In an Emmys first, all guest acting awards go to African Americans

LOS ANGELES — Tiffany Haddish led an African-American sweep of Emmy Awards for TV series guest actors, a landmark moment in the entertainment industry’s effort to foster diversity.

Haddish was honored at Saturday’s creative arts Emmys for hosting “Saturday Night Live,” while Katt Williams won the guest comedy actor award for “Atlanta.”

Ron Cephas Jones of “This Is Us” and Samira Wiley of “The Handmaid’s Tale” accepted guest acting honors in the drama series categories.

Jones, who plays a father who reconnects with his son (series star Sterling K. Brown) after a difficult life of drug addiction and loss, was asked backstage if his character would have been on TV in the past.

“No. Not in this incarnation. … Not that the audience wasn’t ready for it. But maybe the executives, or people that have a say in the writing, probably wouldn’t have been ready for this kind of thing. But now we are. We’re moving forward and moving ahead.”

Jones appeared in the world premiere of “Head of Passes” at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre in 2013.

Another winner Saturday with Chicago history is Alex Borstein, honored for character voice-over performance for her work on “Family Guy.” A Highland Park native, Borstein also is nominated for supporting actor on a comedy series for playing Susie on Amazon’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”

In another step forward, Shauna Duggins became the first woman to win an Emmy for stunt coordination for a comedy or variety series for “GLOW,” about women’s wrestling in the 1980s.

The creative arts Emmys set the table for NBC’s Sept. 17 main ceremony, which could also advance inclusivity on-screen and off. Donald Glover, the star and creator of “Atlanta,” won trophies last year for acting and directing and is a multiple nominee again, with his show a top contender for best comedy.

Tracee Ellis Ross of “black-ish” and Issa Rae of “Insecure” are competing for comedy series acting honors. On the drama side, Brown could repeat as best actor for “This Is Us,” with Jeffrey Wright of “Westworld” among his competitors, while “Killing Eve” star Sandra Oh could become the first actress of Asian descent to win the top award.

Haddish, a hot property since her breakout performance in the movie “Girls Trip,” has been an Oscar presenter and MTV Movie & TV Awards host. She co-stars in the sitcom “The Last O.G.”

She was a no-show at the Emmys, but presenter Tichina Arnold had fun accepting for her.

“Tiffany couldn’t be here tonight. But, guess what, Tiffany! I’ve got your award, girl!” Arnold said, holding up the statuette triumphantly.

“I think you’re going to have to give that back,” presenter Gerald McRaney (“This Is Us”) teased her.

The “Star Trek” television franchise received the Governors Award. William Shatner, star of the original 1960s series, and Sonequa Martin-Green of 2018’s “Star Trek: Discovery” accepted the award, along with other actors with “Star Trek” credentials including Walter Koenig, Jeri Ryan and Levar Burton.

“Star Trek’ has endured because it represents an ideal that is greater than the sum of our parts,” Shatner said. “The hope of ‘Star Trek’ is not just that it shows us what we can be tomorrow. But the real hope is how it’s been embraced and watched and reached to see the best version of ourselves.”

An edited version of the two-part creative arts ceremony, held Saturday and Sunday, will be telecast on FXX on Saturday, Sept. 15.

Among other awards presented Saturday:

— Animated program: “Rick and Morty.”

— Short-form animated program: “Robot Chicken.”

— Short-form comedy or drama series: “James Corden’s Next James Corden.”

— Actor in a short-form comedy or drama series: James Corden.

— Actress in a short-form comedy or drama series: Christina Pickles, “Break A Hip.”

— Television movie: “USS Callister (Black Mirror).”

— Commercial: “The Talk,” P&G.

— Music composition for a series (original dramatic score): Ramin Djawadi, “Game of Thrones: The Dragon and the Wolf.”

— Music composition for a limited series, movie or special (original dramatic score): Cyrille Aufort, “March Of The Penguins 2: The Next Step.”

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