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The 9 Best Moments from the 76th Annual Emmy Awards

Including Jodi Foster's first win

emmys best moments 2
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We came for the fash-un. We stayed for the winners. And with so many stacked categories, we had high expectations for the 76th annual Emmy Awards. Lucky for us, the ceremony didn’t disappoint. From nostalgic TV reunions and hilarious bits to incredibly thoughtful speeches, here are the best moments of the night.

1. That Hilarious Bit by the Only Murders Cast

From their incredible comedic timing to the solid chemistry, seeing this trio present was easily one of the biggest highlights of the night. It was impossible not to laugh as they poked fun at each other—especially when Martin politely compared Short to a former tennis women's champion. Gomez joked, "Do you see what I have to go through every day?"

2. Literally Everything About Jean Smart's Acceptance Speech

Little Debbies rise! Smart scored her sixteenth Emmy win, this time for her performance on Hacks. In her speech, she began, "This is humbling, it really is. I appreciate this because I don't get enough attention. I'm serious." 

The star then had a super relatable moment when she went on to thank her team and "everybody at HBO." She quickly caught herself and said, "Max...no H...I'm sorry. Just what we needed, another network."

3. And Liza Colón-Zayas's Acceptance Speech

The talented Liza Colón-Zayas, aka Tina Marrero from The Bear, also got plenty of love from the crowd when she won her first Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy. The star admitted she didn't prepare a speech because she didn't think she'd win. She said, "How could I have thought it would be possible to be in the presence of Meryl Streep and Carol Burnett and Janelle and Sheryl Lee Ralph? I love you all, I revere you to the bottom of my heart."

Additionally, she encouraged fellow Latinas to vote and said, "To all the Latina who are looking at me, keep believing and vote. Vote for your rights."

4. The Villains Bit by Antony Starr, Kathy Bates and Giancarlo Esposito

Guys, I couldn't contain my laughter after Bates said, "You know how hard it was to get a date after Misery?" Seeing this trio get candid about the downsides of playing famous villains was quite entertaining.

Ron Howard and Henry Winkler

5. The Return of Fonzi

It was the Happy Days reunion we didn't know we needed. Ron Howard and Henry Winkler, who played Richie and Fonzie on the iconic 1970s sitcom, took the Emmys stage in honor of the show’s 50th anniversary, and fans got to see a recreation of Arnold’s Drive-In. The best part? When Winkler pulled the famous Fonz move by hitting the jukebox.

6. When the  Saturday Night Live Cast Roasted Lorne Michaels

Before SNL cast members Maya Rudolph, Seth Meyers, Kristen Wiig and Bowen Yang presented the award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special, they decided to roast their pal Lorne Michaels, having just learned that he was nominated and lost 85 times.

As the SNL creator looked on from the audience, Wiig said, "You have value. You are worthy. You are not a loser. Even though you have lost a lot." Rudolph added, "Each and everyone of those 85 times that you lost, you were robbed." 

7. When Jodi Foster Won Her First Emmy

TBH, it's still hard to wrap my head around the fact that this is her first win. After receiving an award for her role in True Detective: Night Country, she said in her speech, "This is an incredibly emotional moment for me." The actress also thanked indigenous people and gave a special shoutout to her wife, Alexandra Hedison, calling her the "love of her life." 

8. Dan & Eugene Levy's Opening Monologue

The duo delivered a solid monologue, but our favorite part? When Eugene said, “I know some of you might be expecting us to make a joke about whether The Bear is a comedy...but in true spirit of The Bear we will not be making any jokes.”

hacks cast
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9. That Surprise Win for Hacks

Perhaps the biggest upset of the night was when Hacks won for Best Comedy Series and Best Writing, beating fan favorites like The Bear in a huge surprise. In his acceptance speech, co-creator Paul W. Downs said, “If you have seen the show or feel more seen by the show and laughed at, we thank you, you have made us feel more connected to the world.”

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