Hal Roach said...
"The author's grammar needs a tune up... Why can't these bloggers use proper English?"

Thanks, Hal, you are SO right (comment #3)! It's one of my pet peeves about contemporary "journalism." BUT, since "Center," although collective, is also a singular noun (this being the U.S., not the U.K.), your corrected sentence should also have included "and the Center denies that ITS show is attempting ...." ;-)

And I agree with Jason (comment #1): what's the source of the writer's statement that [the Emmys?] are tired of cable network nominations? The program Emmys are given for excellence in programming ... period. If those who make the nominations feel the cable networks produce better-quality programs, then they should received the awards. If the networks don't like that, they should rise to the challenge ... and it's not a matter of including nudity or profanity. The 2009 Emmys for best drama and comedy series, and for best drama and comedy series writing (which, after all, *is* the content) went to AMC's "Mad Men" and NBC's "30 Rock," neither of which is known for nudity or language and both of which have also won many other series awards.

Finally, I disagree with doing away with award shows on TV. Just because some of you don't enjoy them, there are plenty of us who do. For many, the Tonys are the only meaningful exposure we get to current Broadway productions and performers. Similarly, especially with escalating ticket prices, awards shows (Oscars, Golden Globes) are great for people who must limit their movie-viewing (and don't necessarily have to see films in first run). The Emmys serve a similar function, in giving viewers a glimpse of programs they might not otherwise watch (or, in the case of cable programming, not even receive). And, of course, the Grammys serve the same purpose for the recording industry.

Before the prevalence of paparazzi, 24/7 television and the Internet, awards shows were the *only* opportunity the general public had to see actors being themselves. It was a big deal when the Oscar, Tony and Grammy award ceremonies were first broadcast and, since the Emmys honored television programming, it would have been illogical not to have broadcast them.

(It is important to remember that these awards are not for the public; they are for the members of the film, television, stage and music industries, and they have chosen to share them with the rest of us. Broadcasting these "insider" ceremonies to appeal to the commercial public is a huge challenge for the producers, and where [IMHO] much of what made them great has been eroded.) The People's Choice Awards broke this mold and serves an important purpose in that regard.

I propose that somebody create an Awards channel. The current year's ceremonies (Oscar, Emmy, Tony, Golden Globe, Grammy, People's Choice, Obies [off-Broadway], CLIOs [advertising], CMAs, ACMs, and even including international awards) could be broadcast. Run the ceremonies live in their entirety (without commercials, please!), with the red carpet pre-show (preferably with well-informed hosts [R.I.P. Army Archerd!] and post-show interview follow-ups. Between awards, the network could run (perhaps as a documentary-style series) ceremonies from prior years, new interviews with current nominees and winners, etc.

My personal plea to the producers of all the awards shows: Please stop using current nominees as presenters! It's not as if there aren't enough actors, singers, dancers and other "celebrities" to fill the program. Similarly, don't include performances other than those that are nominated. It isn't necessary and only serves to "muddy" the event and dilute it for those who are nominees.

I agree with every fiber of my being with those of you who promote the idea of getting rid of ALL awards shows! I can't stomach them. I mean, all these people are is a bunch of overpaid sexpots drowning in their own egoes. If they're not drowning, they're just waiting until they can pull one of their colleagues down first. Yuk!

Typo on my comment: NBS/NBC

That's how HBO started out in 1972. Everybody thought they were a joke, nobody wanted to sign up to be on it. ABC, NBS and CBS thought nobody would pay to watch tv. The very first program on HBO in '72, because nobody wanted to be on it, was a polka party. So, they shouldn't give up, like a novel about a killer shark titled "Who's That Gnoshing on My Leg?". Nobody wanted to publish it, they thought it was rediculous. Finally, a publisher did, but thought nobody would read it, so, to save money on ink, they shortened the name to "Jaws".

Amen, Joel! The entertainment industry is so self-congratulatory it's discusting. Can you imagine how it would be if plumbers or doctors or roofers celebrated their own achievements the way so-called celebrities do? Why do we CARE about these people?

I don't care if they stop ALL the "award" shows. They are nothing more than already puffy egos polishing other already puffy egos. Toss them all and try writing and producing something that doesn't totally depend on vulgarity, double-entendre, and people running around half naked and calling it "entertainment." I can't even sit down with my kids and look at TV any more without being embarrassed or feeling their embarrassment.

The author's grammar needs a tune up...NONE is a singular noun which deserves a singular verb...."Many have tried to topple the immovable giant, but none HAS succeeded."

Why can't these bloggers use proper English? AND...

"So far, none of the networks HAS made an official deal and the Center denies that their show is attempting to knock Emmy off the face of the..."

The thing that would require or demand better programming are those who watch the programming. With the onslaught of reality and primetime game shows, the sitcom and hour drama are few and far between. Of those that do exist, few of them are worth anything. Either the concept is dumb, the writing is shotty or the acting is laughable. There's just not a lot of true creativity in Hollywood anymore.

Thanks and Amen to Gretchen!!!!!

Actually, the Emmys are just PART of the problem plaguing the networks' schedules. There's also the Oscars, the Tonys, the Grammys, Dove Awards, People's Choice awards, Golden Globes, and so on. Getting rid of ALL "awards" shows would be a HUGE step towards getting better programing, IMHO. And while were at it, let's OUTLAW (not just cancel) beauty pageants!