Just a Spectator

"Sorry, sorry, sorry," Renly muttered softly as he made his way through the rows of seats, finally finding the dark red chair with his name on it. With less than five minutes until the awards ceremony started, he quickly sat down.

Earlier, outside, Renly had unexpectedly run into Hugh Laurie. The two hit it off immediately. Both were British, both had attended Eton, and both had graduated from Cambridge University—Hugh with a degree in Archaeology and Anthropology. Hugh had made a name for himself in Hollywood with "House," giving them plenty to talk about.

Renly had particularly mentioned Hugh's talent as a singer, with his husky voice bringing blues songs to life, making them feel like old friends. They lost track of time while chatting.

Once inside the Nokia Theatre, Hugh, being a well-known actor, was seated near the front, while Renly, a newcomer, found his seat further back in the middle.

After sitting down, Renly tore off the name tag on his seat. Rami, who was sitting to his right, leaned over and joked, "Were you flirting with someone? You're late!"

James, who was on Rami's other side, leaned in with an expectant look. Renly chuckled and replied, "I was chatting with Sophia. How's that?" James rolled his eyes, muttering something about "handsome guys having all the luck," clearly frustrated that his attempt to talk to Sophia hadn't gone well.

Rami was momentarily stunned, unsure if Renly was joking. Renly smiled and gestured toward the front, "The ceremony is starting."

Turning his head, he greeted Merritt Johnson, the writer of the TV movie "Temple Grandin," who was sitting to his left. Merritt nodded back politely, and they both turned their attention to the front as the lights dimmed and the ceremony began.

Watching an awards ceremony is always interesting, partly because of the suspense of the winners, partly because of observing the reactions of the attendees, and of course, the humor—making the host's role crucial. Jimmy Fallon, this year's host, was doing an excellent job. The live tension and excitement were much more intense than watching it on TV, even if the award had nothing to do with oneself.

The competition for Best Actor in a Drama Series was fierce. Hugh Laurie, nominated for the fifth time, lost again, the third time to Bryan Cranston, who won for "Breaking Bad," achieving a three-peat as Emmy's Best Actor. Renly couldn't help but feel sorry for Hugh.

Also defeated were Michael C. Hall from "Dexter" and Jon Hamm from "Mad Men"—both frequent nominees facing tough competition.

Even the announcement of just one award brought a rollercoaster of emotions, mixing joy and disappointment for everyone present.

In the comedy series category, Alec Baldwin, who had won the previous two years for "30 Rock," was the favorite again. However, he faced strong competition from Matthew Morrison of "Glee" and Jim Parsons of "The Big Bang Theory." In the end, Jim Parsons won, not only claiming his first Emmy but also preventing Alec's potential three-peat, while Steve Carell from "The Office" went home empty-handed for the fifth time, much like Hugh Laurie.

The Emmy Awards tonight were certainly thrilling. The drama series competition revolved around "Mad Men," "Breaking Bad," "Dexter," "The Good Wife," and "Damages," while the comedy series battle was shaken up by the arrival of "Modern Family," disrupting the dominance of shows like "30 Rock," "The Big Bang Theory," "Glee," and "The Office."

Before they knew it, the ceremony was halfway through. Even if it wasn't exactly nail-biting, it was still full of ups and downs, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats.

During the intermission, Renly and his friends Rami and James headed to the restroom together. Rami curiously asked, "Which award do you think was the most regrettable?"

Renly immediately replied, "Hugh Laurie, definitely."

"But I think Bryan Cranston is really outstanding!" James argued.

"Of course, no one can deny that," Renly nodded in agreement. "But isn't there anyone else who deserves recognition? Hugh Laurie deserves an Emmy." This was a sincere observation, not just because of their earlier conversation.

Renly noticed Rami giving him a look, and when he turned around, he saw Michael C. Hall standing nearby, smiling playfully. "Go on, keep talking. I'm not offended," Michael said.

The subtle sarcasm made James and Rami uncomfortable, but Renly remained calm and responded, "Everyone only gets one vote, and each award only has one winner. That's what makes them so valuable, right?"

Without apologizing or explaining, he candidly stuck to his point, making Michael laugh instead of getting angry. Renly extended his hand, "Besides, I'm just a spectator without a vote." So, their conversation had no bearing on the results.

Michael laughed heartily and shook Renly's hand, joking, "Clever guy."

After Michael left, the three of them wiped their foreheads in relief, Renly included. "Is this what it feels like to get caught gossiping in 'Gossip Girl'?" he mused, making everyone around laugh. Someone even teased, "If you want to gossip, turn left at the next door." That was the ladies' restroom.

Rami and James both turned and flipped off the source of the voice, causing another round of laughter.

Attending such an event as an outsider had its drawbacks—everyone wanted to be in the running for an award—but it also had its own charm. The excitement, the anger, the disappointment, the thrill, the emotions painted a different picture of the awards ceremony.

For Renly, this was a new experience. Not only had he never attended such parties in his previous life, but the excitement and thrill of winning a nomination, the emotional rollercoaster, were all new to him. It was his first time participating in the glitz and glamour of the awards scene, making everything feel dynamic, stimulating, vivid, and bright. Whether as a participant or a spectator, whether winning or losing, every perspective offered a unique view of the awards ceremony.

After the intermission, the awards for miniseries and TV movies began. This year's competition was fierce, mainly between "You Don't Know Jack" and "Temple Grandin."

The former, directed by Barry Levinson of "Rain Man" fame, had a star-studded cast including Al Pacino, John Goodman, and Susan Sarandon, and was highly favored to sweep the awards.

The latter, a biographical film directed by Mick Jackson, had also garnered widespread acclaim. Its cast, featuring Claire Danes, David Strathairn, and Julia Ormond, was expected to take home several awards.

The results proved the predictions right, as "Temple Grandin" won in both supporting actor categories, defeating major contenders from "You Don't Know Jack." Claire Danes also won Best Actress, continuing the film's strong performance.

"You Don't Know Jack" suffered significant losses despite high expectations. When it was time to announce Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie, Al Pacino was the favorite, having been highly praised for his role. However, the competition was tough, especially from Jeff Bridges, who had recently won an Oscar for "Crazy Heart" and was now nominated for "A Dog Year."

Given "You Don't Know Jack's" previous losses, the suspense was palpable.

---

200 ps - 1 bonus chapter