Most years, the Emmys relegates the award for live variety special (not to be confused with scripted variety or prerecorded variety) to the Creative Arts ceremony. But with Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar and 50 years worth of comedy veterans vying for the trophy, the award was awarded live tonight, with “SNL50: The Anniversary Special” claiming the trophy. (Or was that just a clever bit of envelope shuffling by presenter and “S.N.L.” veteran Tina Fey?)
Lorne Michaels, accepting, mentioned that he had won this same award 50 years ago. To be still producing the same show five decades later had never been a lifelong dream, he said. “However, here we are.”
The category was unusually competitive as well as unusually glamorous this year. The Oscars, a regular nominee, appeared alongside Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show; “Beyoncé Bowl,” an NFL Christmas Day halftime show, featuring songs from the “Cowboy Carter” album; and two “Saturday Night Live” specials celebrating the show’s 50th anniversary,:“SNL50: The Anniversary Special” and “SNL50: The Homecoming Concert.”
At last week’s creative arts awards, “SNL50: The Anniversary Special” won seven awards and the Oscars and “Beyoncé Bowl” won one each, as did Lamar, who won for outstanding music direction.
Alexis Soloski has written for The Times since 2006. As a culture reporter, she covers television, theater, movies, podcasts and new media.
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