James Earl Jones, Martin Mull, Ryan O'Neal and Phil Donahue were among the television personalities honored during the “In Memoriam” segment of the 76th Emmy Awards on Sunday.
Singer and rapper Jelly Roll performed his song “I Am Not Okay” with a small live orchestra as images of numerous actors, producers, writers and others who worked in the television industry appeared on a screen behind him.
“I think music is therapeutic. I think music can heal,” the artist, who wore an all-black ensemble, said before the segment. “I also think storytelling is just as cathartic. I hope this song can act as a moment of healing for those who are mourning the storytellers we’ve lost this year.”
“If you’re feeling lost or alone tonight, I want you to know that it’s okay to not always be okay,” she said.
Honorees included Shannen Doherty, Richard Simmons, Louis Gossett Jr., Gena Rowlands, Carl Weathers, Donald Sutherland, Chance Perdomo, Peter Marshall and producer Paula Weinstein. Shelley Duvall and Joe Flaherty were two of the most notable omissions from the tribute. Though best known for her films, Duvall is a two-time Emmy nominee and produced children’s television shows, including “Faerie Tale Theatre.” Flaherty is a two-time Emmy winner and starred in and wrote the Canadian comedy show “SCTV.”
Bob Newhart, who died in July, received a special tribute from Jimmy Kimmel. “He didn’t have reach, he didn’t need to have it,” Kimmel said before joking, “Bob had what very few comedians have, especially these days: a degree in accounting.”
He added: “Bob was a humble and politely funny man. He got his first Emmy nomination in 1962 and didn’t win another until 2013, 51 years later.” Joking that the difference was a “great lesson,” he quipped of Jon Stewart, the host of “The Daily Show,” who triumphed over Kimmel in the talk show category: “Jon Stewart, you should be ashamed of yourself.”
