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Anonymous Critic

For Your Emmy Consideration

May 22, 2006

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It’s Emmy screener season. All the networks are sending out screeners of the shows they want you to vote for. It’s kind of fun on the pure postal level – every day you get a pile of envelopes and boxes.

This year it’s gone completely to DVDs. But in years gone by the tapes used to come in until you had a pile the size of a small coffin. Which was oddly appropriate. Because here’s the dirty secret about Emmy screeners: Nobody watches them. When it comes right down to it, why should you? If it wasn’t important enough to watch when it’s on, then why should you give it an award? It seems like the ultimate hypocrisy. Why give it an award for excellence if you didn’t care enough to watch it in the first place?

Then there’s the stuff that falls into the “what were they thinking?” category. I’ve actually enjoyed seasons of "The Amazing Race." But you’d have to be some kind of Monk character to actually sit down and watch episodes 907 & 908 on DVD. And Conan? Sure, I know Conan. It’s great. It’s on every night. So why do I need a screener?

There are exceptions. PBS – sometimes their stuff is incredible, but you’re just too tired to watch it on a normal night. And then, of course, HBO. It’s that HBO one-two punch. Their content is great, and their packaging is always the best of the lot. Often I’ll keep the HBO box long after I’ve thrown the rest away. And still not watch it.

Then it’s time to vote. Eventually one night my wife and I sit in bed and vote for our favorites (the ones we actually watched when they were on). And a few others that have really good buzz (like maybe "24," which is great but we just didn’t want to make the commitment). And we rip through the whole thing in half an hour and send it off.

Comments

Annie wrote:

What can I do to get you to vote for/nominate Kristen Bell and Jason Dohring from Veronica Mars? They are both amazing as is the whole show!!

posted at May 25, 2006 09:11 PM

Carissa wrote:

Honestly, this is a pathetically sad commentary on television. How is it an independent movie can make it to the "big time" but a critically acclaimed television show cannot garner Emmy respect because no one wants to watch the video? Honestly, did even one Emmy voter TRULY think Ray Romano could ACT??? Sure, he had funny stand-up, and he obviously had something going on with the show, but he could not act. He will never "act" again, yet he was nominated numerous times and even won. That's a sad statement on the awards you have "faith" in. These same people have made some chick named Kristen from some reality show a tabloid staple. The rest of us will enjoy creative, underrated shows, while the Emmy voters go with the household names because they have no desire to actually WATCH the programs they should be voting for. Wow - I feel so good about the Emmy process now. Thanks for pointing out how great it is!!

posted at May 25, 2006 09:13 PM

Julia wrote:

Out of curiosity, I've been trying to figure out which episodes Veronica Mars submitted. Do you happen to know?

posted at May 25, 2006 09:15 PM

Parry SocialPParry Social wrote:

A.C.,

I do appreciate the honesty.

In a culture where more folks vote for American Idol than president, allegedly, it's not shocking that Emmy screeners are largely ignored.

That said, if you're in the business, it's an opportunity to shrug off your lethargy, and pop the DVDs in. It's not as though you have to go stalk a wildebeast for dinner.

Case in point. I just joined the '24' cult this past January. I also didn't want to commit, but I took the chance, and was rewarded. As much as you wax on about LOST (and I agree w/ you for the most part), the pace of '24' is CRAZY good. The show needs to be SHOWERED with accolades - particularly Gregory Itzen and Jean Smart as the First Couple.

POST more, Anon Critic(s)!

-Parry

posted at May 29, 2006 03:50 PM

Heather Trow wrote:

I'm sorry but that is SO FRUSTRATING!!!!!!! Coming from someone who is a huge fan of the (now cancelled- probably thanks to people like you) show "Arrested Development", I think it's absolutely absurd that you don't take the time to view your screeners. People put in HARD WORK on those episodes, and they clearly want you to take some time and give them some of your consideration. Do you have to watch the whole episode? No! Not if you think it doesn't deserve your attention. But the money that networks or whoever it is put into creating and shipping those screeners is WASTED

posted at June 6, 2006 05:55 PM

Lindsey wrote:

I'm with Annie. Kristen Bell and Jason Dohring were amazing this season! At the very least, Lauren Graham needs to finally get nominated. If Lauren doesn't get nominated because every star of "Desperate Housewives" does, it will make me sick. I hope that, for once, the voters will go with the shows/actors that really are the best - rather than just the ones that are most popular. But I'm sure we'll still end up with "Desperate Housewives," "Lost," Grey's Anatomy," etc. Not that none of those are good (though "GA" is the only one I watch), but when they get nominated in every category, no one else even has a chance...

posted at June 13, 2006 01:02 AM

Caitlin wrote:

You don't watch the screeners? Well, I guess that explains why Buffy the Vampire Slayer never won anything (except makeup or some such), and excellent shows like Veronica Mars are overlooked, and brilliant shows like Arrested Development were cancelled (I echo the above posters). Thanks for your apathy (sarcasm is hard to type)! The upshot is that now I won't bother watching the Emmys anymore!

posted at July 21, 2006 07:31 AM

Linda wrote:

Ironic much? Your stated faith in the Emmy voting system (and the Magic Powers of Buzz) seems to be somewhat misplaced on a website dedicated to shows that never did get a fair chance when they were on the air.

I probably watch way too much television, but I firmly believe that if you have to slog through hour after hour of dreck, the worthy, deserving shows will really pop.

And in light of the travesty that was this year's Emmy noms, perhaps you might admit that the power of The Vote is worth a bit more of your time and consideration?

posted at July 24, 2006 04:36 AM

Jen wrote:

First of all (and once ad for all), more people do NOT vote for Idol than for President. Idol receives more votes because people can vote as many times as they like.

Secondly, I doubt that Anon's reluctance to watch and/or judge hundreds of hours of out-of-context episodes of shows that he/she knows little about is uncommon amongst the rest of the voting members. It's not Anon's fault that the system is so fundamentally flawed.

Personally, I recommend not watching or supporting the Emmy's unless they become viewer's choice awards, at least at some level of the process.

posted at August 24, 2006 07:22 PM

LaVern D Blanchette wrote:

I love Project Runway. I think Heidi is wonderful. I do think some of the judges gave credit in the wrong place from time to time, but I am happy with who is remaining. I am not sure who I want to win. It is between Michael, Uli, and Kayne.

posted at September 13, 2006 07:22 PM

K to the B wrote:

Lauren Graham, Lauren Graham, Lauren Graham. I've never seen another actress play a better single mother than she, and i've never seen another show epitomize the single mother and daughter relationship. Also, the 4400 has been one of the best shows I have watched in the past five years. It was nominated once, for best mini series (and it wasn't even a mini series. It may not be the most watched show but with it's eccentric characters and well written plots it should get some credit. If Monk does it, so should the 4400.

posted at September 18, 2006 02:12 PM