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People's Choice Awards gives it go without writers
Hey, the Golden Globes can let the writers' strike get them down and resort to a blah press conference, but the People's Choice Awards? No sir. It's right there in the title. It's all about the people.
On Tuesday night's (Jan. 8) broadcast of the 34th Annual People's Choice Awards, the head honchos decided to circumvent the need for writers and get the words straight from the honorees' mouths. The strategy involved traveling around the world -- from Palms Springs and Orlando to London and Sydney -- to tape acceptance speeches.
And to further pad the night with material that doesn't need any scripting is the "Choice Moments" clips from the past 33 PCAs scattered throughout the show and some taped clips from celebs answering questions put to them by you -- yep, the people.
You can check out Zap2it's gallery for the winners. Now let's get down to business and see how the show fared without writers:
ALL HAIL THE QUEEN
I give Queen Latifah credit for pretty much carrying the whole show: speaking familiarly to the non-existent audience, creating the appropriate segues, thinking up her own material and keeping the energy up. After a while, though, even she was getting tired of her own attempts at creating a People's Choice theme song and pretending to open the "winners" book to see the results. Oh, I gotta say, it was bizarrely entertaining to see her do a fake solo freakout when she won as part of the cast for performing "You Can't Stop the Beat" in Hairspray.
THE UPSIDE
The taped speech format isn't a bad idea since they've done it in the past when a star couldn't be there. Since the show couldn't get a "thank you" message from everyone, many of the categories were lumped together and announced, making speedy work of the evening. I'm a fan.
For the few that were able to be harvested, there's no messy walk through an audience and no pesky playoff music. Plus, I like looking at the background behind an actor to see what they're up to. Reese Witherspoon straight up plugged her latest movie, "Four Christmases," while Patrick Dempsey was racing at Daytona.
And some people just do better on tape instead of live because they can prepare and be more relaxed. Several celebs made a point to acknowledge the striking writers, from knee-high Angus T. Jones of Two and a Half Men ("I kind of wanted to tell you a joke, but the writers are on strike, so I have nothing.") to Joaquin Phoenix who began with a tribute to Bob Dylan's cue-card dropping "Subterranean Homesick Blues."
Quickly paraphrased, the cards read, "Hi. I'm Joaquin Phoenix. I'm speechless without writers. Seriously. This is a quiet way to thank the fans." The cards go on for a bit, and then he breaks the silence to say, "What is wrong with you people? Thank you." This was perhaps the most interesting speech of the evening.
THE DOWNSIDE
It's a bit weird when an award recipient thanks the audience for their two awards when we at home only know of one at the moment. I can remember this happening at least twice -- with Ellen DeGeneres and Rascal Flatts. It makes sense that they wouldn't tape two separate acceptances, but it was still a surprise.
Following these stars around the world also meant that they weren't necessarily in their usual frame of mind to entertain. Usually, when they have to deck themselves out in a tux or get their hair done hours in advance, they know they have to be "on." A few of these people gave it a small effort, but it came out kind of hodge-podgey as in the case of Paul Rudd who played with the crew to make a point about valuing every person on a project but then ended the speech with, "This is a giant waste of time." Yeah, it was part of the joke, but it fell flat.
And the strangest one was for funnyman Robin Williams who was generously giving his time on a USO tour, but decided not to say a word and allow his fellow performers -- Kid Rock and Lewis Black -- to speak for him.
Lastly, I really didn't care for the filler. The flashbacks could have been shortened since only a few of them seemed relevant. Yeah, you got to see some old hairstyles, but this isn't even a milestone year for the PCAs. And the poor girl who won the Crest challege only got to hand awards to a few of the stars.
OVERALL
I don't mind the taped stuff at all, and Queen Latifah did pretty well, considering. If they had more time to track down the winners and cut down on the filler, it'd work better, but I do miss live performances, the energy of a live audience and pretty gowns.
What's your opinion on this awards show without writers?
After seeing the majority of the winners, I either have to believe this award show is utterly rigged or people are retarded.
Louis | Jan 8, 2008 10:27:17 PM | #Ya Moonlight won wtf!
(no offense)
Jerome | Jan 9, 2008 12:30:40 AM | #Queen Latifah did a good job considering the re-vamping of the show. As for the winners. Some I agreed with and some I didn't but that is to be expected. Everyone is different. I personally love Moonlight and am thrilled it won.
Suziq | Jan 9, 2008 6:38:39 AM | #I think all awards show should imitate this format. I like that it was quick, and Queen Latifah handled it all so smoothly. Although I'm still trying to process that America actually voted for no-talents like Justin Timberlake and Matt Damon. Ugh...
Jergy | Jan 9, 2008 8:04:55 AM | #Not that I care for award shows but this was the "Peoples" Choice Awards. Meaning us the viewers voted for these awards. The WGA would not allow a writer the SGA would not allow actors to attend and us the viewers, the real victims of this strike, get snubbed. In a few weeks is the SGA awards that surprise, surprise the WGA will allow a writer and actors will be allowed to attend. I say us the viewers need to not only not watch this show on TV but we should also set up our own picket line outside the shows location. Lets show the actors and writers that it is our viewing of the product they produce that gets them paid so the next time they decide to snub us we may just turn off your product altogether. Who's with me?
tfbuzz | Jan 9, 2008 8:39:56 AM | #They sucked.
They didn't even have an acceptance speech for Gwen Stefani!
HATERS!!!!!
No | Jan 9, 2008 9:10:41 AM | #Why was Pushing Daisies in both comedy and drama?
Doane | Jan 9, 2008 10:00:52 AM | #I'm thrilled Moonlight won!!!
Jo | Jan 9, 2008 10:43:46 AM | #Moonlight? Really? Good lord.
Oh, Louis? The award show isn't rigged. It's just tailored to a "specific" audience. ;)
TS | Jan 9, 2008 11:16:33 AM | #I actually watched the PCA show even though I knew that none of the actors were allowed to attend.
I think that Queen Latifah did an admirable job of hosting, especially since there was no audience to cheer her on. I thought that the pre-taped acceptance speeches were a good alternative, but I didn't care for those clips from past PCA ceremonies. It just reminded us how lame this year's show was in comparison.
I always wonder what type of people vote for the PCAs because some nominees don't deserve to be there. No offense to the fans, but wasn't Premonition considered to be one of the worst movies of 2007? Also, I found it hard to believe that Stargate Atlantis was more popular than BSG and Doctor Who.
Paige | Jan 9, 2008 11:50:18 AM | #First of all, a huge hurrah to Queen Latifah for having the guts to stay with the gig, even when she most definitely has the clout to have said no. Classy woman, she is, and I give her all the credit for that alone. As for the show--it sucked, but no more so than most of these things do. My greatest hope is that the writers strike will essentially and finally kill the award shows, or at least their cluttering up the airwaves. The press conference idea is shorter, it keeps things tighter and prevents certain stars from rambling on for five minutes about nothing. I'm a huge fan of lists, I will admit, which is why I prefer reading about the awards afterwards. The shows themselves are little more than self-congratulatory examples of ass-kissing at its finest. Even the People's Choice Awards are no longer as advertised, given that the nominees are themselves not always who or what "the people" would have chosen (as the aghastment over Moonlight winning in previous posts shows). While I love Queen Latifah, as mentioned, let this show (and the upcoming Golden Globes) be the nails in the coffin of this type of programming. This is the 21st century; time to move on now.
Dark Disciple | Jan 9, 2008 12:12:52 PM | #Queen Latifah did a good job but I am extremely disappointed that Stargate Atlantis won and then was hardly allowed to speak!!!!
Paige not everyone not everyone is into the depressing BSG or the overly quirky Who. If you wanted them to win you should have voted.
Liberty | Jan 9, 2008 12:41:25 PM | #Stargate Atlantis absolutely should have won! I'm so thrilled it finally got the recognition it deserves! I'm disappointed though that they were thrown into that montage of winners and didn't get their chance to speak. They earned it.
Marla | Jan 9, 2008 1:46:00 PM | #Who voted? This obviously was not America speaking. Robin Williams as favorite? is he even doing anything now? I gotta think these picks were done by agents trying to get their clients a job.
Ellen D. as fav female funny star? gimme a break, what has she done other that a talk show?
Queen Latifah was horrible! she seemed fake every time she spoke.
pitifull results | Jan 9, 2008 1:52:31 PM | #Deal or No Deal wins.
All other talent based game shows didn't win it because
"this is a popularity contest." Woah. Mandell really brought it. I wonder if Trebek will make a retort.
"Doctor Who" should've won in the Best Sci-Fi TV Show category hands down. It's a hundred times better than either "Battlestar" or "Stargate Atlantis". "Doctor Who", the world's longest running Sci-Fi show ever is back and better than ever!
Steve | Jan 9, 2008 2:49:23 PM | #it's so GREAT to see a show like Moonlight getting some justice. It's really an amazing show, this under rated tv gem airing Friday night with not much PR, but lots of heart and soul.
Noa | Jan 9, 2008 4:40:27 PM | #to start off i have to say queen latifah was pretty good considering she was comletely alone.
next i was pretty disapointed with a lot of the winners. ie as much as i love house, i thought that csi really deserved tv drama. their last season was amazing & this one is pretty good, so far.
so basically queen latifah was good, but the rest of the show sucked. (did anyone else notice that joaquin phoenix spelled his own name wrong)
Dory | Jan 9, 2008 5:13:31 PM | #I was rather annoyed that a large number of awards were handled in the "by the way" format. Even though I didn't expect Doctor Who to win (Stargate obviously won by a split vote) I was looking forward to seeing a clip from it aired on CBS. And what's with passing quickly over HUGE awards such as Best Movie and the like?
Props to NBC and Queen for trying their best, but it just wasn't the same as with an audience. I'm not even going to bother watching the Globes or the Oscars if they end up following the same format.
Alex | Jan 9, 2008 5:46:10 PM | #I want to start of by saying that I never liked the People's Choice Awards to begin with. I checked the PCA's website and the had previously picked nominees that the "people" had to choose from so it never really was the "people's choice." I guess it's better than the old days where they would just poll people.
Queen Latifah did a good job with what she had. It wasn't her fault that the show was that way.
Personally, I've never watched most of the t.v. shows that were nominated and as a result those categories didn't matter.
As for the movie categories there are always categories on that show that don't have acceptance speeches and are just read off by the announcer.
The actor and actress categories just show whatever film is their latest one. It has nothing to do with the films themselves just the performer. That's why they showed Premonition.
cm | Jan 9, 2008 11:34:29 PM | #I am so glad Moonlight won. people should watch the 2 new episodes that are airing now. It has really blossomed on every episode. Wow
DebB | Jan 12, 2008 7:21:20 AM | #I love moonlight it is the best show ever
lauren | Jan 12, 2008 2:54:23 PM | #Frankly, we watched the People's Choice awards to see how Moonlight would do! This show is a lot of people's favorite addiction!
chris | Jan 12, 2008 9:14:48 PM | #Frankly, we watched the People's Choice awards to see how Moonlight would do! This show is a lot of people's favorite addiction!
chris | Jan 12, 2008 9:14:55 PM | #Yay!! 2 1/2 Men wins for choice TV comedy. I think it wins for the third or fourth time. See, the sitcom is not dead. I believe it's the funniest show on the air.
Shaun | Jan 14, 2008 1:02:36 AM | #
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