The Emmys are television's night of nights. For once, the world turns it eyes to the little square box, forgetting about those things called movies and those people called movie stars.
It's no coincidence that the Emmys always starts with a host preaching about the transformative powers of television. While this may be becoming overplayed, the importance of television has never been more obvious than in 2020.
With movie theatres around the world closed, people turned to their televisions for enjoyment. Hopefully, this has caused a lot of people to realise how great television is. Week after week you get invited into the lives of characters and that sort of attachment just doesn't exist in movies.
Schitt's Creek, the little Canadian show that could. After a modest premiere, this comedy series slowly but surely gained the attention of viewers and critics worldwide.
Source: Radio Times
As coronavirus continues to wreak havoc around the world, the Emmys had to think on their feet in order to get a show together. In a television landscape that is currently enjoying some of the best series and performances for a long time, these awards had to go ahead.
The night kicked off with a bang as Catherine O'Hara won Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her work as Moira Rose on Schitt's Creek. We then saw Eugene Levy win Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Johnny Rose on Schitt's Creek.
After some all important writing and directing awards (all won by Schitt's Creek), we then moved to Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Dan Levy won for his role as David Rose on (you guessed it) Schitt's Creek. Next up was Annie Murphy, winning Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Alexis Rose on Schitt's Creek.
With her one of a kind accent, outfits and backstory, Moira Rose (played by Catherine O'Hara) has quickly become a screen and cultural icon.
Photo Source: Showbiz Cheat Sheet
If the night didn't already belong to the Rose family, Schitt's Creek proceeded to win the Emmy for Comedy Series. This win cemented Schitt's Creek's place in popular culture history. In the 72 year history of the Emmys, no show has ever swept all categories- comedy or drama.
This ensures that 40 years from now, when we talk about the greatest comedies of all time, Schitt's Creek will be uttered in the same breath as Seinfeld, Friends, Frasier and The Office.
So, since we've already had the pleasure of watching some of the greatest comedies of all time, why did it take until Schitt's Creek for a comedy to sweep all the major categories at the Emmys?
One raise of those eyebrows and Johnny Rose (played by Eugene Levy) could convey so much.
Photo Source: LA Times
For me, the answer lies in the fact that Schitt's Creek gave us what we wanted- an insight into the celebrity lifestyle and then turned it on its head. The show got you in on the promise of glamour and then proceeded to present you with characters who were just like you.
There was never any pretence with Schitt's Creek. What you see is what you get. The jokes are always laugh out loud funny. You are always rooting for the characters. There is no Newman that you simply must hate. There is no Ross that over time, constantly grates on your nerves.
David Rose (played by Dan Levy) is a constant source of laugh out loud jokes. It would have been easy for David to be pretentious, but Dan makes this character loveable.
Photo Source: Spotern
This little Canadian show that could, really subverted the genre. It's not gimmicky, nor does it explore common television themes. There are no tired tropes like the 'will they/won't they' that played out for Ross and Rachel, Jim and Pam, Niles and Daphne.
There are no characters that are simply irredeemable, much like how Elaine, Jerry, Kramer and George ended up at the conclusion of their stint on our televisions. Instead, Schitt's Creek is populated by real human beings.
Humans who make mistakes and ask for forgiveness. Humans who fall in and out of love. Humans who have dreams that need to be followed. Humans who value their family and their friends and would do anything for them.
Complete with hand gestures and the most interesting stories ever, Alexis Rose (played by Annie Murphy) is a personality that could rival even the most famous of celebrities.
Photo Source: Northern Star
This show made you laugh, cry and care for these people who we saw for a mere 30 minutes every week for six years. Yet, this still doesn't answer the all important question- why was this show the one that deserved the unprecedented Emmys sweep?
To put it simply, I think Schitt's Creek is the only show worthy of an Emmys sweep. Each character was continuously important to the overall narrative. Each actor presented career best performances. Each season and show of the series, however subtly, was always building to the ending Dan and Eugene envisioned.
Take one character out and the show doesn't work. Eugene, Catherine, Dan and Annie each bring their own brand of special. They truly are a family and as we know, a family doesn't work properly if someone is missing. Or, in tv's case, not given the time to shine.
With Dan and Eugene deciding to end the run of Schitt's Creek on a high, this once little Canadian comedies' future legacy will be one for the ages.
Photo Source: Vox
Let's put it into perspective. Was any season of Frasier, Friends, The Office or Seinfeld solid from start to finish? If so, were four cast members (two leads and two supports) equally given the time and material to shine in a season? Myself and the television academy don't think so.
Perhaps the television academy is also rewarding the very rare act of finishing on a high. The comedies that occupy rarefied air as the greatest of all time all went on for one or two seasons too long. Schitt's Creek instead chose to leave us while they were at the top of their game.
Schitt's Creek will go down as one of the most quotable shows in history. Moira Rose is one of the funniest and most unique characters to ever grace the small screen. Johnny Rose is the father most wished they had. David Rose is the gay best friend we all dream of and Alexis Rose is the most interesting and heart-warming popular girl to ever exist.
Throughout the entire run of the show, you felt something for these people, their plight and the unassuming town of Schitt's Creek. No one ever took themselves too seriously, they didn't reach for comedic themes that bordered on stupidity. Instead, they took real life and presented it exactly as funny and heartbreaking as it really is for most of us normal people.
Six years. Six seasons. 43 episodes. Now feels like the right time to let Moira know that her place in pop culture history is firmly cemented.
Source: Metro Style
No show has ever preached acceptance, love and the importance of family like Schitt's Creek. No show has ever gotten the best out of their actors on a consistent basis. No show has ever resonated so much with such a broad audience (which can be seen in the fact that, online this afternoon, the show and the cast is receiving such an outpouring of support).
It will take something truly amazing to sweep the major Emmy categories again. In fact, I don't think it will ever be done again. The Emmys have been waiting for something like Schitt's Creek to arrive and luckily- in time for the show's swansong- the television academy finally took notice.
Comentarios