“I feel like Sarah McLachlan”

“I’m not very well versed in sincerity as a Brit and as a comedian, so I didn’t want to be upset,” the comedian added in the press room.

John Oliver’s 2024 Emmy Awards speech unintentionally turned into an ASPCA commercial.

The actor and the Last week tonight The team continued its awards streak at Sunday’s ceremony, once again taking home the win for Best Scripted Variety Series and surpassing Saturday night liveDelivering the speech on behalf of the crew, Oliver thanked his recently deceased puppy and joked that he felt like Sarah McLachlan after the playoff music disrupted his remarks.

“We have the most amazing dog,” Oliver said. “She was at our wedding, she helped us through the pandemic, she was there for us during our pregnancies.”

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As the music began, the comedian joked that it was the “perfect musical choice” as he and his family recently had to say goodbye to the pup. “I feel like Sarah McLachlan right now,” he said. “She was an amazing dog. This isn’t just for her, this is for all dogs. They all deserve a treat.”

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In his speech, Oliver also thanked his wife and kids, and of course HBO for not “canceling us for the last decade.” “It was never a guarantee,” he said. “I appreciate it. Please keep going.”

In the press room, Oliver spoke about being sidelined while remembering his pup, admitting he felt “a bit of relief because I’m not very good at sincerity as a Brit and as a comedian, so I didn’t want to get upset. I’m very grateful that they gave me a parachute. We had a great dog and we had to say goodbye to him this week.”

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He also spoke about the show’s delicate balance of humor and seriousness, especially as the presidential election approaches. “I think when we’re at our most serious, we’re probably about to do the dumbest thing you can imagine,” he said. “We make sure we have that tripwire at our disposal… It’s the mix of the two that’s the most fun and the most satisfying for us. If we ever do something really dark, we’ll do something completely childish.”

Speaking of the presidential election, “I don’t know” who’s going to win, Oliver said. “I think it depends. Over the last decade, we’ve slowly tried to keep our show separate from partisan politics. As for who wins, that’s where the concern lies. I think it’s going to be very, very close, and one candidate is not going to accept a loss, is not going to mention his name. It’s going to be intense over the next couple of months. We’re trying to make these major topics relatively timeless.”

The 2024 Emmy Awards will be broadcast live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Watch Oliver’s tribute above.

With additional reporting by Sydney Bucksbaum.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.