Sofia Vergara has officially become a modern day, brunette, Colombian Marilyn Monroe after playing a curvaceous bimbo during a bizarre skit at the Emmys.
The Modern Family star was asked to stand on a lazy Susan type podium – something usually reserved for Australian actresses at the Logies and AFL WAGs at the Brownlow – as the Academy of Television Arts and Science President Bruce Rosenblum talked about the mission and values of American television.
"This has been a terrific year for American television and our shows continue to have a meaningful impact around the world. So to demonstrate we'd love for you to stand on this revolving platform," he said as the crowd laughed awkwardly.
"That seems a bit unnecessary but that [sic] how they do it in American television, ok," Vergara said as she stepped up to the plate.
Rosenblum then went on to wax lyrical about how the Academy has never been so diverse, both in front and behind the camera, as the 42-year-old actress' derrière was turned towards the camera.
She then posed and patted her backside, swathed in a white and crystal dress by Roberto Cavalli, as Rosenblum, complete with a creepy side eye glance, signed off with: "What truly matters is that we never forget that our success is based on always giving the viewer something compelling to watch."
"Alright enough," Vergara said, "That's why I stopped doing the car shows," as the crowd laughed.
The internet however, was not laughing.
I love @SofiaVergara but did anyone find that schtick somewhat offensive? — Katie Couric (@katiecouric) August 26, 2014Yahoo News' new global anchor and esteemed US broadcaster Katie Couric tweeted her disappointment in the stunt while Jezebel published an article titled "Sofia Vergara Got to Participate in the Sexist Portion of the Emmys", which clocked up more than 14,000 views in less than an hour.
Vergara's sex bomb sketch was in stark contrast to Beyonce's strong and powerful performance at the MTV Video Music Awards on Monday. The performance, which was a medley of her songs from her latest album, lasted for close to 18 minutes and broke the record for the longest VMA performance ever.
"MTV, welcome to my world," she said as the crowd, including Vergara's young Modern Family co-star Sarah Hyland, screamed, cheered and danced along.
Dressed in a heavily embellished long sleeved leotard, Beyonce danced, gyrated and sang while images from her family photo album flashed on the screen along with the words "feminist" and "flawless" as her young daughter Blue Ivy watched and clapped along in the front row. The performance included a call to feminism from the prominent Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
She also addressed the Solange-Jay Z melee during a remix version of her song Flawless, "Of course sometimes sh-- goes down when there's a billion dollars on an elevator," she laughed as Jay Z grinned.
Beyonce then broke down as she was joined by her family on stage and was awarded MTV's lifetime achievement award, the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
"The greatest living entertainer, Beyonce," Jay Z said as the crowded chanted her named like it was World Cup grand final.
Even Miley Cyrus did something noble at what is touted as the most superficial show in Hollywood. The Wrecking Ball singer, who caused controversy at the 2013 VMAs with her twerking and rampant tongue, used her acceptance speech for the Video of the Year award to enlighten the audience about the youth homelessness epidemic in the US.
