All the Emmy’s biggest surprises: Hazmat suits, Friends reunions and more

The 72nd Primetime Emmys Awards went virtual this year, but that didn’t stop the stars from celebrating in style, dressed to the nines and delivering heartfelt acceptance speeches. From a ‘Friends’ reunion and an early New Year’s Eve party to some historic wins, we bring you the biggest moments of the night.

Jimmy Kimmel hosted from an empty Staples Center: Any other year, if host Jimmy Kimmel showed up to the Staples Center and found it empty, he might have thought he got the wrong night. But virtual ceremonies are the new norm, and Kimmel didn’t shy away from the topic, asking: “Why would you have an award show in the middle of a pandemic?” Celeb reaction shots flashed from previous years. “No, seriously — why are we having an award show in the middle of a pandemic?” Kimmel pressed. “What is happening tonight is not important. It’s not going to stop Covid. It’s not going to put out the fires. But it’s fun and right now we need fun. My God, do we need fun. This has been a miserable year ... of division, injustice, disease, Zoom school, disaster and death.”

People in hazmat ‘tuxedos’ delivered the Emmy statuettes to winners in person: But according to Ramy Youssef’s Instagram post, the hazmat delivery people even showed up at your house if you were a loser, and simply waved goodbye and walked away when your name wasn’t announced. The ‘Ramy’ actor, who lost to Eugene Levy in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series category, posted a hilarious video of a delivery person in a hazmat suit waving from outside his window and walking away with the Emmy statuette in hand.

The one where the ‘Friends’ get back together: To lighten the mood, a dolled up Jennifer Aniston delighted ‘Friends’ fans when she showed up on screen with her longtime co-star Courtney Cox. You know what they say: two’s company, but three’s a reunion. “Courtney’s there?!” Kimmel asked. “Of course I am, we live together,” said Cox, to which Aniston added, “We’ve been roommates since 1994, Jimmy.” The feels multiplied when Aniston’s other ‘roommate’, Lisa Kudrow, jumped in. But the party really started when Aniston’s close friend of several decades, Jason Bateman, showed up. “Oh, wow, I didn’t know Ross was there. Bateman also lives in your house?” asked Kimmel, to which Aniston replied, “Just until he goes off to college.”

‘Schitt’s Creek’ makes Emmy’s history with record-breaking win: The Canadian comedy series made a complete sweep of the comedy categories’ seven awards for a total of nine overall wins, marking the first time in Emmy’s history that this has happened. It was also the first comedy to win all four major acting awards in one year. The cast chose to be come together — all suited and booted up, black face masks included — to accept their awards, despite the fact that most nominees chose to fly solo on their video calls. Schitt’s Creek’s big wins included Catherine O’Hara for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, Eugene Levy for Lead Actor and Dan Levy for Outstanding Writing, Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Supporting Actor.

Zendaya is the youngest person to win THIS award: ‘Euphoria’s’ Zendaya, 24, is the youngest person in history to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Zendaya’s reaction — and the reaction of her team and family sitting behind her, who promptly erupted into screams and cheers — was completely adorable. The actress, who broke out on Disney years ago, steps into the role of a recovering addict in the HBO series. “I’m really, really nervous. Okay. Oh gosh... This is pretty crazy, I don’t really cry,” said the actress, who was visibly emotional. “There is hope in the young people. I just want to say to all my peers out there doing the work in the streets, I see you, I admire you, I thank you.”

Reese Witherspoon is SO over 2020 that she threw an early NYE party: Witherspoon invited ‘Little Fires Everywhere’ co-star Kerry Washington to celebrate with her at her home, turning her Emmy’s watch party into a New Year’s Eve bash. “We’re ready for this year to be over,” said Witherspoon. Reese, we’re sure you’re not alone.

Guiliana Rancic was notably missing, testing positive for COVID-19: The E! presenter found out that she, her husband Bill and her son Duke all had the virus, before travelling to cover the award ceremony. “Hey, everyone. As I go into my 20th year on the E! red carpet, I have to say, I do not take missing an award show lightly, but unfortunately this year is just so different,” Rancic said. “As part of E! and NBCUniversal’s very strict testing guidelines, especially before an event like this, I did find out that I tested positive for Covid-19. Now as much as I didn’t want to hear that, I’m very thankful I heard it before I travelled and possibly could have exposed other people. So for that, I’m thankful.”

‘Succession’ creator Jesse Armstrong gave a series of ‘un-thank yous’: After ‘Succession’ won the Outstanding Drama award, showrunner Armstrong opted to go with an ‘un-thank you’ speech. “For being robbed of the opportunity to spend this time with our peers and with the cast and crew, I think I’d maybe like to do some un-thank yous. In-thank you to the virus for keeping us all apart this year,” said Armstrong, before targeting politicians such as Donald Trump and Boris Johnson.

Mark Ruffalo delivered an emotional speech after his big win: The actor walked away with the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series our Movie award, for his role in the limited series ‘I Know This Much Is True’. The first-time Emmy nominee and winner was joined by his tearful wife, Sunrise Coigney, who cried as Ruffalo delivered an impassioned acceptance speech. “[Our series] is about family. It’s about a man who’s fighting for his brother who’s living with mental illness,” said Ruffalo. “It’s a story that’s common throughout so much of the United States and the world today. And it asks a big question: How are we going to deal and honour and take care of each other and our most vulnerable people? And we do that with love. And we do that with compassion, and we do that by fighting for them. And that’s what we have to do today. We have to come together with love.”