This morning's announcement raises a question, says Laura Bradley: "Are Che and Jost really the right fit for this moment?" She adds: "As women fight to end exploitation and promote equal opportunities in the entertainment industry, choosing a woman from the SNL family would have sent a strong message—especially for an awards show that likes to praise the TV industry for supposedly being more progressive than the film world. (Kate) McKinnon, Leslie Jones, Cecily Strong, or Aidy Bryant would have made excellent Emmys hosts, either together or separately. (This also might have been NBC’s last chance to tap one of them, as all four seem likely to make their exits from SNL before the network hosts the Emmys again in four years.) Even beyond the halls of Studio 8H, there are plenty more talented women with TV shows on the current NBC roster, including Debra Messing, Megan Mullally, Kristen Bell, America Ferrera, and Retta. (Bell even has one hosting gig under her belt already this year; she hosted the SAG Awards in January.) Were none of these women available?" ALSO: To have the first Emmys of the #MeToo era "hosted by two bros with a history of making highly questionable jokes is not good for progress."
TOPICS: 70th Primetime Emmy Awards, Saturday Night Live, Aidy Bryant, America Ferrera, Cecily Strong, Colin Jost, Debra Messing, Kate McKinnon, Kristen Bell, Leslie Jones, Megan Mullally, Michael Che, Retta, Sexual Misconduct, Time's Up