It was a big night in downtown New York for the 1st annual Gotham TV Awards.
“Baby Reindeer’ won Breakthrough Limited series, Andrew Scott took home best performance in a drama for “Ripley.” Emmy season has begun! (“Mr. & Mrs. Smith” won Breakthrough Drama series.)
“SVU” star Mariska Hargitay and “The Crown” writer and creator Peter Morgan each received lifetime achievement honors.
The magnificent Cipriani at 25 Wall Street, former home of Cunard in a grander lifetime, was the setting and everyone was asked to wear black tie. So they did except for the ever youthful Gotham chief Jeff Sharpe, who wore all white and looked like Robert Redford in “The Great Gatsby.”
It was notable how many big names turned out for the premiere event, including British superstar actress Lesley Manville, who toasted Morgan, and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star Susie Essman. Both Richard Gadd and Jessica Dunning from the smash hit, “Baby Reindeer,” made their inaugural red carpet appearances of the year. The guests were more obsessed with them than Jessica had with Richard in the stunning miniseries!
Kristen Wiig, nominated for “Palm Royale,” was also there to present an award. She was shocked when I told her her hosting gig last month on “SNL” had been a huge ratings hit. I found her chatting with Dunning (who is far more attractive and lovely than her character). When I congratulated Wiig, she looked at me rather quizzically.
“Didn’t they tell you? Didn’t you hear?” I asked.
She shook her head, laughing. “I know nothing, I don’t read anything. No one told me.” Wiig is such a great comic actress, watch her at the Emmys for her turn in Apple TV’s “Palm Royale.”
Best acceptance speech of the night goes to Zine Tseng, of “3 Body Problem. Twice she remarked from the stage, “I can’t believe I’m sober!” But it was her description of New York on her premiere visit that was perfectly poetic: “It smells like a bus station. Danger and freedom at the same time!”
Other winners included two statues for Paramount Plus’s “Colin from Accounts” including Breakthrough Comedy series, and Breakthough comedy performance for its star Harriet Dyer. Jerrod Carmichael won for Breakthrough non fiction series.
