Webbys From Home

Empire secured comedian Patton Oswalt to host the Webbys From Home on May 19, 2020. With Covid-19 still keeping people at home, the Webbys decided not to call the event the 24th Annual Webby Awards, but instead “Webbys From Home”. Patton opened the show with hilarious opening monologue videotaped in his home garden. The Webbys From Home continued in the tradition of the usual live show, with an incredible array of celebrities, luminaries, and web personalities taking turns honoring the best of the internet over the past year. Michelle Obama presented a Webby Special Achievement Award to D-Nice, and Demi Lovato presented one to Miley Cyrus. Comedian Judah Friedlander presented Tom Hanks with an Award for his work on #nicetweets, and everyone’s favorite doctor, Dr. Fauci, presented to Avi Schiffmann as the 2020 Webby Person of the Year for the Covid-19 tracking device and website the young man brought to the internet. Schiffmann honored the Webbys tradition of sticking to a 5-word acceptance speech, stating, “You can learn anything online”. When Ellen Degeneres was honored for her "Heads Up” online video game she quipped “Wow, what a wonderful Webby Award!”. Others who appeared on the show as presenters and winners included Trevor Noah, James Corden, FKA Twigs, John Krasinski, Jill Scott, and even Sesame Street’s Oscar the Grouch. Empire has been honored to produce the previous 15 live Webby Awards and to have contracted Patton Oswalt for this year’s special Webbys From Home.