Inside the 2017 TCA Awards: Host Kristin Chenoweth Charms, Sings Duet With Sterling K Brown

The 2017 TCA Awards are all handed out, but there was more to see Saturday than just some trophy presentations. And we’re not just referring to the prime rib carving station.

TheWrap was in attendance at the Beverly Hilton’s International Ballroom, where Kristin Chenoweth emceed the annual summer event. Here’s what else we witnessed:

We’re All Winners!
Well, not really — but these people and shows sure are. That hyperlink goes to the complete winners list, which you can also access via the below “Also Read.” This section’s heading is particularly fitting because on this non-televised awards show, pretty much only the winners — who have been given notice — show up.

Also Read: TCA Awards: The Complete Winners List

Chenoweth Charms
The 33rd annual TCA Awards host sang, joked and played dress-up to keep us entertained throughout the evening. The Broadway and screen star also suggested a completely new name for our awards: The Chennys. We’ll see if that sticks around for next year.

Let’s Duet
“This Is Us” star Sterling K. Brown was called up on stage during Chenoweth’s monologue, when two duo belted out “For Good” from her “Wicked” musical. Dude can hit notes, you guys. Yes, fellas, the world is unfair.

We Have a Snapchat Filter!
Apparently, the TCA Awards now comes complete with its own Snapchat Filter, per the flyers laid out on each table. This writer still doesn’t know what that exactly means, but it probably includes fake dog ears and noses. At least we also had an open bar.

Also Read: Jill Soloway Cites 'SNL' Sketch 'It's Pat' as 'Awful Piece of Anti-Trans Propaganda'

But “Seinfeld” Has No Seinfeld
Former NBC network executive Warren Littlefield was in attendance to accept this year’s Heritage Award for “Seinfeld.” Or maybe he was really in the house for all those “Handmaid’s Tale” trophies, and this thing just worked out. Either way.

Noticeably absent for the particularly predetermined award were Jerry Seinfeld and co-creator Larry David. TheWrap was told that the TCA asked the duo to at least make a “Thank You” video for the occasion, but those requests were declined. At least we got a highlight reel from the classic comedy to lead Littlefield in.

The Queen “of Queens” Gets Night’s First Trophy – and Emotional
Docuseries “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath” took home the evening’s initial award, and the A&E show’s titular star struck a very serious tone in her acceptance speech. An emotional Remini dedicated her award to those who stand up to bullies. She then thanked the critics for proving Scientology wrong, in terms of the church’s declaration that the former “King of Queens” star would be nothing in Hollywood after defecting.

Also Read: YouTube Content Boss: I Don't Know 'What Percentage of People...Think We're a Porn Site'

“Speechless” Showrunner Slays Doc McStuffins
Not the children’s show, mind you, but the actual titular 6-year-old pediatrician.There were so many good jokes in this takedown, we won’t even risk butchering them in written form. If you haven’t watched the family friendly ABC sitcom, perhaps its time to give it a chance.

“Speechless” and “Doc McStuffins” were both nominated for best in Youth Programming.

Reese Witherspoon Makes a Pretty Good Aussie
While accepting the Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials award for HBO’s “Big Little Lies,” Witherspoon read a note from show standout Nicole Kidman, who we were told is back home shooting “Aquaman.” The “Legally Blonde” alum did it all in a pretty terrific Australian accent, showing that she’s down with the Down Under drawl.

Emmy Nominations 2017: Snubs and Surprises, From 'Transparent' to 'The Americans' (Photos)

The 2017 Emmy nominations were announced Thursday morning, and as always, there were snubs and surprises aplenty.
Snub: "Transparent"
Jill Soloway's Amazon series earned a total of seven nominations this year, but was shut out of the Outstanding Comedy Series category for the first time in its three-season run.
Amazon
Surprise: "Stranger Things"
There was no shortage of hype for the Duffer Brothers' '80s nostalgia piece when it premiered last summer, and the Netflix drama became one of five freshman series to crack the Outstanding Drama Series category, besting veteran nominees including "Orange Is the New Black," "The Americans" and "Homeland."
Netflix
Snub: "The Americans"
FX's critically acclaimed "The Americans" finally cracked the Emmy nominations for the first time last year, and it earned two nominations for stars Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell this time around, but the spy drama was noticeably absent from this year's Outstanding Drama Series nominees.
FX
Surprise: Pamela Adlon, "Bettter Things"
Pamela Adlon, the star and creator of FX's "Better Things" came out of nowhere to make the list of nominees for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, besting "Insecure's" Issa Rae, "Girls'" Lena Dunham and "I Love Dick's" Kathryn Hahn, among others.
FX
Snub: Oprah Winfrey, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks"
The Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie was arguably this year's most competitive category, meaning someone was bound to be snubbed. With a wealth of deserving actresses for voters to choose from, Oprah Winfrey went unrecognized for her role in the HBO film "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks."
HBO
Surprise: Vanessa Bayer, Leslie Jones, "Saturday Night Live"
Bayer and Jones join last year's winner Kate McKinnon as nominees for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, making a full half of the nominees in the category for "SNL." The late-night sketch series tied HBO's "Westworld" for the series with the most nods this year with 22.
NBC
Snub: Rami Malek, "Mr. Robot"
Last year's Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Rami Malek went un-nominated this year, meaning both of last year's winners in the drama lead categories are absent this time around, given "Orphan Black" star Tatiana Maslany's ineligibility.
USA
Surprise: Zach Galifianakis, "Baskets"
Following Louie Anderson's win for Supporting Actor in a Comedy, FX's "Baskets" earned two nods for its second season. Both Anderson and lead Zach Galifianakis were recognized in their respective categories.
FX
Snub: Claire Danes, "Homeland"
"Homeland" and its lead Claire Danes were both missing from Drama Series and Lead Actress categories this year after years of consecutive nominations and previous wins.
Showtime
Snub: "The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon"
In a year where late-night was boosted by Trump-mania, NBC's inoffensive "The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon" both struggled in the ratings and failed to earn a Variety Talk Series nomination, supplanted by TBS' "Full Frontal With Samantha Bee" and CBS's "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert."
NBC
Surprise: "RuPaul's Drag Race"
Coming off a move to VH1 and its highest-rated season yet, "RuPaul's Drag Race" earned a total of seven nominations at this year's Emmys, in addition to one for its streaming-only aftershow "Untucked." Host RuPaul Charles earned his second nod after taking home the trophy last year.
VH1
Snub: Tom Bergeron, "Dancing With the Stars"
Tom Bergeron's absence from the reality host category marks the first time in its 10-year history that the category will go without the "Dancing With the Stars" host. The ABC competition show also failed to score a series nod for the first time since 2006, ending an 11-year run.
ABC