Trump tirades, love for Canada dominate discussion at the Emmys

Host Stephen Colbertwarned us ahead of Sunday's prime time Emmysthatpolitics wouldnot be off-limits.

But it felt likeU.S. President Donald Trump was everywhereduring the ceremony his nameturning up in rambling tirades, acceptance speeches and taking up a good chunk of Colbert'sopening monologue, always the butt of the joke.

Perhaps the showwas just punching back.

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The president has spent years slighting it, seemingly holdinga grudge ever since he was twice nominatedforThe Apprenticeonly to loseboth times. Trumpeven took a moment during one of the presidential debatesto sayhe should have won an Emmyafter Hillary Clinton brought up hislosses.

Politics may have overshadowed the show, but it also made for some of the night's most memorable moments. There were, however, a few entirely apolitical highlights too. Here's what happened.

Dumping on Trump

There were plenty of easyjabsat the president. Colbertlampooned his tweets and quippedthat "Emmys go to the winner of the popular vote." Butsandwiched between those were fierce critiques of his administration.

Atlanta's Donald Glover sarcastically thanked Trump during his bestcomedicactor acceptance speech "for making black people number one on the most oppressed list."

"He's probably the reason why I'm up here," he said.

Presenter Lily Tomlindidn't call out Trump by namebut subtlytold the crowd she refused"to be controlled by a sexist egotistical lying hypocritical bigot."

It came full circle when Alec Baldwin won best supporting actor in a comedy series for his portrayal of the president onSaturday Night Live.

"I suppose I should say, at long last Mr. President, here is your Emmy," Baldwin said, while clutching thetrophy.

The return of Spicey

The night's biggest surprise was also Trump related. Itcame just moments into the show when Colbertbroughtout former White Housepress secretary Sean Spicer, podium and all.

Spicer, who guested onJimmy Kimmel Livelast week, grinned while lecturingthe crowd on the potential size of the Emmys viewership.

"This will be the largest audience to witness an Emmys, period," he said, an allusion to his demonstrably false claim in January that the audience to Trump's inauguration was the biggest ever.

Many starsdropped their jaws and covered their mouths, while a camera captured a stunned Melissa McCarthy (who played Spicer on SNL) scratching her nose and holding her chin.

As the realSpicerwrapped,Colbertthanked "Melissa McCarthy" for showing up.

Diversity reigns

The focus on Trump may have blurred what wasarguably the night's most important trend: a clear focus on honouring a diversity of industry players.Or as presenter Dave Chappelle put it, "I'm truly amazed how many black people are here ...I counted 11 on the monitor."

Master of None'sAzizAnsariand LenaWaithewon for outstanding comedy writing, makingWaithethe first black woman to win the prize.

"The things that make us different those are our superpowers," she said during her acceptance speech,thanking everyone for embracing a queer black girl from the south side of Chicago.

She added backstage:"What it does is, it says that it's possible."

Along with his bestcomedic actor win, Atlanta's Donald Glover also scored best comedy direction."This is nuts," he said. "I just love everybody out here for letting me be up here."

The Night Of's Riz Ahmedtook home best actor for limited series or movie. AndThis is Us' Sterling K. Brown paid tribute to Andre Braugherduring his acceptance speech for lead actor, drama. Braugherwasthe last black man to win the honour.

"I'm the first African-American in 16 years nominated. That kind of blows my mind," he said.

Female empowerment

The academy also recognized many strong female roles this year, a move praised byReeseWitherspoonand Nicole Kidman while accepting the best limited series Emmy forBig Little Lies, which the pair starred in and co-executiveproduced.

But they also urged formore of these types of roles.

"Bring women to the front of their own stories,and make them the hero of their own stories," Witherspoonsaid during the speech.

She elaborated back stage:"It's great to be the architect of your own destiny and create material for yourself."

The Handmaid's Tale, which took home eight Emmysincluding best drama series, also showed a range of strong female voices in its adaptation of Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel.

"I think there's still a lot of work to be done but incredible progress has been made," said the show's star Elisabeth Moss, who won best dramatic actress for her role as the handmaidOffred.

Canadian pride

Atwood, who was in attendance, was feted numerous times and got a standing ovation as she made her way onto the stage afterThe Handmaid's Talewon best drama series.

And eachtime the show won a trophy, the recipient thanked Atwood.Reed Morano, who won for her directing, called Atwood"her idol." Show star Moss was also generous in her praise.

"Oh my gosh, thank you for what you did in 1985, and thank you for what you continue to do for all of us," she said while accepting for best dramatic actress.

It wasn't just Atwood fellow CanucksJean-MarcValle, director and executive producer of Big Little Liesand Saturday Night Liveboss Lorne Michaels were thanked over and over as their shows kept racking up awards.

Big Little Lies'Laura Dern told reporters in the press room that working with Vallewas like "doing a little dance" every day and she loved the fact that he was "gender blind."

SNL's Don Roy King paid his tribute to Michaelswhile accepting for best directing, variety "Because of Lorne Michaels, I have the best job in television."