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The SAG Awards Show The Oscars How It's Done

The show made up for all of the tension currently present in Hollywood after the #OscarsSoWhite controversy. The winners were not given a chance to shine at previous award shows this season, but made sure to make the most out of their time in the spotlight.
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 30: Actor Idris Elba, winner of Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for 'Beasts of No Nation,' and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for 'Luther,' poses in the press room at the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 30, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Dan MacMedan/WireImage)
Dan MacMedan via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 30: Actor Idris Elba, winner of Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for 'Beasts of No Nation,' and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for 'Luther,' poses in the press room at the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 30, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Dan MacMedan/WireImage)

If you have been craving diversity this award season, the 2016 Screen Actors Guild Awards delivered. Shows, actors and actresses that represent and communicate important things that are not nearly talked about enough were recognized this past weekend. I wouldn't have it any other way.

I feel like the show made up for all of the tension currently present in Hollywood after the #OscarsSoWhite controversy. The winners were not given a chance to shine at previous award shows this season, but made sure to make the most out of their time in the spotlight. Who are these wonderful people and shows?

Uzo Aduba (Outstanding Female Actor Comedy Series), Orange Is The New Black (Outstanding Ensemble Comedy Series), Jeffrey Tambor (Transparent), Idris Elba (Outstanding Male Actor Supporting Role - Beasts of No Nation/ Outstanding Male Actor TV Movie or Miniseries - Luther), Viola Davis (Outstanding Female Actor Drama Series for How to Get Away With Murder), and Queen Latifah (Outstanding Female Actor TV Movie or Miniseries for Bessie) were the shining stars.

Viola Davis celebrates her SAG Award. Photo credit: Getty

Some of my favourite speeches came from the people above. They all gave words of encouragement to aspiring actors and actresses and mentioned the issue of diversity. Idris Elba proudly said, "Welcome to diverse TV".

The TV categories made the #OscarsSoWhite supporters proud, while the film categories failed aside from giving a SAG to Idris Elba for his work in Beasts of No Nation. Though Straight Outta Compton and Beasts of No Nation were both nominated for Outstanding Performance Cast Motion Picture, they lost to Spotlight. It looks like the Oscars race is going to be between The Revenant and Spotlight, I'm obviously rooting for Leo, but that's beside the point of writing this article.

My point is that more award shows should follow in the footsteps of the 2016 SAG Awards and at the very least, have a diverse list of nominees. It is known that not everyone is a winner, but everyone is worth being acknowledged.

Now to lighten the mood a tad while you're deep in thought about changing the way Hollywood thinks; a few of my favourite moments of the night: Carol Burnett received a SAG Lifetime Achievement Award (best and ONLY Ms. Hannigan in my opinion), Canadian Jacob Tremblay killed us all with cuteness AGAIN, and Leo freaking DiCaprio is heading towards his well-deserved first Oscar win (fingers and toes are crossed after he won a SAG for Outstanding Male Actor Lead Role).

Let the Oscars countdown begin.

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