41 Emmy Awards Jokes: The 2008 “Mad Men’s Mastery, Heisenberg’s Birth & The Tina Fey Sweep” Edition

In 2008, the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards officially ushered television into the “Dark Side.” It was the year the sleek, whiskey-soaked ad men of the 1960s (Mad Men) seized the Drama crown, a desperate chemistry teacher from New Mexico (Breaking Bad) began his journey toward legendary infamy, and Tina Fey proved that you can rule Hollywood while eating “night cheese.”

The 2008 Emmy Red Carpet Top 10: “Skinny Ties, Lab Coats & The AMC Revolution”

1. The Mad Men Coronation: Why did it win Best Drama as the first basic cable show to do so? Because the Academy decided that drinking scotch at 10 AM and smoking in the office was a lifestyle that deserved a gold trophy.
2. The 30 Rock Dominance: Why did it win Best Comedy again? Because Tina Fey made being a high-functioning, snack-obsessed mess the most prestigious job in show business.
3. The Bryan Cranston Shock: Why did the dad from Malcolm in the Middle win Best Actor? Because no one expected a man in his underwear in the middle of the desert to become the most terrifying actor of a generation.
4. The Glenn Close Reign: Why did she win for Damages? Because Patty Hewes is the only lawyer on Earth who makes Tony Soprano look like a choir boy.
5. The Tina Fey & Alec Baldwin Double: Why did they both win? For proving that the “boss-employee” relationship is only funny if it involves mutual insults and extremely expensive alcohol.
6. The John Adams Sweep: Why did the Founding Father miniseries win a record 13 Emmys? Because Paul Giamatti in a colonial wig is Emmy bait that the Academy simply cannot resist.
7. The Daily Show vs. The Colbert Report: Why did Jon Stewart win again? Because the 2008 election cycle provided more material than his writers could physically write down.
8. The Don Draper Mystique: Why didn’t Jon Hamm win (yet)? Because the Academy felt that being that handsome was already a sufficient reward from the universe.
9. The Reality TV Host Category: Why did Jeff Probst win the first-ever award for hosting? Because surviving 16 seasons of Survivor without strangling a contestant requires superhuman patience.
10. The Sarah Palin Factor: Why the jokes? Because Tina Fey had just begun her SNL parody, making the actual election feel like a spin-off of a comedy show.

The Full 2008 Emmy Jokes Archive

11. Worst Dressed (The 2008 Satin Disaster): Why so much shiny fabric? Because the red carpet looked like it was tailored from the curtains of a luxury hotel in Las Vegas.
12. Outstanding Comedy: Why 30 Rock? For “Night Cheese”—the only religion the entire entertainment industry actually follows.
13. Outstanding Drama: Why Mad Men? For proving that cigarette advertisements could be considered high art.
14. Outstanding Lead Actor (Comedy): Why Alec Baldwin? For Jack Donaghy, a man who believes “the middle class” is just people who don’t have a place to park their yachts.
15. Outstanding Lead Actress (Comedy): Why Tina Fey? Because Liz Lemon is the neurotic soulmate we all deserve.
16. Outstanding Lead Actor (Drama): Why Bryan Cranston? For the first step in Walter White’s transformation into “the one who knocks.”
17. Outstanding Lead Actress (Drama): Why Glenn Close? Because no one can smile while planning your demise better than she can.
18. The Jeremy Piven Hat-Trick: Why did Ari Gold win for the third time? Because Hollywood still loves watching someone scream at their assistant for a living.
19. The Jean Smart Surprise: Why did she win for Samantha Who?? For proving that being a deliciously mean mother is a guaranteed path to gold.
20. The Dianne Wiest Win: Why In Treatment? For making it popular to listen to other people complain to their therapists on HBO.
21. The Zeljko Ivanek Upset: Why the Damages win? For having the hardest name for the orchestra to announce correctly on the first try.
22. The Lost Constant: Why was the time-travel episode a hit? Because it was the only moment in 2008 where everyone understood what was happening on that show for five minutes.
23. The Entourage Bromance: Why still nominated? Because everyone in LA wants to believe their childhood friends will also make them millionaires.
24. The Office (US) Snub: Why did Steve Carell lose again? Because the Academy thinks Michael Scott suffers enough in Scranton.
25. The Two and a Half Men Longevity: Why was Charlie Sheen nominated? For being the only actor who didn’t have to change his clothes after leaving his own house to attend the ceremony.
26. The Pushing Daisies Visuals: Why was it a hit? For being the most colorful show about dead bodies in human history.
27. The Dexter Buzz: Why was Michael C. Hall nominated? Because being a serial killer who only kills bad people is the most ethical job in Miami.
28. The Hosting Disaster: Why were the five reality hosts so bad? Because they proved that being able to host Survivor doesn’t mean you can survive the Emmy stage without a script.
29. The High School Musical 3 Mention: Why the mockery? Because the Disney Channel had officially successfully hijacked the brains of every child under 12.
30. The Curb Your Enthusiasm Loss: Why? Because Larry David probably forgot to come because he was arguing with someone in a yogurt line.
31. The South Park “Imaginationland”: Why did it win? For proving that a battle for our imagination requires Kurt Russell and the entire Disney character roster.
32. The Amazing Race Streak: Why their sixth win? Because the Academy still can’t believe people can get lost in a country where they don’t speak the language.
33. The George Carlin Tribute: Why the tears? For saying goodbye to the man who taught us all the seven words you can’t say on television.
34. The Mad Men Wardrobe: Why the jokes? Because after the gala, the sales of hair pomade and skinny ties increased by 400%.
35. The Grey’s Anatomy Slide: Why fewer awards? Because the drama behind the scenes had become more interesting than the surgeries on screen.
36. The Rickroll Mention: Why? Because in 2008, you couldn’t walk across a room without someone Rickrolling you.
37. The HBO vs. AMC War: Why was it a historic night? Because the “King” (HBO) felt the breath of the “New Guy” (AMC) on its neck for the first time.
38. The Simpsons Year 19: Why are they still here? Because Homer Simpson is now older than most of the influencers in the room (if they existed then).
39. The Kathy Griffin Win: Why her speech? Because she thanked “the gays and God, in that order.”
40. The Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog: Why the whispers? Because Neil Patrick Harris proved that the internet was the new TV before anyone even knew what Netflix was.
41. The 2008 Final Emmy Vibe: Why the breakthrough? Because it was the year “bad characters” (Don Draper, Walter White, Patty Hewes) officially became America’s new sweethearts.