From Donald Glover to Spicey, the best and worst moments of the 2017 Emmys

So. Much. Donald. Glover!
 By 
Proma Khosla
 on 
From Donald Glover to Spicey, the best and worst moments of the 2017 Emmys
Credit: mashable composite/shutterstock

The Primetime Emmy Awards are a TV fan's Super Bowl, and the politically charged 2017 awards ceremony was no exception. And like the real Super Bowl, Sunday's show had highs and lows throughout the telecast, hosted by Stephen Colbert and broadcast on CBS.

Between Handmaid's Tale and Big Little Lies, some of the most joyful moments of the show were seeing women-centric shows win big. What a change! Below, our best and worst moments (yes, Sean Spicer is a worst, duh).

Best

Emmys not so white

From Donald Glover to Lena Waithe to Riz Ahmed, the Emmys went all in on supporting underrepresented voices in Hollywood. Just don't let it be for this one night only.

That Westworld sketch

Not only did Stephen Colbert sell us on a naked robot cameo next season, but we got a much needed dose of Tituss Burgess stealing the show as usual.

Rachel Bloom 5ever

The accountants from Ernst & Young are no one's favorite part of the Emmys, but Rachel Bloom is the best part of everything, so it all evened out!

Worst

The dancing handmaids

Not that they weren't excellent performers, but the visual of Gilead handmaids -- you know, the sex servants in a society that strips women of all agency -- rip off their tunics and join a kick line was...a little jarring.

Normalizing Sean Spicer

Yeah, he is funny...when he's played by Melissa McCarthy behind a motorized podium, but the actual Sean Spicer, prior to his unceremonious dismissal, consistently lied to the American people and discredited the journalists whose job it is to hold government officials accountable. He may be unemployed, but he's still a piece of shit.

Mashable Image
Proma Khosla

Proma Khosla is a Senior Entertainment Reporter writing about all things TV, from ranking Bridgerton crushes to composer interviews and leading Mashable's stateside coverage of Bollywood and South Asian representation. You might also catch her hosting video explainers or on Mashable's TikTok and Reels, or tweeting silly thoughts from @promawhatup.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
The best and worst moments from the 2026 Oscars
Michael B. Jordan wins the Oscar for Best Actor

Razzies 2026: Here are the worst of the worst
Rebel Wilson does a karate pose on the red carpet for Bride Hard.


The biggest moments of the 2026 Golden Globes
Four side-by-side images show celebrities on stage at the Golden Globes.

The wildest moments from Oscars 2026
Conan O'Brien, dressed as Aunt Gladys from "Weapons" runs through the Oscars crowd with a group of kids.

More in Entertainment
Anthropic makes the case for anthropomorphizing AI in ‘unsettling’ research paper
Science fiction robot head and abstract lights background

T-Mobile is giving away the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to qualify
Apple iPhone 17 on Mashable composite background

The DJI Mini 5 Pro drone is down to its best-ever price at Amazon — save $500 this weekend
DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo

California just launched the country's largest public broadband network
Newsom stands behind a teen on a computer. A group of people cheer and clap behind them.

The Shark FlexStyle is our favorite Dyson Airwrap dupe, and it's $160 off at Amazon right now
The Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System against a colorful background.

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 4, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 4, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

NYT Strands hints, answers for April 4, 2026
A game being played on a smartphone.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!