It looked like any awards show as Emmys host Jimmy Kimmel took to the stage in a tuxedo and started cracking jokes to laughter from famous audience members.
But it was anything but typical. While Kimmel was real, as he opened the 72nd Emmy Awards on Sunday evening, the audience was clearly fake, inserted from past footage.
"Welcome to the pandemmies!" he joked, to open his monologue. "You can't have a virus without a host."
Kimmel played it straight until halfway through the opening segment at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, when he admitted he was nearly alone and the telecast showed the sea of empty seats.
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ABC shows a manequin wearing a hazmat tuxedo suit next to a table full of Emmy statues ahead of the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony held virtually on September 20, 2020. AFP -
Eugene Levy accepting the outstanding lead actor in a comedy series award for Schitt's Creek during the 72nd annual Primetime Emmy Awards. EPA -
Uzo Aduba accepts the award for outstanding supporting actress in a limited series or movie for 'Mrs. America' during the 72nd Emmy Awards broadcast. AP -
Tyler Perry accepts the Governors award during the 72nd Emmy Awards broadcast. AP -
Mark Ruffalo (R) accepting the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for 'I Know this Much is True' during the 72nd annual Primetime Emmy Awards. EPA -
Annie Murphy (L) wins the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for 'Schitt's Creek' at the 72nd annual Primetime Emmy Awards. EPA -
Zendaya accepts the award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for 'Euphoria' during the 72nd Emmy Awards. AP -
Catherine O'Hara accepting the award for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for 'Schitt's Creek' during the 72nd annual Primetime Emmy Awards. EPA -
Jeremy Strong wins Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series for 'Succession' during the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards. AFP -
RuPaul Charles from 'RuPaul's Drag Race' accepts the award for outstanding competition programme during the 72nd Emmy Awards. AP -
Regina King wears a Breonna Taylor shirt as she wins the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie for 'Watchmen' during the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards. AFP
Nominees were represented by cardboard cut-outs, and by Jason Bateman of Ozark pretending to be one.
Kimmel then walked into a room where he was surrounded by dozens of nominees shown on video feeds from their homes, hotel rooms and other remote locations.
TV stars were asked to pick out their favourite pyjamas before Sunday's reinvented Emmys, for which nominees accepted prizes live from their homes.
"No one goes home a loser. They'll already be at home," the late-night TV show funnyman quipped in an advertisement for the broadcast.
Hollywood's first major Covid-era awards show was looking radically different to previous iterations, with no red carpet.
Nominees for the 72nd Emmys – the small-screen equivalent of the Oscars – were sent cameras to hook up in their own living rooms, gardens and even bedrooms.
They were also encouraged to get creative with their acceptance speeches, as well as locations, meaning even the show's producers were in for a few surprises.
"They don't know what it's going to look like – it's a crapshoot," said Deadline awards columnist Pete Hammond.
