TV

Emmys 2020 ratings: Awards viewership sinks to all-time low

Sunday’s virtual 2020 Emmy Awards were also a virtual loser for ABC.

An average audience of 5.1 million viewers watched the socially distant ceremony, down from last year’s already record low of 6.9 million, according to TV Line. With few surprises — save for “Euphoria’s” Zendaya’s shocking upset in the Best Actress in a Drama category — and an uneven array of best and worst moments, returning host Jimmy Kimmel and the pandemic-sidelined virtual victors were unable to stop the ratings slide from 2019. It seems the cardboard cutouts on hand for Kimmel’s opening monologue may have been paying more attention than the folks who actually tuned in.

The coronavirus-hindered “Pandemmies” ceremony did feature some special moments for the viewers who did watch. The standout spotlights included a touching series-finale sweep of the big comedy awards by the cast of “Schitt’s Creek.” Other big winners included HBO’s “Succession” — which landed the top writing, directing and actor trophies — and “Watchmen” star and 2019 Best Supporting Actress Oscar winner Regina King (“If Beale Street Could Talk”), who accepted her fourth Emmy statue, this one for Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Television Movie.

The Emmys were the second awards to post a ratings drop this year. The hot-mess 2020 VMAs — the first live ceremony held during the coronavirus pandemic — nabbed just 6.4 million viewers last month.

Eugene and Daniel Levy and the rest of the cast accepted their multiple Emmys 2020 wins from Toronto.
Eugene and Daniel Levy and the rest of the cast accepted their multiple Emmys 2020 wins from Toronto.ABC