Emmy Producers Regret Playing Off John Oliver During Ode to Late Dog

Emmy Producers Regret Playing Off John Oliver During Ode to Late Dog

As a longtime fan of award shows and John Oliver‘s wit, I can say without a doubt that the 2024 Emmys were a rollercoaster ride of emotions. The play-off of John Oliver at the exact wrong moment was undoubtedly the highlight for me. It showcased the human side of these events, reminding us that even the most polished presenters can get emotional when remembering their beloved pets.


Following the 2024 Emmy Awards, there were plenty of Monday morning analysts weighing in. Despite both the successes and missteps during the event on Sunday, everyone seems to concur on one blunder that even the producers can’t deny: John Oliver was interrupted at an unfortunate time.

Approximately an hour and a quarter into the broadcast, Oliver received the accolade for exceptional scripted variety show, acknowledging it on behalf of his team at Last Week Tonight. He inadvertently mentioned his son’s name incorrectly. He expressed gratitude towards HBO for not terminating him. As he commenced to express a few sentiments about his recently deceased dog, the concluding music began to play. “We hadn’t realized that the dog he was speaking of had passed away,” explains executive producer Dionne Harmon. “If you rewind and watch carefully, you’ll notice that we muted the music as soon as he mentioned the dog had passed. We were unaware!

The speech, followed by the play-off that provoked an “I don’t like you” from Oliver, turned out to be both amusing and incredibly touching. The comedian chose to dedicate the prize to every dog, saying, “You’re all wonderful ladies,” he added, “You’re all great gentlemen. Each of you deserves a reward.

As a devoted fan, I’d put it this way: “In our history together, John has given us some chuckles over his unique antics when it comes to playing along. To be honest, we weren’t always sure what direction he was heading in, but he always seemed to take it all in good spirits. We strive to avoid putting anyone in a position where they feel the need to play games with us.

Discussing on the phone with Jesse Collins and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay, who were fellow Emmy executive producers, Harmon reminisced about some of the buzzworthy moments of the evening – such as the tribute segment, the vacant seats, and the unusual order in which best comedy concluded the show instead of best drama. It was revealed that they hadn’t known Hacks would win over the heavily favored The Bear. They simply wanted to orchestrate a reunion between co-hosts Eugene and Dan Levy from Schitt’s Creek with Catherine O’Hara and Annie Murphy.

Collins stated that they weren’t exactly certain who had won, as it boiled down to practical considerations. Essentially, they decided to kick off the event with “The West Wing” reunion since they wanted to conclude with a “Schitt’s Creek” moment. In essence, this decision was more about the presenters and their roles, rather than the award itself.

Emmy Producers Regret Playing Off John Oliver During Ode to Late Dog

From my gaming perspective, I’d say: “Regarding the buzz about empty seats, Collins and co attribute it to an abundance of winners from specific shows, like ‘Shogun,’ and a whirlwind of activities. To be honest, I’m not privy to the count of seat fillers we had, nor do I know where people are referring to it as looking sparse. But here’s the thing: slipping in seat fillers during the heart of an act can get a bit chaotic when we’re doling out as many as three awards at once. It can create quite a jam, so we usually limit seat filling to commercial breaks.

Discussing the controversy over missing figures from the In Memoriam segment, such as Shelley Duvall and Erica Ash who were not included despite public expectation – the producers acknowledge the time constraint but claim it’s beyond their control. “It’s a matter that the Television Academy handles,” explains Collins. “They provide us with the list of individuals to be featured in the broadcast segment.

Collins, Harmon, and Rouzan-Clay aren’t getting any rest now that the Emmys have ended. They’ve got the BET Hip-Hop Awards coming up in less than a month, and they’re already working on the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show with Kendrick Lamar.

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2024-09-16 22:54