Though plenty of surprise wins helped keep things interesting for die-hard Emmy fans, this year's show didn't feature enough personality, uniformity, or orchestrated highlights - you know, the things a host typically provides.

In an age of tired and ratings declining awards shows, the Emmys needed to slay on Fox tonight. Instead, like the Wall that protected the icy northern border of what was once the Seven Kingdoms on Game Of Thrones, the whole thing came tumbling down.

While it might not have been the smoothest or the most cohesive night of TV awards, the 2019 Emmys were a largely enjoyable affair. A lot of that had to do with the big wins, of course, along with the more emotional speeches.

This is all to say that despite an indifferently run, often incoherent telecast, the Television Academy produced a surprising, daring, and contemporary array of winners.

What's revealed is that no one's sure what works at the moment. There's more good TV (broadly defined) than ever, but it's too multifarious, too out of control, for the old awards-show format, and no one's found the answer yet.

At this point, the major networks televising the Emmys is a little like coaching a youth soccer team when your kids aren't playing. Small wonder Fox turned in a lackluster presentation.