Last night’s Emmy’s continued the trend of being the lowest rated ever.NFL Football on NBC had more than twice the number of total viewers. The second week of a new “Galaxy Quest” type sci fi spoof on Fox called “The Orville” beat the Emmys in the key demo. A brand new show.

OK, this is the problem with the Emmy Awards. Even though, yes, last night’s show was great, and the winners were wonderful, and the speeches heartfelt and moving– this is the problem– there are no ratings for this show.

It’s a downward spiral for the Emmys because they feature actors from shows with either low ratings, no ratings, or not on TV. You can’t ask people to watch a show about TV and then not have anyone from TV.  If you do, then it’s the Cable ACE Awards. Remember them?

I did think that CBS might pony up some “NCIS” stars like Mark Harmon, or actors from their other shows. CBS may not have Emmy winners, but they have stars from highly rated programs. An Emmys on CBS would have been a good time for Harmon, Michael Weatherly, et al.– actors whom the CBS non-football audience might like to see– at least as presenters.

Kudos to the Emmy producers– the show was terrific, I thought– and I didn’t mind the Trump bashing. That wasn’t the problem. But I guarantee you next year, when the Emmys are on NBC, every member of the “This Is Us” cast will present.

The Emmys are over, and Robert DeNiro is already back in NYC.  Bob jetted in and out after the Emmys, he was nominated for playing Bernie Madoff in HBO’s “The Wizard of Lies,” but went back right after to start his first day on Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman.”

Bob sadly didn’t make the mecca of all parties, the glamorous HBO party at the Pacific Design Center.  No other party comes close to topping this A list soiree and last night it really rocked as HBO picked up 29 Emmys.  Nicole Kidman, towering and radiant in red, was mobbed with well wishers as soon as she walked in.  Nicole and Keith Urban were just the most adorable and when philanthropist Barbara Davis came to say hello, classy Nicole opened up her arms with glee to greet her.  Grande Dame Barbara just has that  affect on people!  

Ben Affleck, looked happy and relaxed with  girlfriend Lindsay Shookus — a producer from the “Saturday Night Live” — sitting with Jeff Garlin and Larry David of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” —  cracking up at everything Larry said.  Larry was in good form and quite the social butterfly.  Seth McFarlane came in late and worked the room in lightning speed.  Julia Louis Dreyfus told me that it’s “the right time for “Veep” to end next season, but bittersweet.”  She was looking to see who had her statuette.  

Reese Witherspoon in a blue Stella McCartney blazer dress with her look alike daughter 18 year old Ava Phillippe told me, “it still hasn’t sunk in”  that “Big Little Lies” picked up so many awards. The series’ director Jean-Marc Vallee, who won for best direction of a drama, came in with double fisted Emmys.  Alexander Skarsgard clutched his Best Supporting Actor Emmy followed by Laura Dern holding hers with her kids Jaya and Ellery in tow. 

“Westworld” stars, Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, James Marsden and Jeffrey Wright — although they got shut out — were hanging with the winning “Veep” cast. Jon Hamm hugged Sofia Vergara who later hung out with Jessica Biel (sans hubby Justin Timberlake).   CEO Richard Pepler chatted with Michelle Pfeiffer and David. E. Kelley.  The vivacious Anne Heche with her “Big Little Lies,” husband James Tupper, “Leftovers” stars, Amy Brenneman and Jasmin Savoy and the winner for “The Night Of,” partied on with Riz Ahmed, saying he would want to come back for the next installment. 

Debra Messing fielded all the “Will and Grace” comeback kudos with her typical grace-iousness.  Kate McKinnon said she was still “in shock” from her win. Producer Trudie Styler– husband Sting–  is on tour, Jaime King, Julianne Hough, Keegan Michael Key and Elise Pugliese congratulated “SNL” producer Lorne Michaels on all the show’s wins. Plus Dash Mihok, Mark Gatiss (from “Sherlock” and “Game of Thrones”) and oh so many more.  HBO’s Emmy party just cannot be beat.  It’s the most coveted ticket at Emmy season as well as it should be.

Emmys: Julia Louis Dreyfus broke a record winning her fifth consecutive Emmy Award for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for “Veep.” She has two other Emmys, for “Seinfeld” (supporting) and “The New Adventures of Old Christine” (lead). But this is the sweetest– and she can win one more time, next year, which would be outrageous. And right.

“Veep” won Best Comedy Series but not best writing or directing for a comedy. Those two awards were firsts–to Donald Glover for directing his series “Atlanta” and Lena Waithe for co-writing with Aziz Ansari his series “Master of None.” They were the first African Americans ever to win those awards. Sterling K. Brown was the first African American to win Best Actor in a Drama since Andre Braugher in “Homicide.” Brown gave a Braugher a classy shout out.

HBO basically swept the Emmys, although Hulu became the first streaming service to win an Emmy for Best Drama with “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Ann Dowd gave the most moving speech when she won Best Supporting Actress for “Handmaid’s.” She’s 61 and was finally an overnight sensation five years ago when she was “discovered” in the low budget indie “Compliance.” She’s very deserving.

This Emmy show could actually win an Emmy. It was smoothly produced, highly entertaining, moved very well. There were no gaffes and the whole vibe was spot on.

Who stole the show? Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton. They made “Nine to Five” in 1980. That’s 37 years ago! Runners up: Norman Lear and Carol Burnett, and Cicely Tyson.

HBO 29 Netflix 20 NBC 15 Hulu 10 (!) ABC 7 FX 6 Fox 5 Adult Swim 4 CBS 4 A&E 3 VH1 3 Amazon/BBCA/NatGeo/ESPN 2