2020 Emmys Settle for Record Low 6.1 Million Viewers

Sunday’s 72nd Emmy Awards drew 6.1 million total viewers on ABC, a new low for the annual awards show.

The overall audience for these Emmys, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, declined 29% from last year’s host-less turn on Fox. Among adults 18-49, the decline was 13%.

Sunday’s Emmys were more of a hit on social media than they were on TV. Last night’s broadcast was the most-social entertainment program on Sunday, posting 11.9 million total social interactions. That’s up 108% from the 2019 Emmy Awards. Of course, the increase in social-media adoption and usage can be pointed to for a large portion of that increase.

The special’s 6.1 million total viewers represent ABC’s largest audience for a Sunday from 8 p.m. ET to 11 p.m. ET since the April 5, 2020 episode of “American Idol.”

Also Read: ‘Sunday Night Football’ Clobbers Virtual Emmys in Earliest TV Ratings

See how the rest of broadcast television fared in preliminary Nielsen numbers by clicking here. (Note: The initial data there for the networks with NFL football is not yet time-zone adjusted and should be considered subject to significant adjustment.)

Last year, the Emmys eventually adjusted up to a 7 million viewers and a 1.7 rating among adults 18-49. The ceremony’s initial declines from the 2018 special were -32% and -33%, respectively.

Find Sunday’s winners here.

Kimmel emceed the virtual show from the Los Angeles Staples Center. All of the winners and nominees participated from home.

Emmy Awards 2020: 10 Best and Worst Moments, From Essential Workers to Kimmel’s Faux Crowd (Photos)

With the 2020 Emmy Awards in the can, here are some of the highs and lows of this year’s virtual awards show.
Worst: Jimmy Kimmel’s opening monologue in front of (obviously) faux crowd.

We didn’t need Kimmel to pull the bait-and-switch with his opening monologue at the end to know that the “crowd” wasn’t actually there.
Best: ‘Schitt’s Creek’ parties it up in Canada.

While most winners accepted their awards at home in front of family, the cast of the Pop TV series gathered together up in Canada, where they have a much better handle on the pandemic. It turned out to be a good thing, considering it won every single comedy award of the night.

Also Read: ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Makes Emmy History With Sweep of Top 7 Comedy Categories
Worst: The in-person presenters.

A few presenters showed up in person, including Jennifer Aniston and Tracee Ellis Ross. Don’t think there was too much social distancing going on in a bit that quickly went stale. (We’ll cheat a bit and say Anthony Carrigan showing up as “Barry’s” NoHo Hank, disguised as a mailman, was pretty great, though.)
Best: “What Have You Been Doing During Quarantine?”

Kimmel turned it over to some of your favorite stars like Will Arnett, Ty Burrell, Chris Harrison, Kenan Thompson and Bob Newhart to ask how they’ve been spending their quarantine. “Good Doctor” star Freddie Highmore joked that for him, masks him more more recognizable. Burrell gave the most R-rated answer: “What have I been doing? More like WHO have I been doing!” (He’s married.)
Best: Martha Schrader’s “Unorthodox” acceptance speech.

While some moments of this year’s Emmys were awkward or stiff, Martha Schrader’s acceptance speech for “Unorthodox,” winning in the Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special category, was genuine and sweet.

Schrader was so excited to win and everyone else on screen shared the joyous moment with her by jumping around in the background and smiling from ear to ear.

Also Read: Emmy Winners by the Numbers: HBO Is Leading Network, ‘Watchmen’ Tops Series
Worst: “Succession” creator Jesse Armstrong’s living room.

While we appreciated his “un-thank you” to COVID-19 when he accepted the Best Drama Series prize, “Succession” creator Jesse Armstrong seriously upstaged himself with the clashing patterns in his drapes, sofas and carpet. Perhaps he should hire one of his show’s set decorators for a makeover.
Worst: Sterling K. Brown tries to claim “This Is Us” drama win.

We get it. Jimmy Kimmel hosted a previous awards show that featured the wrong winner announced, but this bit went on way too long. Even Brown himself admitted: “That was embarrassing.” It was for us watching too.