Last Saturday night brought the 22nd annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards and a refreshingly diverse group of nominees. With many actors threatening to boycott the Oscars because of its lack of diversity, it has been an interesting awards season so far. The SAG Awards and its list of nominees could not be further from the Oscars all-white group, which has been widely criticized.
Idris Elba, who won big for both “Beasts of No Nation” (“Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture”) and “Luther” (“Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries”), acknowledged the recent Oscar scandal in his speech, “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to diverse television!”
Uzo Aduba, and the cast of “Orange Is the New Black,” swept the comedy section with awards for Female Actor and Ensemble in a Comedy Series. Fun fact: Aduba’s date was also her date to the senior prom.
Viola Davis took home the award for “Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series” for “How to Get Away with Murder.” Davis spoke about her award and the growing controversy in the press room after the show, she is “completely enjoying the moment,” but also said that we should remember that, “diversity is not a trending topic. It’s just not.”
Queen Latifah left with the trophy for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in Television Movie or Miniseries for her portrayal of a blues performer Bessie Smith in “Bessie.” While most of the speeches from the night were humorous, Latifah’s was more serious. “I have often been told I’m not thin enough, I’m not white enough, I’m not short enough, I’m not man enough,” she said. “Dammit, I am enough.”
And of course it wouldn’t be an awards show without a Tina Fey-Amy Poehler moment. The two joined forces to present a Lifetime Achievement Award to Carol Burnett (and talked a little bit of trash about Leonardo DiCaprio in the process).