With 22 total nominations, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story set the stage for a massive sweep at the 2016 Emmy Awards. And true to form, stars Sarah Paulson and Sterling K. Brown took the trophies for the Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie and Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie categories respectively. Which is fantastic news since their characters’ real-life counter parts, O.J. Simpson prosecution lawyers Marcia Clark and Chris Darden, famously didn’t win their trial.
Paulson spoke to this notion directly when she thanked Clark, her Emmy Awards plus one, during her acceptance speech.
“The more I learned about the real Marcia Clark — not the two dimensional cardboard cutout I saw on the news, but the complicated, whip-smart, giant-hearted mother of two who woke up every day, put both feet on the floor and dedicated herself to righting an unconscionable wrong: the loss of two innocents, Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown — the more I had to recognize that I, along with the rest of the world, have been superficial and careless with my judgment. And I’m glad to be able to stand here today in front of everyone and tell you, I’m sorry.”
As for Brown, his acceptance speech was much shorter and less flashy than his prosecutorial counterpart’s.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a big win for The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story without at least one notch on the defense team’s belt. Courtney B. Vance won Best Actor in a Limited Series for his work as Johnnie Cochran, a delivered an appropriately memorable speech.
