Gold Standard: Emmys 2018: The whole baffling night was a surprise — and not always in the best sense

Sept. 17, 2018 9:30 PM PT

The Emmy Awards are often derided for being predictable, but with this year’s baffling ceremony, it was shocking when an expected winner actually made it to the podium.

“This wasn’t supposed to happen,” Claire Foy, lead actress in a drama winner for “The Crown,” said during her speech, summing up the evening’s vibe.

Foy winning, and not Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) or Sandra Oh (“Killing Eve”)? That wasn’t supposed to happen. A visibly shocked Regina King (“Seven Seconds”) earning another Emmy, this time for lead actress in a limited series or movie? Didn’t Laura Dern have that honor locked for “The Tale”?

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Claire Foy won lead actress in a drama series for “The Crown.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Matthew Rhys won lead actor in a drama series for “The Americans.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Winners for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” include Michael Zegan, left, Daniel Palladino, second from left, Amy Sherman-Palladino, center, and Rachel Brosnahan, right.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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The cast of “Game of Thrones” won drama series.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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The cast of “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” won limited series.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Darren Criss won lead actor in a limited series for “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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“RuPaul’s Drag Race” won reality-competition program.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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“RuPaul’s Drag Race” won reality-competition program.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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“RuPaul’s Drag Race” won reality-competition program.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Joel Fields, left, and Joe Weisberg won drama writing for “The Americans.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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John Oliver and Liz Stanton after winning variety talk series for “Last Week Tonight.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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John Oliver poses after winning variety talk series for “Last Week Tonight.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Lorne Michaels and his cast win variety sketch series for “Saturday Night Live.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Lorne Michaels accepts variety sketch series for “Saturday Night Live.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Lorne Michaels, winner of variety sketch series for “Saturday Night Live.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Regina King, winner of lead actress in a limited series or movie for “Seven Seconds.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Thandie Newton, winner of supporting actress in a drama series for “Westworld.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Glen Weiss proposed to Jan Svendsen when accepting the award for directing for a variety special for his work on “The Oscars.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Jeff Daniels, winner of supporting actor in a limited series or movie for “Godless.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Peter Dinklage, winner of supporting actor in a drama series for “Game of Thrones.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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John Mulaney, outstanding writing for a variety special.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Rachel Brosnahan, outstanding lead actress in a comedy series award for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Charlie Brooker, left, and William Bridges, outstanding writing for a limited series, movie or dramatic special for “Black Mirror: USS Callister.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Merritt Wever, outstanding supporting actress in a limited series or movie for “Godless.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Alex Borstein, outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Amy Sherman-Palladino, outstanding writing and outstanding directing for a comedy series for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Bill Hader, left, outstanding lead actor in a comedy series for “Barry” and costar Henry Winkler for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

FULL EMMYS COVERAGE: Live updates | Winners list | Show highlights

Even the ceremony’s producers must have been surprised. “Handmaid’s Tale” actresses Moss and Samira Wiley were tabbed to present the supporting actress in a drama Emmy, indicating that one of their nominated cast mates — Ann Dowd or Yvonne Strahovski — would, as most suspected, win, right?

Nope. It was Thandie Newton for “Westworld.”

The show that took the brunt of the surprising hits was “Atlanta.” Nominated for 16 Emmys, the most of any comedy series, the second-year FX program came away empty-handed Monday night, losing early and then often to Amazon Studios’ “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” (“Atlanta” did take three awards at last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys.)

For fans of the show — myself included — this was as confusing as seeing someone in the audience dressed as Teddy Perkins, the creepy recluse played by Donald Glover on one of the show’s many stellar second season episodes, and then, a few minutes later, seeing Glover seated elsewhere. (Rumor has it that Glover’s “Atlanta” cast mate Lakeith Stanfield donned the heavy makeup to attend as Perkins.)

“Atlanta” had been expected to win the comedy series prize. That award went instead to Amy Sherman-Palladino’s “Mrs. Maisel,” as did seven other Emmys this year, including prizes for lead actress Rachel Brosnahan, supporting actress Alex Borstein, and writing and directing honors for Sherman-Palladino. The show’s upbeat tone was decidedly different from “Atlanta’s” riskier, more daring approach to storytelling. So, in hindsight, perhaps its near-sweep wasn’t all that surprising.

And though most prognosticators had Glover repeating for lead actor comedy, it’s hard to begrudge Bill Hader winning that Emmy for “Barry.” Arguably, he had the more challenging role, superbly playing “Barry’s” morally conflicted hit man and aspiring actor.

Hader’s cast mate Henry Winkler, finally earning his first Emmy, for supporting actor, was the evening’s least surprising win. And judging from the standing ovation, one of the most popular.

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The cast and crew of “Game of Thrones” on stage accepting the outstanding drama series award during the show at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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With a huge show background, the cast and crew of “Game of Thrones” on stage accepting the outstanding drama series award during the show at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Daniel Palladino speaks onstage with cast after winning outstanding comedy series for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Ryan Murphy accepts the Emmy for outstanding limited series for “The Assassination Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” during the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Lorne Michaels accepts the outstanding variety sketch series award for “Saturday Night Live” at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Cast and crew take to the stage as “RuPaul’s Drag Race” wins the Emmy for outstanding reality-competition program for the first time.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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RuPaul accepting the Emmy for outstanding reality competition program.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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From the Emmys audience at the Microsoft Theater, Leslie Jones cheers for RuPaul and “Drag Race” after the show won the Emmy for outstanding reality competition program.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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“The Crown’s” Claire Foy wins the award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Sarah Paulson presents the award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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“The Handmaid’s Tale” actresses Elisabeth Moss, left, and Samira Wiley present during the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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“Game of Thrones” creator George R.R. Martin, left, and series star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau chat at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards.

(Alex Berliner / Invision for the Television Academy)

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Glenn Weiss turns his acceptance speech for outstanding directing for a variety special for “The Oscars” into a surprise marriage proposal that quickly went viral.

(Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)

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Matthew Rhys accepts his Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for “The Americans.”

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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“Queer Eye’s” Bobby Berk, from left, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski and Jonathan Van Ness present an award at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Television Academy Chairman Hayma Washington speaks during the Emmy Awards.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Gina Rodriguez and Lil Rel Howery present the Emmy for outstanding writing in a drama series at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Ron Cephas Jones, left, and Sterling K. Brown present the award for outstanding directing for a variety special at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards.

(Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)

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RuPaul Charles and Leslie Jones present the Emmy award for outstanding lead actress in a limited series, movie or dramatic special.

(Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)

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Married couple Chrissy Teigen and John Legend present the award for outstanding supporting actress in a limited series, movie or dramatic special at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards.

(Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)

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Regina King accepts the Emmy award for outstanding lead actress in a limited series, movie or dramatic special for “Seven Seconds.”

(Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)

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Ryan Murphy accepts the award for outstanding directing in a limited series, movie or dramatic special for “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.”

(Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)

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Darren Criss accepts the award for outstanding lead actor in a limited series, movie or dramatic special for “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards.

(Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)

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Jeff Daniels accepts the outstanding lead actor in a limited series or movie award for “Godless.” Yes, he thanked his horse.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Thandie Newton accepts the outstanding supporting actress in a drama series award for “Westworld” at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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John Mulaney accepts the award for outstanding writing for a variety special at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Producer Glenn Weiss proposes to his girlfriend Jan Svendsen onstage at the 70th Emmys after he won the variety special directing award for the Oscars.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Peter Dinklage accepts the Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for “Game of Thrones.”

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Peter Dinklage accepts the outstanding supporting actor in a drama series award for his role in “Game of Thrones.”

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Charlie Brooker, left, and William Bridges accept the Emmy for outstanding writing for a limited series, movie or dramatic special for the “USS Callister” installment of “Black Mirror.”

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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John Legend performs at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards.

(Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)

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Betty White gets a standing ovation in her surprise appearance at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards as Kate McKinnon and Alec Baldwin look on.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Betty White acknowledges presenter Kate McKinnon onstage at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Hosts Colin Jost, left, and Michael Che share a laugh with presenters Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen during the Emmy Awards.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Merritt Wever accepts her Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a limited series or movie for “Godless.”

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Alex Borstein makes a quick wardrobe change before heading onstage to accept the award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”

(Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)

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Millie Bobby Brown, left, and Emilia Clarke present the award for outstanding writing for a comedy series.

(Phil McCarten / Invision for the Television Acad)

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Sandra Oh, left, and Andy Samberg present the Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series award onstage during the 70th Emmy Awards.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Andy Samberg drops in during the Emmys’ opening skit, a tongue-in-cheek musical on diversity in Hollywood.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Bill Hader accepts the outstanding lead actor in a comedy series award for “Barry.” But don’t ask him what he covered in the speech: “I legit don’t know what I said up there.”

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Presenter Michael Douglas strolls onstage at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Rachel Brosnahan accepts the outstanding lead actress in a comedy series award for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Tiffany Haddish and Angela Bassett present onstage during the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Rachel Brosnahan accepts the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series award for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” from Tiffany Haddish and Angela Bassett during the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Amy Sherman-Palladino holds tight to her two Emmy wins for comedy writing and directing for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Hosts Colin Jost, left, and Michael Che start the show at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Presenter James Corden at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Kate McKinnon, left, Titus Burgess, Kristen Bell and Kenan Thompson share some laughs onstage during the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Henry Winkler shares his jubilation after winning the Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for “Barry.”

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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“Daddy won!” said Henry Winkler to his kids in closing his speech after winning his first Emmy.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Henry Winkler hugs Bill Hader, left, and Alec Berg after his win for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series. “Westworld’s” Thandie Newton, in pink, is part of the standing ovation and would go on to win the Emmy for supporting actress in a drama series.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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After a truly showstopping shimmy to the stage, Alex Borstein accepts the outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series award for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Matt Smith and Claire Foy head onstage to crown the first trophy winner at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards.

(Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

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Kate McKinnon and Kenan Thompson kick off the 70th Emmy Awards with an opening skit.

(Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

ANALYSIS: ‘We solved it’? Why Emmys’ 2018 ceremony was as muddled as the current state of peak TV

On the drama side, “Game of Thrones” had piled up the most nominations this year, so its series victory, on the heels of so many other Emmy wins over its run, isn’t a shock — just a profound disappointment.

Voters had the opportunity to send out “The Americans” in real style, on top of the Emmys won by star Matthew Rhys and writers Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg. (We should be thankful for those victories; the series had won but two Emmys for its previous five seasons, both for Margo Martindale.)

Or they could have again rewarded “The Handmaid’s Tale” for a superb second season that dug into the moral rot of its near-future dystopia.

Instead, “Game of Thrones” won for a mediocre run (by its high standards) of episodes that ran more than a year ago. I’d tell you to expect it to repeat next year for its final season (provided it arrives in time), but after this year’s many mystifying choices, I’m not in a mood to offer any locks.

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