the primary villain of the show, but his role expands in the second season. His Blackness is integral to his character, especially as one of the few Black people in the corporate machine that is Lumon. Milchick is an incredibly layered character, and Tillman does an amazing job bringing him to life.
The fact that Tillman is the first Black actor, as well as the first openly gay Black actor, to win in this category though in the 46-year history of the Emmys shows that we still have a lot of work to do when it comes to highlighting the achievements of people of color, especially Black people, in television. When asked in August about how he felt about potentially being the first Black man to win this Emmy category, he replied, “Do I feel a weight? No. I feel honored to join the legacy of these incredible storytellers. I’m ambitious and would love an Emmy, but I’ve learned it’s not up to me.”
4. The Donation Meter for the Boys and Girls Club of America
I love the Boys and Girls Club. I was a member for about a year, but my mom and uncle were members throughout most of their childhood (my mom still talks about how she was Girl of the Year at her Club). It’s an amazing organization that provides a safe and supportive space for kids, offering extracurriculars, homework help, and a place to be after school or in the summer. I have memories of volunteering with my mom to serve Thanksgiving dinner to families at the East Los Angeles Boys and Girls Club. The work they do cannot be overstated.
Which is why it upset me that donating to them felt like a joke throughout Emmys Night. Host Nate Bargatze started off the night by introducing a donation meter, saying he would donate $100,000 to the organization. For every acceptance speech that went over 45 seconds, however, he would take away $1,000 per extra second. To even it out, he would add $1,000 for each second it went under. Seems like a harmless premise at first. It discourages long-winded speeches. A great organization racks up donations. Surely that’s a win-win, right?
Except it didn’t cut down on speech times. Not only that, but there was a counter onscreen so that viewers could see just how much money was bleeding away when a speech went overtime.
With the exception of Einbinder, who said she would pay the difference for how much time her speech took, few offered to do the same. At the end of the night, the donation pool was at -$60,000.
Not a good look but, in the end, Bargatze announced he would donate $250,000, and CBS Studios donated an additional $100,000, bringing the grand total to $350,000.
Still, while I hate being cynical, the entire donation pool schtick felt tactless. I suppose I hoped more celebrities would offer to donate. The fact that the pool ended in the negatives left a sour taste in my mouth, giving the vibe that nobody was willing to put aside their speeches for the sake of a common good.
If you would like to make your own donation to the Boys and Girls Club of America, you can do so here.
5. Stephen Colbert
As you probably know, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will not continue on past its present season. Colbert brought levity to the situation, highlighting his amazing crew–200+ people who will be without jobs in June–and jokingly pulling out a resume and an old headshot, asking Harrison Ford to pass it along to Steven Spielberg. The show’s Emmy win for Outstanding Talk Series felt bittersweet.
CBS claims that The Late Show’s cancellation was a “purely financial decision,” though it seems CBS really just wants to appease Trump and the FCC in order to complete a merger. Tellingly, only a few days after the Emmys, ABC put The Jimmy Kimmel Show on an “indefinite pause” that also seemed related to a different merger, one that would allow them to control almost 80% of America’s networks (the current limit is 38% without FCC approval). However, after public backlash and a large financial hit due to boycotts, The Jimmy Kimmel Show is back on air.
While some may find it’s not important to talk about award ceremonies when there is so much to process and work on in the world, these ceremonies hold up a lens to our current political climate. We can see people using their platforms to speak out for change while also seeing who gets recognized from large organizations. Art is integral to our society, and at a time where we are seeing art be defunded and censored, it feels even more important to talk critically and openly about these ceremonies.
Please let us know what moments stood out to you!
