Why was it a target? For proving that “The Truth is Out There,” but the actual trophies were mostly in the writing and guest acting… Read More »1996 Classic: The X-Files Breakthrough

Why did the 81-year-old win again? Because he’s been acting since the invention of fire and still hasn’t missed a beat. Part of the 39… Read More »1996 Archive: The Ray Walston Longevity

Why did a miniseries about giant people win 5 awards? Because in 1996, nothing said “Prestige TV” like Ted Danson in a wig and high-budget… Read More »1996 Classic: The Gulliver’s Travels Sweep

Why? Because the Emmys felt that if George Clooney was the “face” of ER, Noah Wyle was the “soul,” and souls don’t get trophies as… Read More »1996 Classic: The Second Noah Wyle Snub

Why were there jokes about the internet? Because the Emmys tried to explain what a “website” was, and half the audience thought it was a… Read More »1996 Archive: The 1996 Tech Boom

Why was she a target? For playing a version of herself that was so glamorous it made the actual Cybill Shepherd look low-maintenance. Part of… Read More »1996 Vintage: The Cybill Sarcasm

Why all the crushed velvet? Because in 1996, every actor wanted to look like a high-end sofa in a dimly lit jazz club. Part of… Read More »1996 Vintage: Worst Dressed (The Velvet Award)

Why did she win? For being 50 different people in one hour, making every other actor in the room feel incredibly lazy. Part of the… Read More »1996 Legacy: The Tracey Ullman Variety

Why Frasier? For making us believe that a dog (Eddie) was a more disciplined actor than half of the human nominees. Part of the 39… Read More »1996 Archive: Outstanding Comedy

Why? Because it’s the only show on TV where the audience is more famous than the people on stage. Part of the 39 Emmy Awards… Read More »1996 Classic: The Kennedy Center Honors Joke