By Rachel Bennett
Television Editor & Columnist
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Aside from seeing who wins, one of the best parts of the Primetime Emmys is seeing what the winners have to say once they reach the stage.
Whether they’re calm and collected or shocked and speechless, some Emmy winners steal the night with their acceptance speeches.
Actress Parker Posey (or Jan), who has never been nominated for an Emmy, released this week a video of speech tips for this Sunday’s lucky nominees.
However, there have been several Emmy champs who haven’t needed advice on what to say. Here are our choices for the top 10 Emmy speeches of the past 10 years:
10. Peter Dinklage (2011) – Dinklage’s nomination and win for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for HBO’s Game of Thrones were exciting for numerous reasons. Not only was it his first Emmy win, but he is also the first little person to take home the award. On top of that, the actor came across as humble and gracious in his speech, taking note that he came after winner Martin Scorsese (who won Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for HBO’s Boardwalk Empire), mentioning his fellow nominees and thanking his wife along with his dog sitter. Not many speeches or actors seem as cool as Dinklage, who’s up for the same award this year.
9. Kristin Chenoweth (2009) – Having been nominated and lost in 2008 for her role on ABC’s Pushing Daisies, Chenoweth may have thought she didn’t have much of a chance to win Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series the following year — especially since the series was canceled the previous November. But as luck would have it, the actress’ name was called, and she approached the stage crying in disbelief. But her speech wasn’t all tears: Chenoweth took the time to mention her unemployment and how she wanted to be on AMC’s Mad Men, NBC’s The Office or Fox’s 24. She may not have gotten those jobs, but she gave one memorable speech and later earned two more Emmy nominations (for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series on Fox’s Glee).
8. James Spader (2004) – Spader has given a notable speech all three times he’s won an Emmy, but his first is the best. Why? It’s the funniest and classiest. The winner for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for ABC’s The Practice began his speech by complimenting the audience on their wardrobe choices and then thanking “whoever it is who decides these things.” He went on to acknowledge his cast mates, the makeup artists (“I want to thank them most of all”), his sons and his girlfriend, Leslie Stefanson. He also thanked the “wonderful” mother of his children, his ex-wife, Victoria. Needless to say, the speech was entertaining, and Spader eventually won two more Emmys for ABC’s Boston Legal.
7. Tina Fey (2008) – In 2008, America’s favorite funny lady won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for NBC’s 30 Rock, a year after losing it the first time. Fey’s speech lived up to her new title, as she remained as endearingly self-deprecating as ever. She thanked her fellow nominees and even told nominee Julia Louis-Dreyfus (CBS’s The New Adventures of Old Christine) that she mimicked her talent when she was having a rough day on set. The best moment came, however, when Fey thanked her parents “for somehow raising me to have confidence that is disproportionate with my looks and abilities.” Fey earned four more nominations in the same category, including this year, but she has yet to win again.
6. Greg Garcia (2006) – Not every outstanding Emmy speech is given by a TV star, as NBC’s My Name Is Earl creator proved in 2006 when he won Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. He first remarked how he received a kiss from co-presenter Cloris Leachman, whom he’d later work with on Fox’s Raising Hope. Then, instead of mentioning the people he wanted to thank, he decided to acknowledge people he didn’t want to thank. These included one of his 8th-grade teachers and one of his former bosses. But the best non-thank you went to none other than God, who “took my hair, and that’s not cool, man.” Garcia concluded the speech by giving some heartfelt shout-outs to his family, making for one of the best Emmy speeches — and Garcia’s only Emmy speech in his career — ever.
5. Claire Danes (2010) – For her first Emmy speech, for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for HBO’s biopic Temple Grandin, Danes began her speech as many winners usually do: She thanked the network, director Mick Jackson and manager Michael Aglion, among others. The actress saved the best for last, though, when she thanked Temple Grandin herself. What made the moment even better was that Grandin was in the audience and stood up to applause. “You are the most brave, intrepid person I’ve ever known … This is in service of your work,” Danes said, surely making more than a few audience members and viewers tear up. Danes is nominated for an Emmy this year, for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Showtime’s Homeland.
4. George Clooney (2010) – Although Clooney has yet to win an Emmy (he was nominated in 1995, 1996 and 2010), he was given the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the 2010 ceremony. For TV lovers, the moment reunited the actor with his NBC’s ER co-star Julianna Margulies, who presented him with the award. However, the speech proved to be notable for more than just that: Clooney, the executive producer of Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief, used his screen time to focus on how celebrity can help put a spotlight on causes that need it. He urged viewers to keep helping and acknowledging “these heartbreaking situations that continue to be heartbreaking long after the cameras go away.” The actor received a standing ovation — a much-deserved one.
3. Meryl Streep (2004) – Streep can do no wrong in Hollywood, and her acceptance speeches are no exception. When accepting the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for HBO’s Angels in America, she charmed the audience as she always does. “You know, there are some days when I, myself, think I’m overrated … But not today,” Streep said to laughs (Only she could pull that off). She joked that fellow nominee Emma Thompson would hold a grudge and added that she could sing the rest of her speech when music started to cut her off. The best part came at the end, when she beautifully expressed her gratitude to writer Tony Kushner, who “makes a work of art that then transforms the world with the truth.” This was the second and most recent Emmy win for Streep, who won in 1978 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series for NBC’s Holocaust.
2. Ricky Gervais (2007) – When Gervais won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for HBO’s Extras in 2007, he was not there to accept his Emmy. As a result, presenters Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert decided to give the award to nominee Steve Carell, who lost for his role on The Office. Carell rushed to the stage, and the three friends and former co-stars on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show hilariously hugged and jumped in celebration. The following year, Gervais took back his Emmy from Carell when he presented at the ceremony. Gervais has been nominated for numerous Emmys since, but he has yet to win again.
1. Melissa McCarthy (2011) – McCarthy was up for her first Emmy nomination and won last year, after working steadily on TV for more than 10 years on such series as The CW’s Gilmore Girls and ABC’s Samantha Who? She was up against tough competition, including 30 Rock‘s Fey and NBC’s Parks and Recreation‘s Amy Poehler, but she prevailed and gave the best speech in recent Emmy history. What made it especially superb was that it was set up as a pageant, and McCarthy was given a crown and flowers in addition to her Emmy. “Wow, it’s my first and best pageant ever,” she said, and with that, America had a new sweetheart. McCarthy is up for two Emmys this year, for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series on NBC’s Saturday Night Live and again for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
I’ve told you my picks for the top 10 best Emmy speeches of the past 10 years, but what are yours? Share in the comments below.