By Aaron Miller-
Producers of the 22nd Grammy Awards were trying to signal a limited availability of time when they rudely, but unsuccessfully tried to intimidate Jennifer Collidge off stage after she won her first ever Emmy.
In the biggest moment of her life, The White Lotus star Jennifer Coolidge was disrespectfully treated in the manner in which thoughtless producers attempted to rush her off stage during her acceptance speech. The lack of empathy for the largely overlooked star who deservedly was making the most of the once in a lifetime accomplishment was shameful. Arrogance and power were in full display before an international audience and must be called out.
Collidge was celebrating her overdue recognition after winning the outstanding supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie category Monday night. The category featured four other “White Lotus” co-stars (Alexandra Daddario, Connie Britton, Natasha Rothwell and Sydney Sweeney), plus “Dopesick” stars Kaitlyn Dever and Mare Winningham
However, the outstanding Supporting Actress was played off before she could finish her acceptance speech. “Wait, hold on. No, this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” she rightly protested when the awards show played music to signal for her to leave the stage. The implied message that she had overstayed her welcome on stage was unarguably misplaced, exposing the poor judgement of the award producers.
Of the seven nominees in the category, five actors were up for the award for their parts in The White Lotus, while the other two nominations were for Kaitlyn Dever and Mare Winningham in Dopesick.
The special moment on Monday night which had been a long time coming was abused. not being experienced by her alone. Sheryl Lee Ralph After decades in the industry, the conduct was awful, though she handled the otherwise embarrassing stunt well by dancing beautifully to drown the rude conduct, when in fact the wrongful act was nothing more than reckless conduct on the part of the organisers.
Collidge who plays Tanya in The White Lotus. Image: HBO
The lack of appreciation of the significance of the moment was an unforgiveable cardinal sin committed by bosses of the annual award. Had Collidge been black, the world would have never heard the last of the racial charges that would have inevitably accompanied the wave of criticisms to follow.
The much-undervalued actress had begun her speech by praising her fellow nominees and explaining that she wasn’t in the best condition to talk at the moment. “I took a lavender bath tonight, right before the show. And it made me swell up inside my dress,” Coolidge demurred. “And I’m having a hard time speaking. I’m not kidding.”
After paying tribute to her fellow nominees, she began talking about taking a bath before remembering there was a whole list of people she wanted to thank during her big moment.
Hurriedly unwrapping a crumpled piece of paper, she said: “Oh s**t, I didn’t think this was gonna happen. Hold on, wait, wait, wait wait.”
Her motive in wanting to acknowledge a whole list of names was most commendable, reflecting the star’s appreciation of those worthy of being credited for their contribution to her career.
The Emmys tried to play her out with ‘Time To Say Goodbye’, but Coolidge kept running through names of people she had to thank.
Once In A Lifetime
Following the realisation her time had run out, she desperately said: “Wait, hold on, no this is a once in a lifetime thing
As the awards ceremony tried to switch songs, playing ‘Hit the Road, Jack’ in a bid to indicate to The White Lotus star that her departure time was overdue, Collidge defiantly stayed on the stage, dancing along to the musi and, evoking laughter from the crowd.
Show bosses must review their manner of operating and allow sufficient time for award winners to make their respective speeches, at the very least warning them in advance of the time allotted to give their speeches, which needs to be sufficient. Annual awards of this nature must be staged with better dignity, rather than the careless show of disrespect we saw on Monday night.
Comedian Jimmy Kimmel was also properly criticised by some who thought he stole Quinta Brunson’s thunder by lying down on stage while she was accepting her award.
The 74th Emmy Awards was produced by Done+Dusted in association with Hudlin Entertainment. Ian Stewart, Reginald Hudlin, Byron Phillips, and Jane Mun will executive produce the live three-hour coast-to-coast telecast that begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
All four executive fat cats have been contacted for comment.