Entertainment
Time Travel to the 2004 Emmys & Marvel at How Much Has Changed — PHOTOS
Summer is over and new shows are slowly coming back to our televisions, which can only mean one thing: the 2014 Emmys are coming! The awards show has become only more exciting in recent years, with great television shows facing off in all categories, and this year, the Emmys finally found a good host: Seth Meyers. (Although, he'll never be as good as Tina Fey and Amy Poehler... never!)
But the 2004 awards a decade ago were a world apart. Not only did the Emmys feature television shows that have now become extinct — Sex and the City, The Sopranos, Scrubs, Will and Grace, The West Wing, The O.C., Frasier, The Practice, Arrested Development (in an sense) — but the early 2000's had an entirely different sensibility. And the Emmys hadn't exactly figured out how to work well as an awards show just yet. Don't believe it? Check out these photos from a different moment in time.
Host... Garry Shandling?
Most of the hosts of the Emmys are already household names… but in 2004, Shandling’s name wasn’t exactly ringing through the households of America. But the 2004 Emmy host sure has a lot of experience winning them: the writer and comedian was nominated multiple times for his shows It’s Garry Shandling’s Show and The Larry Sanders Show.
Meryl Streep
Because no matter what year it is, it’s not an awards show until Meryl Streep gets one (in 2004, it was for her role in the HBO miniseries Angels in America).
Sharon Stone and William Shatner
An iridescent lavender dress with a plunging neckline? So 2004… as is William Shatner appearing in anything that’s not a Priceline commercial.
Elaine Stritch
One of the few things from 2004 we wish could see again in 2014: Elaine Stritch, RIP. Here, she’s accepting an award for Elaine Stritch: At Liberty.
Half the Cast of 'The O.C.'
The early 2000’s memories! Ryan had barely been welcomed to the O.C. (bitch) in 2004, but already the cast was presenting at the Emmys.
Jon Stewart
Many of the shows at the 2004 Emmys have come and gone, but The Daily Show with Jon Stewart will seemingly always be a constant presence at the awards show.
'The Sopranos'
Back in 2004, The Sopranos finally dominated all the Emmy categories and won “Best Drama,” so they got… confetti! Whee!
'Arrested Development'
Arrested Development was critically acclaimed right out of the gate: it won both Directing and Writing awards for its pilot episode.
Amber Tamblyn and Zach Braff
The indie darlings of the early 2000’s… this was just after Garden State, after all. Oh Zach Braff, one day you’ll figure out what to do with your hair.
Debra Messing and Eric McCormack
It’s 2004 and sexless gay stereotypes are still considered funny, so that can only mean one thing: Will and Grace is on!
Donald Trump and Simon Cowell
American Idol was still popular and The Apprentice was in its first season, so it was not out of the question for Donald Trump and Simon Cowell to present an award at the Emmys.
Sarah Jessica Parker
This was at the end of Sex and the City’s run on HBO, so leading ladies Sarah Jessica Parker and Cynthia Nixon both left with awards.
Jon Cryer and Charlie Sheen
This was after dads across America discovered their love for Two and a Half Men and before America discovered its unadulterated hatred for Charlie Sheen… hence, Charlie Sheen on stage presenting at an awards show, something that would be unheard of today. 2004 was an interesting time.
