Emmys 2013: The Best And Worst Moments

By Michael Slezak Sept. 23, 2013 12:09 am EST

1-2013-Emmy-Awards-Show-merritt-wever

Best Acceptance Speech (Ever?) "Oh my God. Thank you so -- oh no! -- thanks so much. Um, thank you so much. Um, I gotta go. Bye." --Merritt Wever, accepting her statuette as Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, for Nurse Jackie

Best Acceptance Speech (Ever?)

"Oh my God. Thank you so — oh no! — thanks so much. Um, thank you so much. Um, I gotta go. Bye." –Merritt Wever, accepting her statuette as Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, for Nurse Jackie

2-2013-Emmy-Awards-Show-Jeff-Daniels

Worst Accessory The wad of gum in Jeff Daniels' mouth as he accepted Best Actor in a Drama Series for The Newsroom

Worst Accessory

The wad of gum in Jeff Daniels' mouth as he accepted Best Actor in a Drama Series for The Newsroom

3-2013-Emmy-Awards-Show-Bobby-Cannavale

Most Intriguing Acceptance-Speech Detail Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series champ Bobby Cannavale (Boardwalk Empire) thanking director Tim Van Patten for "the weirdest first day on set I ever had in my life: 12 hours of beatin' somebody to death with four kinds of rubber wrenches."

Most Intriguing Acceptance-Speech Detail

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series champ Bobby Cannavale (Boardwalk Empire) thanking director Tim Van Patten for "the weirdest first day on set I ever had in my life: 12 hours of beatin' somebody to death with four kinds of rubber wrenches."

65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards - Show

Most Surprisingly Funny Presenter "The men are much more beautiful than when I was doing television. I don't know where you came from, but I'm very happy to see you. After all, my leading man was Lloyd Nolan, and those of you who know what that means -- don't repeat it to anyone!" --Diahann Carroll (who also demanded a win for co-presenter Kerry Washington)

Most Surprisingly Funny Presenter

"The men are much more beautiful than when I was doing television. I don't know where you came from, but I'm very happy to see you. After all, my leading man was Lloyd Nolan, and those of you who know what that means — don't repeat it to anyone!" –Diahann Carroll (who also demanded a win for co-presenter Kerry Washington)

5-2013-Emmy-Awards-Show-deschanel-sisters

Most (Surprisingly) Off-Color Joke "These two performing sisters are much different than the performing sisters I saw in Thailand three years ago. [Popping sound. Popping sound. Popping sound.]" -- Neil Patrick Harris, introducing Emily and Zooey Deschanel, who deserved a lot better than that (NPH's later reference to Sofia Vergara as "them... I mean her" -- a shout-out to her ample cleavage -- wasn't much better)

Most (Surprisingly) Off-Color Joke

"These two performing sisters are much different than the performing sisters I saw in Thailand three years ago. [Popping sound. Popping sound. Popping sound.]" — Neil Patrick Harris, introducing Emily and Zooey Deschanel, who deserved a lot better than that (NPH's later reference to Sofia Vergara as "them... I mean her" — a shout-out to her ample cleavage — wasn't much better)

6-2013-Emmy-Awards-Show-fey-poehler

Biggest Scene-Stealers Tina Fey and Amy Poehler rescuing the not-very-funny opening number with their bawdy cat-calling and demands that host NPH "twerk it" and show his "business."

Biggest Scene-Stealers

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler rescuing the not-very-funny opening number with their bawdy cat-calling and demands that host NPH "twerk it" and show his "business."

7-2013-Emmy-Awards-Show-Bob-Newhart

Most Touching Moment Bob Newhart, receiving a thunderous standing ovation, after co-presenter Jim Parsons noted the comedy legend had just won his first Emmy award last week -- as Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for The Big Bang Theory

Most Touching Moment

Bob Newhart, receiving a thunderous standing ovation, after co-presenter Jim Parsons noted the comedy legend had just won his first Emmy award last week — as Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for The Big Bang Theory

8-2013-Emmy-Awards-Show-jean-stapleton

Worst "Innovation" Extended "In Memoriam" tributes to James Gandolfini, Cory Monteith, Jean Stapleton, Gary David Goldberg and Jonathan Winters that didn't include a single clip of any of the late, great icons' work. I mean, for example, wouldn't a good two-minute clip of Edith Bunker have been a more fitting -- and more entertaining -- homage to Stapleton than a mundane remembrance by former costar Rob Reiner? (And, we've got to ask again, no special callout to Larry Hagman? Seriously?)

Worst "Innovation"

Extended "In Memoriam" tributes to James Gandolfini, Cory Monteith, Jean Stapleton, Gary David Goldberg and Jonathan Winters that didn't include a single clip of any of the late, great icons' work. I mean, for example, wouldn't a good two-minute clip of Edith Bunker have been a more fitting — and more entertaining — homage to Stapleton than a mundane remembrance by former costar Rob Reiner? (And, we've got to ask again, no special callout to Larry Hagman? Seriously?)

9-2013-Emmy-Awards-Show-julia-louis-dreyfus

Funniest Inside Joke As Julia Louis-Dreyfus accepted her trophy as Best Actress in a Comedy Series for Veep, she and co-star/fellow winner Tony Hale cheekily referenced their HBO roles as Vice President Selina Meyer and "bag handler" Gary. Hale, in fact, held Louis-Dreyfus' clutch as he whispered cues into her ear reminding her to thank her own family and tell them she loved them.

Funniest Inside Joke

As Julia Louis-Dreyfus accepted her trophy as Best Actress in a Comedy Series for Veep, she and co-star/fellow winner Tony Hale cheekily referenced their HBO roles as Vice President Selina Meyer and "bag handler" Gary. Hale, in fact, held Louis-Dreyfus' clutch as he whispered cues into her ear reminding her to thank her own family and tell them she loved them.

10-2013-Emmy-Awards-Show-Oprah-Kimmel

Best "Get" by a Nominated Team in the "Writing for a Variety Series" Category Oprah Winfrey rapturously/hilariously introducing the writers from Jimmy Kimmel Live

Best "Get" by a Nominated Team in the "Writing for a Variety Series" Category

Oprah Winfrey rapturously/hilariously introducing the writers from Jimmy Kimmel Live

11-2013-Emmy-Awards-Show-choreography

Most Enjoyable Filler The rousing dance tribute to the year in television, brought to you by the 2013 nominees for Best Choreography. (We hope you've recovered, So You Think You Can Dance junkies.)

Most Enjoyable Filler

The rousing dance tribute to the year in television, brought to you by the 2013 nominees for Best Choreography. (We hope you've recovered, So You Think You Can Dance junkies.)

12-2013-Emmy-Awards-Show-carrie-underwood

Most Random Filler Carrie Underwood covering the Beatles' "Yesterday" as a tribute to "50 years ago in TV." She sang it well enough, but wouldn't more "highlight reel" clips from major nominees have been a better use of time?

Most Random Filler

Carrie Underwood covering the Beatles' "Yesterday" as a tribute to "50 years ago in TV." She sang it well enough, but wouldn't more "highlight reel" clips from major nominees have been a better use of time?

13-2013-Emmy-Awards-Show-Anna-Gunn

Most Striking Difference Between Actor and Role Breaking Bad's Anna Gunn -- in the night's most sensational gown -- putting to rest memories of the off-the-rack Skyler White

Most Striking Difference Between Actor and Role

Breaking Bad's Anna Gunn — in the night's most sensational gown — putting to rest memories of the off-the-rack Skyler White

14-2013-Emmy-Awards-Show-Michael-Douglas-Matt-Damon

Acceptance Speech Straining Hardest Toward Its Inevitable Punch Line "This was a two-hander," said Michael Douglas, thanking co-star Matt Damon while accepting Best Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for Behind the Candelabra. "And Matt, you're only as good as your other hand." Douglas went on to declare that he really should split the trophy with Damon, asking "so do you want the bottom or the top?"

Acceptance Speech Straining Hardest Toward Its Inevitable Punch Line

"This was a two-hander," said Michael Douglas, thanking co-star Matt Damon while accepting Best Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for Behind the Candelabra. "And Matt, you're only as good as your other hand." Douglas went on to declare that he really should split the trophy with Damon, asking "so do you want the bottom or the top?"

15-2013-Emmy-Awards-Show-Guy-Behind-NPH

Uninvited Guest Trophy The random dude just standing there behind NPH during an ad-break interstitial. ("Security!")

Uninvited Guest Trophy

The random dude just standing there behind NPH during an ad-break interstitial. ("Security!")

16-2013-Emmy-Awards-Show-julia-louis-dreyfus-manicam

Bonus: The Only Red Carpet Moment You Needed to See This candid/accidental screengrab of Julia Louis-Dreyfus reacting to the inane Giuliana Rancic sending Sofia Vergara through E!'s ludicrous "ManiCam"

Bonus: The Only Red Carpet Moment You Needed to See

This candid/accidental screengrab of Julia Louis-Dreyfus reacting to the inane Giuliana Rancic sending Sofia Vergara through E!'s ludicrous "ManiCam"