Kim,

I didn't watch the show and my "rant" as you call it was to point out why. Perhaps I got a bit carried away, but at no time did I use profanity, call anyone names, or indicate that I hate half the country. I don't even hate Hollywood, although I find it hard to stomach the disdain actors display toward those of us living in the red states. Bet you're a fan of dailykos.com. Talk about hate-filled. If you feel compelled to respond, please go ahead. You can have the last word, or post, if you will. I said a prayer for you and Hollywood at church last night, so I've had my say.

Stillbash, I have voted in every election since 1976, including federal, state and local elections, so please do not lecture me on my "responsibilities" (which I've spelled correctly).

Hollywood is obviously not as smart as it thinks or it would figure out by now that the only thing most Americans want from actors is entertainment, and even that has been sorely lacking in the last few years. We do not want or need their political commentary, whether blatant or subtle (e.g., comments made last year vs. this year), nor do we need to be told what is best for us or how ignorant or bigoted we are just because we do not adhere to the liberal mindset. We do not want or need to be told how to spend our money which we work much harder to earn than you do with your courageous acting on your grueling set. We do not need a telethon to encourage us to give since studies show that those of us Hollywood calls the religious right (i.e., those who attend church regularly) are much more likely to give to charity and to volunteer our time, even to secular causes. Note that Utah is the state with the highest average per-capita charitable contributions, followed by Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas. Guess us rednecks do not mind sharing our money as long as it is voluntary and not forced income redistribution.

Hollywood celebs do not have a monopoly on creativity either; they usually do have exceptional connections that make it far more likely for them to find an audience for their art or talent than for some random unconnected equally creative person. Also, their descendants usually have the financial resources needed to spend time being creative, while the rest of us spend all day working to pay the bills. Give me a problem solver instead of an actor any day.

Finally, we do not need your hypocrisy. Do not stand on stage and tell how us how bad the economy is while only a few minutes before you were talking about your fabulous dress and shoes which cost more than most of us make in a year. At least the IRS finally wised up and began taxing your swag bags that this year included gifts of Valentino and Jimmy Choo sunglasses ($300-$400), Rock & Republic jeans ($200-$300) and Klipsch headphones ($350) just to name a few. Other gifts included getaway weekends to the Waldorf-Astoria Collection, Dakota Mountain Lodge in Park City and Trump's Resort in Las Vegas, free Lasik eye surgery from Gary Kawesch and the Laser Eye Center, teeth whitening by Dr. Catrise Austin, pet food for a year from Merrick Pet Care, Trapeze lessons from Trapeze New York, custom pool tables from Mars-Made, eco-friendly vacuums by Eureka and much, much more. And you wonder why we do not watch your self-serving night of self-gratification.

I think it's blatantly obvious that all the people here complaining about the award show being political comprise the whopping 50+ percent of non-voters every election.

Just admit it. You want to be left alone with politics altogether. That's why you watch reality TV and sports. You want to see racist bickering by lowlifes and sex drugs and rock and roll. You don't want to be told you have an obligation to vote. You don't want to be told that you can actually change the world by voting. You want to consume and be bitter about your life.

What all of you don't get is that the rest of the world has to live with that. Your country still has about 8000 nuclear warheads. Live up to your responabilities god dammit.

who really wants to watch, or more importantly listen to a bunch of ramblings by so called "stars" bad mouth this country and the people that truly care so much about it. These people are not stars they never will be anything like the true stars of "yesterday". John stewart, corbin, and so many more, are a pathetic bunch. And you wonder why the ratings are dropping like the apple on New yrs eve??? look in the mirror ABC, you have created your own down fall. The silent majority is sick of the left wing deadbeats beating up our country. On the same vain these so called democrats would have been shot 25-30 years ago... they are traitors and are enabling our enemies!! A sad state !

While the Emmy show was awful - the scripted parts at least - and no one seems to have thought about how to write the damned thing so that they don't end up cutting more and more as the show goes on, you don't think that the fact that the show was up against football on NBC and the last game (maybe) at Yankee Stadium might have been serious competition.

I think it is great that the quality cable shows are being recognized. That shouldn't keep people away from the broadcast. It is the networks that have those god-awful reality hosts. Who didn't know that was going to suck?

My thoughts ...

1. I missed the opening with the reality hosts (thankfully), but what turned me off the most was the constant political posturing by the winners. The only time it seemed appropriate was when Martin Sheen encouraged people to vote -- in a non-biased way.

2. Speaking of the reality hosts ... why do they give an award to them? The judges are the best reason to watch those shows -- not the hosts, e.g. Simon Cowell deserves a nomination more than Ryan Seacrest.

3. Ryan (post No. 2) can go suck an egg. This is the first year I can think of when the awards were totally warranted, across the board. 30 Rock, Mad Men, Damages and Breaking Bad were the best shows on TV last year. (The most questionable award was Jean Smart's.)

4. Deb (post No. 5) is right on the money. Another example of sexism was Craig Feguson's bit with Brooke Shields. I'm a big fan of Craig's, but that bit made me uncomfortable.

Generally speaking, the award shows are over-written. Just give us the red carpet, the awards, some good acceptance speeches -- and cut all the awkward banter.

That's my two cents ...

I get enough of celebrity blowhards spewing their unwanted political views throughout the year. I don't need to set aside time to consciously listen to it.

I loved all the shows and nominees (sans John Adams, I just couldn't get into it, even being a history buff). I've also watched shows where I couldn't stand the nominees, but the show was still great. The horrific hosts ruined the show.

Reality hosts really do nothing. Not on the shows they host, nor the Emmys, when put up to the task. In a way I feel vindicated that I don't watch them. However, not if the price is that people blame the shitty ratings on the shows that were nominated. Its just not true.

That the awful hosts babbled so much they had to cut celeb's "bits" could have been enough in itself to ruin the presentation. We'll never know, because bad hosting left them undone. The Gervais/Carrell bit was great; what if they had all been that well conceived, and we just didn't get to see them because the hosts sucked?

Next year, I vote Ellen D. as the hostest with the mostest.

I loved all the shows and nominees (sans John Adams, I just couldn't get into it, even being a history buff). I've also watched shows where I couldn't stand the nominees, but the show was still great. The horrific hosts ruined the show.

Reality hosts really do nothing. Not on the shows they host, nor the Emmys, when put up to the task. In a way I feel vindicated that I don't watch them. However, not if the price is that people blame the shitty ratings on the shows that were nominated. Its just not true.

That the awful hosts babbled so much they had to cut celeb's "bits" could have been enough in itself to ruin the presentation. We'll never know, because bad hosting left them undone. The Gervais/Carrell bit was great; what if they had all been that well conceived, and we just didn't get to see them because the hosts sucked?

Next year, I vote Ellen D. as the hostest with the mostest.