SAG Awards shines spotlight on actors and politics alike
A hashtag sign for the 23rd Screen Actors Guild Awards was posted on a tree to encourage connections between actors at the event and viewers at home. The SAG Awards is an annual event where actors and actresses come together to celebrate their work on-screen.
February 8, 2017
The 23rd Screen Actors Guild Awards shined a light on talented actors from some of our favorite shows for their excellent work. However, the night was slightly overshadowed by several acceptance speeches bearing a political message. Award winners used the added spotlight to respond to President Donald Trump’s recent immigration ban.
“Because I love this country, I am horrified by its blemishes, and this immigrant ban is a blemish and it is un-American,” actress and winner for Outstanding Performance Julia Louis-Dreyfus said.
As for the awards themselves, the fairly new show, “Stranger Things”, won Best Cast in a Television Series. The Netflix original series, which centers around a group of young boys trying to find their friend who was abducted by a monster-type creature, has found success among people of all ages.
David Harbour, an actor in “Stranger Things,” took the stage yelling, “this is unreal.” He then thanked Netflix and the selection committee before turning his acceptance speech toward politics. “Whatever you think politically, watch the show,” he said, “I think you’ll be moved.”
Other big winners included William H. Macy who won Best Male Actor in a TV Comedy Series for his performances on ABC’s “Shameless.” Another Netflix original series, “Orange is the New Black,” took home the award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy.
The movie, “Hidden Figures”, won Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. This movie revolves around women mathematicians who served a serious role in National Aeronautics and Space Administration during the early years of the United States space program.
After such a successful and revolutionary year in the film and television world, many people consider the SAG awards a warm up for the Oscar Academy Awards. The Oscars will air Feb. 26 at 8:30 p.m. on NBC.
