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LOS ANGELES, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- One of the highlights of Sunday's Emmy Awards ceremony was a surprise appearance by beloved comedian Tracy Morgan. The Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock alum has been recovering from brain and leg injuries he sustained last year when his limo was struck by a Walmart tractor-trailer in New Jersey.
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Morgan, 46, was noticeably missing from the SNL 40th Anniversary Special in February, but he has since agreed to guest host the sketch-comedy show this fall.
"To present our final award of the evening, please welcome back to the stage for the first time in over a year, our good friend, Tracy Morgan," Emmys host and SNL veteran Andy Samberg said, introducing Morgan, as the audience cheered and collectively leaped to its feet.
SNL creator Lorne Michaels was seen smiling in the crowd, while Morgan walked confidently to the microphone. Morgan's 30 Rock co-stars Tina Fey and Jane Krakowski beamed with pride at the appearance of their friend.
"Thank you so much. I miss you guys so much," Morgan said, his eyes welling with tears and his demeanor much more serious than what his fans and colleagues have come to expect.
"Last year, Jimmy Kimmel said on this stage, 'We'll see you back here next year, Tracy Morgan.' Well, Jimmy, thanks to my amazing doctors and the support of my family and my beautiful, new wife, I'm here. Standing on my own two feet and God bless all of you for your love, for your prayers and for your positive thoughts over the past 15 months. Thank you. I'm honored to be here at the Emmys. ... It's been a long road back. I suffered a traumatic, brain injury that put me in a coma for eight days and when I finally regained consciousness, I was just ecstatic to learn I wasn't the one who messed up. Only recently, I've started to feel like myself again, which means a whole lot of women are going to get pregnant at the after-party."
He then presented the Emmy for Best Drama Series to the cast and crew of Game of Thrones.
