Alan Alda's Joyful Cartwheel
Long before viral moments were a thing, Alan Alda created one with pure, unadulterated joy. At the 1979 Emmys, upon winning for Outstanding Writing for the classic series "MAS*H," Alda was so overcome with happiness that he did a full cartwheel down the aisle
on his way to the stage. It was a startlingly athletic and endearingly spontaneous display in an era of otherwise buttoned-up awards shows. Alda later explained the Emmy for writing meant so much to him because he'd wanted to be a writer since he was eight years old. The cartwheel wasn't just a stunt; it was a physical expression of a lifelong dream being realized, making it one of the most wholesome and memorable celebrations in Emmy history.
Sally Field's Earnest Plea
Though it technically happened at the 1985 Oscars, Sally Field's speech has become the blueprint for every earnest, slightly verklempt awards acceptance. After a career that saw her fight for respect beyond sitcom roles, she accepted her award and declared, "I can't deny the fact that you like me. Right now, you like me!". It's often misquoted as "You really, really like me," but the real version is more poignant. It was a raw, vulnerable admission of an actor’s deep-seated need for validation from her peers. While some at the time found it overwrought, the moment has endured for its breathtaking honesty, capturing the insecurity and gratitude that fuels so many performers.
Merritt Wever's Perfect Speech
What do you do when you're completely shocked by a win and have a million people to thank? If you're Merritt Wever, you keep it simple. After winning Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy for "Nurse Jackie" in 2013, Wever walked to the stage, looked at the audience, and delivered what host Neil Patrick Harris would soon call the "best speech ever." Her full remarks: "Thanks so much. Thank you so much. Um, I gotta go, bye." And then she was gone. It was hilarious, relatable, and utterly refreshing in a sea of long, rambling thank-yous. Wever later explained that she panicked, but in doing so, she created a moment of perfect comedic brevity that no one will ever forget.
The Seinfeld Reunion Kiss
The Emmys are great at a planned bit, but this one felt wonderfully chaotic. At the 2014 awards, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Bryan Cranston presented an award together. She playfully pretended not to remember him from his guest role as her dentist boyfriend, Tim Whatley, on "Seinfeld." Cranston took his revenge later. When Louis-Dreyfus won for "Veep," Cranston intercepted her on her way to the stage and planted a long, passionate kiss on her, stopping the show cold. The moment was a masterful callback for TV nerds and a genuinely surprising and funny interruption that paid off a joke set up earlier in the night.
Viola Davis Makes History
Not all great moments are funny; some are profoundly moving and long overdue. In 2015, Viola Davis became the first Black woman to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in "How to Get Away with Murder." She took the stage and delivered a powerful, poignant speech that instantly became iconic. Quoting Harriet Tubman, she said, "The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there." Her speech was a stirring tribute to the writers who create complex roles for women of color and a landmark moment for representation in Hollywood, using her personal victory to make a universally important statement.
