How Award Ceremonies Are Adjusting to The COVID-19 Guidelines

Graphic by Abby Miller

As Hollywood hits the red carpet for Award Season, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the ceremonies to part from their traditional ways. 

Instead of being postponed, 2020 award ceremonies are establishing new protocols that require performers and presenters to get tested for the coronavirus, pre-record segments, and practice social distancing on the red carpet.

In August, the MTV VMA Awards was the first award show to go “live” during the pandemic. However most performances and speeches were pre-recorded on various sound stages in New York. Keke Palmer hosted the event and opened the show from what appeared to be a digitally created setting of Manhattan with animated audience members standing on balconies. During each segment, a computer-generated applause blocked out the awkward silence due to the lack of an in-house audience. 

“When something goes wrong, I just say '2020,’” Palmer said jokingly about the circumstances of this year's ceremony. 

In her opening monologue, Palmer touched on everything that had happened so far in 2020 including the coronavirus, global outcry for racial injustice and the Kenosha shooting that occurred just days before the ceremony.

“It’s our time to be the change we want to see,” Palmer said. “We need to come together and music, music, has that power.”

The Weeknd opened the night, performing his popular song “Blinding Lights” from his newest album. The performance was taped from the Edge SkyDeck in New York City’s Hudson Yards with a limited crew. The Weeknd performed solo with no backup dancers; he also completed hair and makeup before arriving at the location.

Later on, Lady Gaga executed a “mask on” performance of her songs “Chromatica” and “Rain on Me.” Gaga, along with Ariana Grande and several backup dancers, kept their masks on for the duration of the nine minute performance. Upon receiving the TriCon Award, Gaga took the opportunity to stress the importance of wearing a mask.

“Stay safe, speak your mind, and I may sound like a broken record, but wear a mask. It’s a sign of respect,” Gaga said.

Although the pandemic changed what would have been another traditional awards season, the shows have benefited in some ways from not having an unpredictable live audience, specifically being able to shoot multiple takes. Additionally, there’s more creative ability in terms of utilizing green screens and camera angles.

This year's Emmy Awards also made several adaptations due to the COVID-19. Jimmy Kimmel hosted the ceremony and served as comic relief throughout the night. At several points he was seen using an Emmy as a hand sanitizer dispenser and sprayed disinfectant on the award envelopes. 

The show had no red carpet, which meant less fun for the viewers at home who relish in the glamour and interviews the stars give before the ceremony. This year’s Emmy winners gave their acceptance speeches remotely but appeared fully dressed in formal, red carpet attire. It was a “lowkey” event compared to Emmys in the past, but celebrities celebrated by hosting their own parties with masked friends and family in the background.

Actor and producer Dan Levy, whose show, “Schitt's Creek” swept the night in the comedy categories, appeared stunned, winning all nine Emmys that they’d been nominated for. Levy, along with several of his cast-mates, had their own party complete with champagne and upscale decorations. Levy found the Emmys particularly different this year, having lost the ability to be in the same room with all the nominees. 

“Oh, yeah, it’s totally weird. And then in the back of your mind, you’re like, ‘Well, so this is going out across the world, I guess? Okay. All right. Try not to keep that in mind.’” Levy told Vulture in an interview after the events had wrapped, “And then watching the show, it actually did this really beautiful job of connecting everybody, which was both a strange and quite sweet way of depicting our current times.”

With the pandemic continuing to cancel, postpone or change many events, the VMAs and Emmys serve as a prelude to the many other award ceremonies to be held in early 2021. With each new oddity that comes from the world’s present state, the only natural response may be, “2020.”