The Emmys: "cougar bait"

[proggrrl]

Well as we figured, the Emmys are broken. No WIRE, no major categories for DEADWOOD, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS or ROME - while shows like 24, GREY'S, BOSTON LEGAL and LAW & ORDER get noms?  Big bucks and ratings over quality.  Again.  Not a huge surprise, given what I know about the backroom workings of this and most other awards shows. Sigh.

Thanks to queenofthorns and wisteria_ for pointing out this great EW article by Mark Harris...money quote:

...there lies the system's biggest failing. The top 10 drama series were chosen by popular vote, which favors shows with big audiences and/or network backing. That's why, in addition to The Wire, The Shield and Battlestar Galactica missed the cut. And the 10 were narrowed down to five by factoring in the ballots of judges who hunkered down to watch just one episode of each series in what Jack Bauer would call one very long day. (When I say ''judges,'' feel free to substitute either ''committed, intelligent industry veterans'' or ''ax-grinding rageaholics whose last major gig was a guest shot on Mannix,'' depending on your level of cynicism.)

The one-show rule favors series that can submit episodes with largely self-contained plots (House, Boston Legal, and the surprise entry Dexter were all in contention) and shows that are already familiar from years of Emmy voting (24 and The Sopranos). New series whose pleasures reside in the cumulative intricacy of their mythology (Heroes) or nuanced character development (Friday Night Lights) offered up their pilots in the hope that judges weren't too bewildered by them. But for the most part, programs with small, impassioned followings and dense backstories are at a huge disadvantage. In an era when most good dramas are at least somewhat serialized, is this any way to treat good TV?

Comments

Emmy

[(Anonymous)]

I try not to pay attention since I get too upset.
I watch Grey's, Boston Legal, etc. and enjoy them. But they're not even in my Top 10.
Katherine Heigl's a great choice because she somehow pulls off all the wacky stuff they throw at her.
And that Doogie Howser guy is great on HIMYM. OK, I'll give him the respect he's earned: Neil Patrick Harris is leg-end-ary!
I'm glad BSG got some recognition for writing, directing and crafts.
-kraig