The Best Frozen Moments From the 2012 Emmys
Last night’s Emmys were neither particularly surprising (Modern Family! Homeland! More Modern Family!) nor memorable, but they did deliver on one crucial aspect of televised awards shows: reaction shots. So many celebrities had reactions to things last night! They were surprised, and confused, and sometimes just very antsy and looking for a little mid-show workout (we’re looking at you, Jon Stewart). So please now join Vulture in reliving the most amusing frozen moments of the 2012 Emmy ceremony (and then revisit our Red Carpet slideshow and post-show wrap-up). In the words of Claire Danes, “Emmys, Holla.”
Louis C.K. won two writing awards, but here he shows just why he also won "Best Uncomfortable Face Rub" at last week's Rubbies. But really, ...
Louis C.K. won two writing awards, but here he shows just why he also won "Best Uncomfortable Face Rub" at last week's Rubbies. But really, judging by how often he does it on his show, he was a lock.
Lena Dunham realizes that she has mistakenly wandered in front of a television camera with her clothes on.
There, that's better.
A Working List of Things That Are Confusing to Aaron Paul: the Burberry Fashion Show, Jimmy Kimmel's Emmy Seating arrangements.
Here's the thing about real men: They don't wear ties, and they don't hug broads. They shake hands with co-stars and make Olympic jokes that only othe...
Here's the thing about real men: They don't wear ties, and they don't hug broads. They shake hands with co-stars and make Olympic jokes that only other real men get, so just know that somewhere out there, Jesse Ventura and Richard Grieco thought Kevin Costner's closing joke about his statue killed.
Exhibit B on the case for Kevin Costner's manliness: the wink to the camera. Because it's hard to do a double-finger "ka-pow" gun gesture wh...
Exhibit B on the case for Kevin Costner's manliness: the wink to the camera. Because it's hard to do a double-finger "ka-pow" gun gesture when you're holding an Emmy.
"Quick, look over there, there's a talking animal that will make you forgive my juvenile humor."
Jon Stewart demonstrates his new and unexpected arm-wrestling maneuver: the knuckle nuzzle.
Then Stewart goes down in Round Two of the Emmy Feats of Strength: the Late-Night Host Pyramid.
... but he emerges triumphant in the Aisle Sprint (with snacks, no less).
Could he do any more Chandler-esque gesticulations?
Archie Panjabi knows not to tell Maggie Smith about weekends (or showing up for awards ceremonies).
"Wait, they'll just bring it to you in your chair? Why did I have to get up?" —all the other Emmy winners.
Alec Baldwin enters a deep hypnotic state during awards-show bits and Rock of Ages premieres.
When Tom Berenger hears the music start, he acknowledges that he is beholden to the higher power of the orchestra, and dutifully races through the res...
When Tom Berenger hears the music start, he acknowledges that he is beholden to the higher power of the orchestra, and dutifully races through the rest of his victory-speech metaphor, afraid that he will be hit in the head with a tuba if he does not make haste.
Vulture's lip-reading experts report that Jimmy Kimmel spent this whole segment whispering "No, just keep lying there, this will be funny. I prom...
Vulture's lip-reading experts report that Jimmy Kimmel spent this whole segment whispering "No, just keep lying there, this will be funny. I promise." (We do not have lip-reading experts.)
Claire Danes, not entirely on board with the Tracy Morgan–is-unconscious bit.
And look! Schmidt, a.k.a. Max Greenfield, swoops in to save the day. (He's the one dragging Tracy's left leg; squint and you'll see it.)
This is the torn face of a woman who is trying to quickly decide whether she's really going to go forward with her plan to devote much of her speech t...
This is the torn face of a woman who is trying to quickly decide whether she's really going to go forward with her plan to devote much of her speech to talk of nipple covers.
Is there some sort of "tell" where you can instantly predict whether Josh Groban is doing ironic cheesy emotion or real cheesy emotion? Is i...
Is there some sort of "tell" where you can instantly predict whether Josh Groban is doing ironic cheesy emotion or real cheesy emotion? Is it the angle at which he tents his eyebrows? Does he break an Oreo cookie in his ear?
Fake speech handoffs are the new fist-bumps (and Amy Poehler is the undisputed Queen of Emmys Acceptance Bits).
"You got this, Louis-Dreyfus, this is just like I planned it."
Much like women in their ninth month of pregnancy keep a bag with them in case their water breaks and they need to rush to the hospital, Jeremy Davies...
Much like women in their ninth month of pregnancy keep a bag with them in case their water breaks and they need to rush to the hospital, Jeremy Davies always maintains an uneven dirtbag haircut in case an emergency casting call comes through that lands in his scumbag wheelhouse.
Damon Wayans Jr. reads aloud from his unpublished collection of Dawson's Creek fan fiction. "Dawson lit a vanilla spice candle and asked Spielber...
Damon Wayans Jr. reads aloud from his unpublished collection of Dawson's Creek fan fiction. "Dawson lit a vanilla spice candle and asked Spielberg if he would like anything to drink ... "
Leave him alone: Michael Cuesta is an acclaimed drama director, he doesn't need to know how to do comic takes!
Aziz Ansari is so eager to get to his British-accent bit that he leaves co-presenter Jane Levy struggling to keep up. Come on, Levy, if you want to su...
Aziz Ansari is so eager to get to his British-accent bit that he leaves co-presenter Jane Levy struggling to keep up. Come on, Levy, if you want to survive in the Emmy Patter Big Leagues, you've got to pick up the pace.
When Aziz Ansari makes his joke about having a British accent, the camera is ready to go with a close-up of U.K. spectator Clive Owen. All that work c...
When Aziz Ansari makes his joke about having a British accent, the camera is ready to go with a close-up of U.K. spectator Clive Owen. All that work cutting to black actors when black people speak on awards show has paid off in this split-second reaction-shot timing!
It's almost as if Tina Fey knew about the Mad Men shut-out before it officially went down. Does Tina Fey control the Emmys? Conspiracy alert!
And finally, your 2012 Best Emmys Kiss Award goes to ... Aaron Paul and Giancarlo Esposito. The cast that makes out together, stays together.