I watched the Emmys and have ...
Question: I watched the
Emmys and have some thoughts on why the show was so bad and how it can improve. First, they can take a lesson from reality programs. They connect with "real" people. Have fans of the shows introduce clips, talk about their favorite characters, and why they watch shows like
Mad Men. This way, viewers see that "small" shows are loved by "real" fans, not just critics). Right now the show feels very elitist and disconnected from the fans whose passion and loyalty to shows help keep them alive. Second, the show should have less irrelevant filler and be an actual celebration of nominated performances and shows. I'm not going to watch a three-hour telecast to have my favorite show/actor only mentioned for two seconds when its category is announced. As a fan, I'd like to see more about the actual nominees: interviews with the cast, actors expressing appreciation for their fellow nominees' performances, more clips from the nominated shows. By putting the nominees up front and center throughout the telecast, it might help to build at least a little suspense for the actual awards. It also might help the viewing audience get a sense of why shows like
Mad Men were nominated. Third, one word: alcohol. That's one of the reasons the Golden Globes are so much more fun than other awards shows. The attendees are much more loose so it's not as stuffy and boring. Thoughts?
Answer: I'm not sure I'd embrace any suggestions that would add to the length of the show with additional produced segments involving nominees or everyday viewers. But I think the Emmys should be all about celebrating the best of TV, and that should include at the very least spotlighting the year's key shows and performances. It is shameful that we saw more of Howie Mandel and Heidi Klum than we did of
Mad Men,
30 Rock and
John Adams. As for alcohol, I know that if I hadn't been working on deadline, I would have knocked a few back myself. Instead, I had to settle for aspirin. I don't mind that the Emmys and Oscars are a little more restrained and (one would hope) dignified than the Golden Globes, which is really just an excuse for a party if you're being honest. I agree the Globes telecast often results in a better and more spontaneous TV event — in part because movie stars mingle with TV stars, and it's much more celebrity-driven — but there's no reason the Emmys can't someday actually produce a good TV show about great work in TV. And now, something to acknowledge the Emmy winner for best drama series.
