Do the "Creative Emmys" count as "silverware?" The answer is indubitably yes, an Emmy is an Emmy, they just don't all come with the same fanfare. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards are in place to recognize the more unheralded cultural contributors: the technicians, the actors in guest roles, animation work, weekly segments (production) and things of that nature that never make it in the primetime slot. But like I said previously, an Emmy is an Emmy, and this year's first round of honorees pack quite the punch.
Comedienne Tiffany Haddish won "best guest actress in a comedy" for hosting Saturday Night Live, her performance got off to a nervy start in the opening monologue, from there things only got better by a long measure as you might imagine. Ron Cephas Jones nabbed the "best guest actor in a drama" award for This Is Us. Samira Wiley copped the "best guest actress in a drama" for The Handmaid’s Tale, and Katt Williams for "best guest actor in a comedy" for Atlanta. Williams' dramatic cameo was perceived to be a sign of atonement. The comedian played Earn’s Uncle Willy, a self-destructive character on the run from the law.The categorical sweep of all "guest" categories by POC actors is a "historical" first for The Emmys, the emphasis being on "guest" and "historical." TV diversity remains a contentious issue with regards to way race is depicted, not the number of entrants. Congrats to all the winners.