Ally McBeal, Grey’s Anatomy, Cheers, Martin and The Sopranos were among the beloved television shows celebrated with cast reunions at the 2023 Emmys ceremony.
In honor of the Primetime Emmy Awards marking its 75th anniversary, castmembers from a number of notable series reunited to present awards at the ceremony that was held Monday at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. This included re-created sets for many of the celebrated shows.
Among the moments gathering buzz was a reunion for Ally McBeal stars Calista Flockhart, Greg Germann, Peter MacNicol, and Gil Bellows. The performers emerged from the show’s bathroom set to dance to “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” by Barry White.
Also notable was Grey’s Anatomy gathering current and former stars Ellen Pompeo, James Pickens Jr. and Chandra Wilson with Katherine Heigl and Justin Chambers. “Yes, there have been some changes over the years, but the one thing that has remained a constant is the incredible fan base,” Heigl told the adoring crowd.
The Martin cast gathered on the show’s re-created set, where Carl Anthony Payne II seemed confused about the reason for the bit. “We’re getting our Emmy tonight,” said an enthusiastic Payne, leading his fellow series alums — Tisha Campbell, Tichina Arnold and Martin Lawrence — to acknowledge that the Fox sitcom was never nominated for the award during its five-season run.
Lawrence shared, “I’m just excited to be here on the Emmys stage with this tremendous cast of the Martin show.”
Cheers stars Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer, John Ratzenberger and George Wendt gathered at a version of the show’s iconic bar. “Being together brings back some great memories of a show we’re all very proud of,” said Grammer, who reprised his Cheers role of Frasier Crane for last year’s Frasier revival on Paramount+.
To present the Emmy for best live variety special, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler were seated at a set based on Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” desk, where the pair once co-hosted the NBC sketch show’s parody news segment. While announcing the nominees, Fey quipped that Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime show was “the concert so good, it got us all pregnant.” In mentioning eventual winner Elton John — who reached EGOT status with his victory — Poehler joked, “I cant speak for Elton, but EGOT to be excited for that.”
Toward the end of the ceremony, Natasha Lyonne and Tracee Ellis Ross joined host Anthony Anderson for a tribute to the memorable 1952 I Love Lucy episode “Job Switching.” Lyonne and Ross conjured up memories of Lucy and Ethel as they were in over their heads with a gig at a chocolate factory.
Also shouting out their shows were The Sopranos’ Lorraine Bracco and Michael Imperioli; Two and a Half Men’s Holland Taylor and Jon Cryer; Community’s Joel McHale and Ken Jeong; Ted Lasso’s Juno Temple and Brett Goldstein; It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, Kaitlin Olson and Danny DeVito; Mad Men‘s Jon Hamm and The Arsenio Hall Show host Arsenio Hall.
Additionally, All in the Family’s Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers paid tribute to series producer Norman Lear before leading into the In Memoriam segment.
To present Succession with the best drama prize for the final Emmy of the evening, Game of Thrones alum Peter Dinklage stood next to a version of the show’s famed Iron Throne.
American Horror Story: Murder House stars Connie Britton and Dylan McDermott were also set to reunite at Monday’s ceremony, but Britton’s rep tells The Hollywood Reporter that she had to travel back to New York early for production on Zero Day due to a snowstorm forecasted to hit the East Coast.
McDermott still took to the stage to present the award for best actor in a limited or anthology series or TV movie, which went to Steven Yeun for Beef.
Click here for the full list of winners from the 2023 Emmys, which took place Monday at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles with host Anthony Anderson.