37 Emmy Awards Jokes: The 2020 “Pajamas, Hazmat Suits & The Schitt’s Creek Sweep” Edition

In 2020, the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards proved that television was our only window to the world. It was the year the gala moved into the stars’ living rooms, Schitt’s Creek pulled off the impossible by sweeping all 7 major comedy categories, and trophies were delivered to doorsteps by people in tuxedo-themed hazmat suits.

The 2020 Emmy Red Carpet Top 10: “Sweatpants, Zoom Backgrounds & Hazmat Chic”

1. The Schitt’s Creek Clean Sweep: Why did they win everything? Because in a year of global chaos, the only thing America needed was a billionaire family living in a motel and learning how to be human.
2. The Virtual Gala: Why did it work? For the first time, we saw that celebrities’ bedrooms look just like ours—except with Oscars on the shelves instead of dusty books.
3. The Hazmat Suit Delivery: Why the whispers? Because the sight of a man in a full biological suit with tuxedo lapels waiting outside a celebrity’s house was the most “2020” thing in history.
4. The Succession Peak: Why did it win Best Drama? Because the Roy family is the only group that can make social distancing on a yacht look like an extreme sport.
5. The Watchmen Justice: Why did a show about superheroes and racism win 11 awards? Because in 2020, a comic book about 1921 became the most relevant news program on television.
6. The Jennifer Aniston Fire: Why was she extinguishing a fire in her bathroom? Because Jimmy Kimmel decided 2020 needed more metaphors for the world burning, even if it was just the winner’s envelope.
7. The Zendaya History: Why was her win iconic? For becoming the youngest Lead Actress (Drama) winner in history (Euphoria), with a reaction on her couch that was the night’s most honest moment.
8. The Catherine O’Hara Coronation: Why the win? For Moira Rose, proving that pronouncing “bebe” with 50 different accents is the highest form of dramatic art.
9. The Tyler Perry Honor: Why the Special Award? For building “Camp Quarantine,” where he filmed entire seasons while the rest of the world was still trying to figure out how the mute button on Zoom works.
10. The No-Host (Again) with Kimmel: Why did he host to an empty room? To prove that a comedian with no audience feedback feels exactly like the rest of us talking to our own reflection in the mirror.

The Full 2020 Emmy Jokes Archive

11. Worst Dressed (The 2020 Silk Pajama Trend): Why the slippers? Because in 2020, “elegance” meant not having food stains on your sweatpants.
12. Outstanding Comedy: Why Schitt’s Creek? For proving that “Ew, David!” was the only correct reaction to all of 2020.
13. Outstanding Drama: Why Succession? For showing that billionaires have problems too, even if their arguments happen via helicopter.
14. Outstanding Lead Actor (Comedy): Why Eugene Levy? For proving that after 40 years, eyebrows are still a more powerful comedic tool than any script.
15. Outstanding Lead Actress (Comedy): Why Catherine O’Hara? For a closet full of wigs that had more fans than most of the nominated shows.
16. Outstanding Lead Actor (Drama): Why Jeremy Strong? For being the “eldest boy” who finally got what he wanted—from the Academy, if not from his father.
17. Outstanding Lead Actress (Drama): Why Zendaya? For proving that Gen Z can take over Hollywood without even taking off their hoodies.
18. The Dan Levy Double-Double: Why win for acting, writing, directing, and series? Because in 2020, Dan Levy was the only person working harder than the virus.
19. The Annie Murphy Win: Why “A Little Bit Alexis”? Because that song was stuck so deep in the voters’ heads that voting for anyone else required an exorcism.
20. The Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Win: Why Watchmen? For being the only blue god who looks good in a suit (even when he wasn’t wearing one).
21. The Regina King Supremacy: Why her fourth Emmy? For proving that if Regina King is in the cast, other actors should just ask for an autograph and go home.
22. The Mark Ruffalo Dual Role: Why win for I Know This Much Is True? For playing twins so well the Academy wanted to give him two trophies, but the hazmat suit budget ran out.
23. The Julia Garner Repeat: Why Ruth Langmore again? For proving that swearing with a Missouri accent is the only therapy we actually need.
24. The Billy Crudup Upset: Why win for The Morning Show? For being the only reason people started subscribing to Apple TV+ (before Ted Lasso arrived).
25. The Uzo Aduba Win: Why Mrs. America? For being Shirley Chisholm so convincingly everyone forgot it wasn’t archival footage from the 70s.
26. The Mandalorian Buzz: Why Baby Yoda? Because despite 15 nominations, he was the only cast member who didn’t have to worry about Zoom lighting.
27. The Better Call Saul Snub: Why nothing again? Because being the best show on TV is apparently not enough to beat billionaires or superheroes.
28. The 30-Second Rule: Why no interruptions? Because no one had the courage to mute a thank-you speech delivered from a backyard with a barking dog.
29. The Unorthodox Surprise: Why win for Directing? For proving that escaping Brooklyn for Berlin was the year’s most gripping thriller.
30. The Normal People Snub: Why no win for Paul Mescal? Because the Academy decided his silver chain was already popular enough on Instagram.
31. The Ramy Writing Win: Why the whispers? Because Mahershala Ali in a show about Egyptians in New Jersey is the level of prestige no one was ready for.
32. The Insecure Snub: Why no trophy for Issa Rae? Because 2020 was unfair, and the Emmy results simply confirmed it.
33. The Last Dance Mention: Why did the Jordan doc win? Because it was the only thing we all watched in April while pretending we still cared about sports.
34. The Cheer Phenomenon: Why the win? Because throwing people into the air in Texas was more dramatic than most medical procedurals.
35. The Bad Education Win: Why did Hugh Jackman lose? Because the Academy thought school embezzlement was funny, but not “Schitt’s Creek” funny.
36. The Quibi Jokes: Why the laughter? Because a platform designed for short bursts of video lasted shorter than the average quarantine.
37. The 2020 Final Emmy Vibe: Why historic? Because it was the year TV stopped being an “industry” and became our shared home, and pajamas became the new ball gown.