After an uncharacteristic moment of sanity, the Emmys have resumed hurtling toward the cliff. After writers -- the same guys whose three-month strike in 2007-2008 have wrecked the past two television seasons -- threw a tantrum, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences canceled a plan to cut eight awards out of September's live telecast.
The Emmy telecast's Nielsen ratings have been plummeting for years, partly because the Emmys are among the stupidest and most useless awards in Hollywood (there are over 100 categories in prime-time programming alone, and everybody in Hollywood who's breathing gets nominated for something) and partly because a good chunk of the televised awards ceremony goes to people who no one outside Hollywood cares about (writers and directors) for shows no one outside Hollywood ever heard of. (Quick: Tell me who won the Emmy for best directing of a variety series last year. Hell, tell me who won it ever.)
But since the announcement a couple of weeks ago that eight categories would be trimmed out of the televised part of the ceremony, the protests -- especially from the writers -- have been nonstop. And Wednesday, the academy capitulated and restored them. So good for all you 13 viewers who remain -- you'll still get to see the screenwriter of some obscure miniseries on Bulgarian frontier doctors thank his third-grade teacher for all the inspiration. Just make sure there are no sharp objects within reach.
pretty amazing to see a writer throwing other writers under the bus. pretty amazing and pretty scummy. maybe you should move over to US Weekly since celebs and puppets seem to be your only interest.
Posted by: Sloane | August 12, 2009 at 05:56 PM
You have a job writing (in the English language), and you're still comfortable using non-words like "stupidest" in a professional capacity? I'm a little embarrassed for you. Sloane, I'm not sure 'writer' is the right term for this guy, so I'm unsurprised there's no solidarity here.
Posted by: George | August 12, 2009 at 07:38 PM
I'm no writer, just a reader, but I'm surprised to hear that "stupidest" isn't a word, especially since it's in the dictionary:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/stupidest
Posted by: Alfie | August 12, 2009 at 08:24 PM
Hey, Glenn, for someone who works as a TV critic, I wouldn't be so quick to lament honoring the industry's writers -- i.e. the people responsible for the great shows we enjoy, not to mention your job.
Furthermore, you'd really prefer to watch crap like that "great" opening from last year where the reality hosts blathered on endlessly?
Some of the most memorable Emmy moments and poignant speeches have come from the speeches of winning writers.
But I guess you'd rather watch the cast of "Laugh-In" perform one last routine before they die or a salute to "M*A*S*H" without the cast.
Posted by: Michael | August 13, 2009 at 12:55 AM
You are a mentally defective troll who probably sniffs his fingers after wiping!
Posted by: H.O.T. Wings | August 13, 2009 at 01:30 PM