Arts & Entertainment
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race,’ ‘Versace’ win big for LGBT TV at Emmys
‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,’ ‘Game of Thrones’ rack up the most awards
The 70th annual Primetime Emmy Awards honored the best in television on Monday night including a few wins for LGBT TV.
The biggest night in television kicked off with an opening dance number led by “Saturday Night Live” cast membersĀ Kate McKinnon and Kenan Thompson. The bit jokingly celebrated Hollywood finally finding a solution to its diversity problem. McKinnon and Thompson were later joined on stage by other TV stars such as “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” star Tituss Burgess and RuPaul.
“Saturday Night Live” continued to represent itself as the show passed on to its hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che.
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” made herstory with its win forĀ Outstanding Reality Competition Series rounding out five total wins for the show. RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Ross Matthews and Carson Kressley all were on stage to accept the award.
“Thank you to the Academy. This is so lovely. We are so happy to present this show. I would like to thank, on behalf of the 140 drag queens we have released into the wild, I’d love to thank Dick Richards for introducing me to Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey,” RuPaul said in his speech.Ā “All of the dreamers out there, listen,” he said. “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else? Can I get an amen up in here? Now let the music play.”
RuPaul also won his third consecutive award for Outstanding Host at the Creative Arts Emmys.
“The Assassination of Gianni Versace” also was honored with Ryan Murphy winningĀ Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special and Darren Criss winningĀ Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie. The show also won Outstanding Limited Series. Murphy used his speech to spotlight hate crimes against the LGBTQ community.
āāThe Assassination of Gianni Versaceā is about a lot of things, itās about homophobia, internalized and externalized,ā Murphy said in his acceptance speech. āOne of out of every four LGBTQ people in this country will be the victim of a hate crime. We dedicate this award to them, to awareness, to stricter hate crime laws, and mostly, this is for the memory of Jeff and David and Gianni and for all of those taken too soon. Thank you very much.ā
LGBT representation continued throughout the night with lesbian comedian Hannah Gadbys, known for her critically acclaimed Netflix special “Nanette,” who presented Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series. The cast of “Queer Eye” also took the stage to present as well as RuPaul and Leslie Jones, who recently became close after Jones’ “Drag Race” binge.
“Game of Thrones” was the big winner of the night taking home nine awards including Outstanding Drama Series.Ā “The Marvelous Mrs. Maiselā followed close behind with eight awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series, and “Saturday Night Live” also won eight awards.
Other notable moments of the night were Henry Winkler’s first Emmy win in his decades-long career forĀ Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for “Barry;” an appearance from Betty White and Glenn Weiss who used his win forĀ Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special to propose to his girlfriend on stage.
The complete list of winners is below.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Brian Tyree Henry ā āAtlantaā (FX)
Louie Anderson ā āBasketsā (FX)
Kenan Thompson ā āSaturday Night Liveā (NBC)
Tituss Burgess ā āUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidtā (Netflix)
Henry Winkler ā āBarryā (HBO)Ā
Alec Baldwin ā āSaturday Night Liveā (NBC)
Tony Shalhoub ā āThe Marvelous Mrs. Maiselā (Amazon)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Zazie Beetz ā āAtlantaā (FX)
Laurie Metcalf ā āRoseanneā (ABC)
Leslie Jones ā āSaturday Night Liveā (NBC)
Alex Borstein ā āThe Marvelous Mrs. Maiselā (Amazon)Ā
Betty Gilpin ā āGLOWā (Netflix)
Aidy Bryant ā āSaturday Night Liveā (NBC)
Kate McKinnon ā āSaturday Night Liveā (NBC)
Megan Mullally ā āWill & Graceā (NBC)
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
Donald Glover ā āAtlantaā (FX)
Stefani Robinson ā āAtlantaā (FX)
Alec Berg, Bill Hader ā āBarryā (HBO
Liz Sarnoff ā āBarryā (HBO)
Alec Berg ā āSilicon Valleyā (HBO)
Amy Sherman-Palladino ā āThe Marvelous Mrs. Maiselā (Amazon)
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
Donald Glover ā āAtlantaā (FX)
Hiro Murai ā āAtlantaā (FX)
Bill Hader ā āBarryā (HBO)
Mark Cendrowski ā āThe Big Bang Theoryā (CBS)
Jesse Peretz ā āGLOWā (Netflix)
Mike Judge ā āSilicon Valleyā (HBO)
Amy Sherman-Palladino ā āThe Marvelous Mrs. Maiselā (Amazon)Ā
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Pamela Adlon ā āBetter Thingsā (FX)
Lily Tomlin ā āGrace & Frankieā (Netflix)
Allison Janney ā āMomā (CBS)
Tracee Ellis Ross ā āBlack-ishā (ABC)
Issa Rae ā āInsecureā (HBO)
Rachel Brosnahan ā āThe Marvelous Mrs. Maiselā (Amazon)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson ā āBlack-ishā(ABC)
Ted Danson ā āThe Good Placeā (NBC)
Larry David ā āCurb Your Enthusiasmā (HBO)
Donald Glover ā āAtlantaā (FX)
Bill Hader ā āBarryā (HBO)
William H. Macy ā āShamelessā (Showtime)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Adina Porter ā āAmerican Horror Story: Cultā (FX)
Merritt Wever ā āGodlessā (Netflix)
Penelope Cruz ā āThe Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Storyā (FX)
Letitia Wright ā āBlack Museumā (āBlack Mirrorā) (Netflix)
Sara Bareilles ā āJesus Christ Superstar Live in Concertā (NBC)
Judith Light ā āThe Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Storyā (FX)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Jeff Daniels ā āGodlessā (Netflix)
Ricky Martin āĀ āThe Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Storyā (FX)
Finn Wittrock āĀ āThe Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Storyā (FX)
John Leguizamo ā āWacoā (Paramount Network)
Brandon Victor Dixon ā āJesus Christ Superstar Live in Concertā (NBC)
Edgar Ramirez āĀ āThe Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Storyā (FX)
Michael Stuhlbarg ā āThe Looming Towerā (Hulu)
Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special
Kevin McManus, Matthew McManus ā āAmerican Vandalā (Netflix)
Scott Frank ā āGodlessā (Netflix)
David Nicholls ā āPatrick Melroseā (Showtime)
Tom Rob Smith ā āThe Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Storyā (FX)
David Lynch, Mark Frost ā āTwin Peaksā (Showtime)
William Bridges, Charlie Brooker ā āUSS Callisterā (“Black Mirror”) (Netflix)Ā
Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special
Scott Frank ā āGodlessā (Netflix)
David Leveaux, Alex Rudzinski ā āJesus Christ Superstar Live in Concertā (NBC)
Barry Levinson ā āPaternoā (HBO)
Edward Berger ā āPatrick Melroseā (Showtime)
Ryan Murphy ā āThe Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Storyā (FX)Ā
Craig Zisk ā āThe Looming Towerā (Hulu)
David Lynch ā āTwin Peaksā (Showtime)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie
Jessica Biel ā āThe Sinnerā (USA Network)
Laura Dern ā āThe Taleā (HBO)
Michelle Dockery ā āGodlessā (Netflix)
Edie Falco ā āLaw & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murdersā (NBC)
Regina King ā āSeven Secondsā (Netflix)
Sarah Paulson ā āAmerican Horror Story: Cultā (FX)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie
Antonio Banderas ā āGenius: Picassoā (National Geographic)
Darren Criss ā āAssassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Storyā (FX)Ā
Benedict Cumberbatch ā āPatrick Melroseā (Showtime)
Jeff Daniels ā āThe Looming Towerā (Hulu)
John Legend ā āJesus Christ Superstar Live In Concertā (NBC)
Jesse Plemons ā āUSS Callisterā/āBlack Mirrorā (Netflix)
Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
Melinda Taub, Samantha Bee ā āFull Frontal With Samantha Bee Presents: The Great American* Puerto Rico (*Itās Complicated)ā (TBS)
John Mulaney ā āJohn Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous At Radio Cityā (Netflix)
Michelle Wolf ā āMichelle Wolf: Nice Ladyā (HBO)
Patton Oswalt ā āPatton Oswalt: Annihilationā (Netflix)
Steve Martin, Martin Short ā āSteve Martin & Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget For The Rest Of Your Lifeā (Netflix)
Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special
Stan Lathan ā āDave Chappelle: Equanimityā (Netflix)
Michael Bonfiglio ā āJerry Seinfeld: Jerry Before Seinfeldā (Netflix)
Marcus Raboy ā āSteve Martin & Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget For The Rest Of Your Lifeā (Netflix)
Hamish Hamilton ā āSuper Bowl LII Halftime Show Starring Justin Timberlakeā (NBC)
Glenn Weiss ā āThe Oscarsā (ABC)Ā
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau ā āGame of Thronesā (HBO)
Mandy Patinkin ā āHomelandā (Showtime)
Matt Smith ā āThe Crownā (Netflix)
Peter Dinklage ā āGame of Thronesā (HBO)
David Harbour ā āStranger Thingsā (Netflix)
Joseph Fiennes ā āThe Handmaidās Taleā (Hulu)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Lena Headey āĀ āGame of Thronesā (HBO)
Vanessa Kirby ā āThe Crownā (Netflix)
Ann Dowd ā āThe Handmaidās Taleā (Hulu)
Thandie Newton ā āWestworldā (HBO)Ā
Millie Bobby Brown ā āStranger Thingsā (Netflix)
Alexis Bledel ā āThe Handmaidās Taleā (Hulu)
Yvonne Strahovski ā āThe Handmaidās Taleā (Hulu)
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
David Benioff, D.B. Weiss ā āGame of Thronesā (HBO)
Phoebe Waller-Bridge ā āKilling Eveā (BBC America)
The Duffer Brothers ā āStranger Thingsā (Netfix)
Joe Fields, Joe Weisberg ā āThe Americansā (FX)Ā
Peter Morgan ā āThe Crownā (Neflix)
Bruce Miller ā āThe Handmaidās Taleā (Hulu)
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
Alan Taylor ā āGame of Thronesā (HBO)
Jeremy Podeswa ā āGame of Thronesā (HBO)
Jason Bateman ā āOzarkā (Netflix)
Daniel Sackheim ā āOzarkā (Netflix)
The Duffer Brothers ā āStranger Thingsā (Netflix)
Stephen Daldry ā āThe Crownā (Netflix)Ā
Kari Skogland ā āThe Handmaidās Taleā (Hulu)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Jason Bateman ā āOzarkā (Netflix)
Sterling K. Brown ā āThis Is Usā (NBC)
Ed Harris ā āWestworldā (HBO)
Matthew Rhys ā āThe Americansā (FX)
Milo Ventimiglia ā āThis Is Usā (NBC)
Jeffrey Wright ā āWestworldā (HBO)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Claire Foy ā āThe Crownā (Netflix)Ā
Tatiana Maslany ā āOrphan Blackā (BBC America)
Elisabeth Moss ā āThe Handmaidās Taleā (Hulu)
Sandra Oh ā āKilling Eveā (BBC America)
Keri Russell ā āThe Americansā (FX)
Evan Rachel Wood ā āWestworldā (HBO)
Outstanding Reality Competition Program
āAmerican Ninja Warriorā (NBC)
āProject Runwayā (Lifetime)
āRuPaulās Drag Raceā (VH1)Ā
āThe Amazing Raceā (CBS)
āThe Voiceā (NBC)
āTop Chefā (Bravo)
Outstanding Variety Sketch Series
āAt Home with Amy Sedarisā (TruTV)
āDrunk Historyā (Comedy Central)
āI Love You, America with Sarah Silvermanā (Hulu)
āPortlandiaā (IFC)
āSaturday Night Liveā (NBC)
āThe Tracey Ullman Showā (HBO)
Outstanding Variety Talk Series
āThe Daily Show With Trevor Noahā (Comedy Central)
āFull Frontal With Samantha Beeā (TBS)
āJimmy Kimmel Live!ā (ABC)
āLast Week Tonight With John Oliverā (HBO)
āThe Late Late Show With James Cordenā (CBS)
āThe Late Show With Stephen Colbertā (CBS)
Outstanding Limited Series
āGenius: Picassoā (National Geographic)
āGodlessā (Netflix)
āPatrick Melroseā (Showtime)
āThe Alienistā (TNT)
āThe Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Storyā (FX)
Outstanding Comedy Series
āAtlantaā (FX)
āBarryā (HBO)
āBlack-ishā (ABC)
āCurb Your Enthusiasmā (HBO)
āGLOWā (Netflix)
āThe Marvelous Ms. Maiselā (Amazon)
āSilicon Valleyā (HBO)
āUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidtā (Netflix)
Outstanding Drama Series
āThe Americansā (FX)
āThe Crownā (Netflix)
āGame of Thronesā (HBO)Ā
āThe Handmaidās Taleā (Hulu)
āStranger Thingsā (Netflix)
āThis Is Usā (NBC)
āWestworldā (HBO)
The DC Center for the LGBTQ Community, SMYAL and Rainbow Families sponsored Gay Day at the Zoo on Sunday at the Smithsonian National Zoo. The Smithsonian marked International Family Equality Day with special exhibits and an event space.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Covering Gay Day at the Zoo for @WashBlade . Here at @NationalZooDC pic.twitter.com/LqgGNOOAiM
— Michael Patrick Key (@MichaelKeyWB) May 5, 2024
Photos
PHOTOS: Taste of Point
Annual fundraiser held for LGBTQ youth scholarship, mentorship organization
The Point Foundation held its annual Taste of Point fundraiser at Room & Board on May 2.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Theater
Miss Kitty tackles classical mythology in āMetamorphosesā
Folger production seen through the lens of the African diaspora
āMetamorphosesā
May 7-June 16
Folger Theatre
201 East Capitol St., S.E.
$20-$84
Folger.edu
Miss Kittyās words are thoughtful and measured, occasionally punctuated by flamboyant flourishes and uplifting proclamations. Her tried and tested tagline is ālive in fierce not fear.āĀ
She describes herself as āAMAB (assigned male at birth), nonbinary, genderqueer, transfemmeā as well as āchanteuse, noble blacktress, and dancer.ā
Currently, Miss Kitty is testing her talents in Mary Zimmermanās āMetamorphosesā at Folger Theatre on Capitol Hill.
At 90 minutes, āMetamorphoses,ā is made up of interwoven vignettes from classical mythology including the tales of Midas and his daughter, Alcyone and Ceyx, and Eros and Psyche.
āItās all stories that relate to the human condition: the follies, the happiness, the love, the loss,ā Miss Kitty explains. āAnd a thorough knowledge of mythology isnāt a requirement for enjoyment.ā
The language is contemporary and with its 11-person ensemble cast ā comprised exclusively of Black or indigenous people of color ā theyāre adding their own spin to its present-day feel, she adds.
In Zimmermanās famously staged premiere production, the actors performed in and around a pool of water. At Folger, director Psalmayene 24 has ditched actual aquatics; instead, he suggests the element by introducing Water Nymph, a new character constructed around Miss Kitty.
Water Nymph doesnāt speak, but sheās very visible from the opening number and throughout the play on stage and popping up in unexpected places around the venue.
āItās a lot of dancing; I havenāt danced the way Tony Thomas is choreographing me in a very long time. At 40, can she still make theater with just my body as her instrument?
The name āMiss Kittyā was born over a decade ago.
Miss Kitty recalls, āShe was still presenting as male and going by her dead name. Someone commented that with the wig she was wearing for a part, she looked like Eartha Kitt whom she deeply admires.ā
Her penchant for illeism (referring to oneself in third person) isnāt without good reason. She explains, āItās to reiterate that however she might look, sheās always there; and if you misgender, she will let you know.ā
Initially, the moniker was a drag persona at Capital Pride or the occasional fabulous cabaret performance at a nightclub.
But as time passed, she realized that Miss Kitty was something she couldnāt take off. She had always been a part of her.
āSheās helped me to grow and flourish; sheās given me the strength that I never would have had before. Iām so proud of myself for realizing that before it was too late.ā
Bringing Miss Kitty into her theatrical career presented some concerns. Would theater folks be open to the new her, especially those sheād worked with before?
Not always, but sheās found new companies whoāve welcomed Miss Kitty with open arms including Avant Bard, Spooky Action Theater, and now Folger.
Last fall, Miss Kitty appeared in Spooky Actionās Agreste (Drylands), a stunning queer story penned by gay Brazilian playwright Newton Moreno.
After being invited to audition and reading the script, Miss Kitty was determined to be a part of the production.
A work dealing with love and being trans, and transphobia, and how people can turn on a dime once they learn the truth about someone, resonated deeply with the actor.
āThe play speaks to the idea that if people just let people be who they are and love who they want to love weād all be a lot happier,ā she says.
For her sublime efforts, Miss Kitty nabbed a Helen Hayes Award nomination in the Outstanding Lead Performer category (winner to be determined on Monday, May 20 during a ceremony at The Anthem).
Itās her first time nominated and first time attending. Sheās thrilled.
Miss Kitty grew up in Oxen Hill, Md., and now lives near Washington Harbor. Her entry into performance was through music followed by high school plays. She graduated from Catholic University with a degree in music/concentration in musical theater, and from there dove directly into showbiz.
Looking back, Miss Kitty says, ābeing a person of color AND queer can be a double whammy of difficulty. You have to live in light and do the things youāre afraid to do. Thatās the game changer.ā
Presenting āMetamorphosesā through the lens of the African diaspora (the cast also includes Jon Hudson Odom and Billie Krishawn, among others) helps us to realize that every story can be universal, especially for marginalized people ā South Asian, Native American, or fully queer perspectives, she says.
āHaving an all-Black ensemble opens all new worlds for everyone.ā