Emmy host Anthony Anderson decided to forego the traditional play-off music to indicate a winner's speech has run long, opting instead to have his mother, Doris Hancox, heckle winners off stage when their time was up.
And the bold move was met with mixed reviews by viewers.
The host began with a monologue paying homage to some classic television greats, telling the audience:
“We’re going to commemorate the greatest shows of today by paying tribute to some of the iconic series that mean so much to us."
He proceeded with a montage comprised of tunes from Good Times, The Facts of Life, and Miami Vice, among others.
Anderson then explained to the guests that in lieu of using music to play off Emmy winners whose speeches might go over on time, he commissioned his mother to heckle long-winded winners instead.
He shared:
“Tonight, my mama, she is going to be the Emmys’ ‘play-off mama.’ When you see my mama coming, just thank Jesus and your family and wrap it up."
“And I don’t want nobody to get disrespectful with my mama, because my mama is from the west side of Chicago, and she can throw hands.”
Hancox proved to be the woman for the job when she blasted her own son for taking too long.
She shouted at Anderson:
“Shut up!”
“I want to go to the afterparties.”
You can watch below.
While some nominees in the audience seemed to get a kick out of the idea, like John Oliver threatening to name all the members of the Liverpool soccer team so that Hancox would cut him off, viewers at home weren't too sure.
Many took to social media to criticize Anderson, claiming the interjections were both "rude" and uncomfortable to watch.
Others, however, found the new system to be a welcomed break from music cutting off speakers and their subsequent rushed and flustered "thank yous."
And some thought the bit was funny initially, but the charm wore off as the night went on.
Whether or not it was a hit with viewers is still up for debate, but we can all agree that it was indeed effective!
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