Webbys From Home
Empire secured comedian Patton Oswalt to host the WebbysFrom Home on May 19, 2020. With Covid-19 still keeping people at home,the Webbys decided not to call the event the 24th Annual WebbyAwards, but instead “Webbys From Home”. Patton opened the show with hilarious opening monologue videotapedin his home garden, telling the at-home audience to get comfortable in the“black sweatpants you’ve been wearing for the past month” and to enjoy anice glass of “pinot bleachio” during the show.
The Webbys From Home then continued in the tradition of theusual live show, with an incredible array of celebrities, luminaries, and webpersonalities taking turns honoring the best of the internet over the pastyear. Michelle Obama presented a Webby Special Achievement Award toD-Nice, and Demi Lovato presented one to Miley Cyrus. Comedian JudahFriedlander presented Tom Hanks with an Award for his work on #nicetweets,and everyone’s favorite doctor, Dr. Anthony Fauci, presented to Avi Schiffmann as the2020 Webby Person of the Year for the Covid-19 tracking device and website theyoung man brought to the internet (over 600 million visitors sofar!). Schiffmann honored the Webbys tradition of sticking to a 5-wordacceptance speech, stating, “You can learn anything online”. When EllenDegeneres was honored for her "Heads Up” online video game she quipped “Wow,what a wonderful Webby Award!”. Others who appeared on the show as presentersand winners included Trevor Noah, James Corden, FKA Twigs, John Krasinski, JillScott, and even Sesame Street’s lovable green icon, Oscar the Grouch.
As always, the Webbys also had several poignant momentsalong with the lighter ones, and honored several groups that they deemed“Covid-19 Heroes” including, Shopping Angels, Nextstrain.org, Invisible Hands, Black FairyGodmother, and The Swab Squad. To see all of the above moments andmore, visit https://webbysfromhome.com
Empire has been honored to produce the previous 15 liveWebby Awards programs with appearances by Prince, Anna Wintour, David Bowie,Jerry Seinfeld, Ben Stiller, Lisa Kudrow, David Letterman, Sarah Silverman,Gillian Anderson, and dozens more, and to have contracted Patton Oswalt forthis year’s special Webbys From Home presentation.
Guests received their first taste of technological innovation at registration, where they were welcomed by name on a reactive LED screen installation covering the full width of the entry wall. A large lunch café was created with a décor scheme that incorporated custom-built, ceiling-high steel LED frames draped with foliage to create smaller, intimate restaurant-style spaces that displayed both technology and nature.
A series of breakout sessions presented content targeted to attendees’ varied interests, while imagery displayed throughout the venue showcased real-life applications of how products designed to empower developers help to unleash the power of data and reimagine possibilities that will improve our world.
Every element of Microsoft Connect(); from registration, breakfast and keynote, to lunch and evening cocktails, were custom-designed to communicate exacting brand messaging and to deliver a high-touch guest experience to this important audience. The keynote and breakout sessions were livestreamed through an onsite studio built for this purpose and content was watched online by millions around the world.
Empire is proud to collaborate with Microsoft on this annual, top-tier business communication event.
To view excerpts of Connect(); 2017, please visit https://www.microsoft.com/connectevent
