The 2024 Emmys started on an emotional note as host Anthony Anderson introduced beloved actor Christina Applegate to present the first award of the night. In 2021, the beloved star of Samantha Who?, Dead to Me, Married with Children, and Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead (among many others) was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and retired from acting. As the first few familiar notes of the Married with Children theme song began to play, the Emmy audience welcomed the venerable star with a well-deserved standing ovation –– one that seemingly took Applegate by surprise.

“Thank you so much,” Christina said while fighting back tears. “You’re totally shaming me… by standing up.” The audience, as you can imagine, loved that joke. After the laughs died down, Applegate received yet another ovation after mentioning Married with Children. The supportive crowd again laughed, to which Applegate responded, “We don’t have to applaud every time I do something.”

Applegate is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress for her performance on Netflix’s Dead to Me.

More to come…

The 2024 Emmy Awards are airing live on FOX.