It’s one of our nine most surprising, historic, and memorable moments from Emmys past. See the full list.
After two postponements in the wake of the tragic events of 9/11, Ellen DeGeneres hosted a no-frills 2001 Emmys in November with hilarious vigor. She nonchalantly opened her monologue with “Welcome to the 53rd, 54th and 55th Emmy Awards” and skillfully handled the moment with lines such as “What can upset the Taliban more than seeing a gay woman in a costume surrounded of Jews.” Fun bits on and off the stage took viewers on a tour of the Shubert Theater, a meeting with Jiminy Glick (Martin Short) and an impromptu interview with an unsuspecting seat filler to ask, “Which celeb let you have the seat on the hotter?” Most dazzling moment: The comedian wearing a swan dress inspired by what singer-songwriter Björk wore to the Oscars earlier that year. To the laughing crowd, she joked, “I guess it’s casual work.” The memorable evening ended with a standing ovation and, quite possibly, a healing nation comfortable enough to laugh again.
