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What we learned at the Emmys
It's been generally accepted in recent years that the most daring, thoughtful and provocative programming on TV airs on cable. It's also true that not many people, relatively speaking, watch those daring, thoughtful and provocative shows, wherever they might air.
Those two trends met up at Sunday's Emmys. The winners for best comedy (30 Rock) and drama (Mad Men) had a combined audience of about 7.5 million people, which has to be the smallest total for the best-series winners in decades (if not ever). That probably won't do a whole lot for the ratings of the Emmy broadcast either, and that's even before considering the fact that it just wasn't a very well-done show.
But other than the damage it might do to ABC's ratings for Sunday night, is there anything wrong with two low-rated shows winning the top prizes? Heck no. In fact, other than a couple of boring, predictable choices early on -- Jeremy Piven, again; The Amazing Race, again -- I daresay the television academy did a pretty darn good job in making its picks this year.
I, along with most other critics, have accused Emmy voters of playing it too safe year after year and ignoring the hidden gems in the TV landscape. That doesn't seem to be the case as much this year; the voters really seemed to be paying attention, regardless of a show's Nielsen ranking or buzz factor.
Case in point: The best dramatic actor victory for Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad -- a show even farther under the radar than its AMC stablemate Mad Men. Cranston, a multiple nominee but never a winner for Malcolm in the Middle, tore it up as a terminally ill chemistry teacher who turns to cooking meth, but the show barely cracked a million viewers in its first season. In a field that also included Hugh Laurie, James Spader, Jon Hamm, Michael C. Hall and Gabriel Byrne, to say Cranston was an underdog is vastly understating things.
The best series wins for 30 Rock and Mad Men aren't all that surprising; 30 Rock was the defending comedy champ, after all, and Mad Men was considered a favorite going in. Given the often puzzling history of the Emmys, though, it's nice to see the two best shows in their categories actually win the award.
Other items of note from the Emmys:
Cable triumphant: Cable shows won 17 of the 28 awards handed out in Sunday's telecast, including all but two of the awards in the drama series, miniseries and TV-movie categories. Cable also grabbed the majority of the awards at the Creative Arts Emmys, fulfilling everyone's predictions that this was a tipping-point year for cable networks not named HBO. Mad Men's best drama win was the first ever for a series on ad-supported cable, and Glenn Close of Damages became the first drama best-actress winner from a basic-cable show.
Broadcast TV -- the place for comedy: On the other hand, the broadcast networks more than held their own in the comedy categories. In addition to the triple win (acting, writing, producing) for 30 Rock's Tina Fey, broadcast comedy series also won for best actor (Alec Baldwin of 30 Rock), supporting actress (Jean Smart of Samantha Who?) and director (Barry Sonnenfeld of Pushing Daisies). Piven's third straight supporting-actor win for Entourage was the only cable victory in the comedy categories, and we still say Neil Patrick Harris wuz robbed.
Hugh and Steve, still empty-handed: Hugh Laurie and Steve Carell, widely acknowledged as two of the best actors on television, are now a combined 0-for-6 at the Emmys. I can't really argue with the selections of Cranston and Baldwin this year, but the fact that neither of them has ever won an Emmy is a little hard to fathom.
It's a new record: John Adams won 13 Emmys this year, breaking the previous mark held by another HBO miniseries, Angels in America, and the ABC movie Eleanor & Franklin from the 1970s.
Forget the ratings bounce: I'm not sure I really believe in the idea of a ratings bump for Emmy-winning shows anyway, but it's really not going to happen this year. Mad Men is already more than halfway through its second season, and joining in now isn't going to be especially easy for a new viewer (though I suppose an uptick in DVD sales for season one is likely). And NBC won't debut the new season of 30 Rock for more than a month.
We learned, actually it was confirmed, that Stewart and Colbert are morons. That Baldwin can sometimes talk without pissing off millions. And that ABC has no integrity at all by allowing these and other idiots to spew hate about our country. It was called the Emmys, not the ..."I have a forum, I'm an imbecil and I want to tell the world what my tiny mind has come up with despite the fact that I have no brain at all..."
R | Sep 22, 2008 8:35:08 AM | #Still, I wonder if the people at the Emmys are blissfully unaware that some people still a.) are Republicans and b.) cannot afford HBO. It's a little nonsensical, watching the Emmys, seeing good favorite shows like The Office getting passed up in favor of shows I had never even heard of before. Not to say these aren't good shows - 30 Rock is great, for instance... but I always feel that these elite, popular shows win out over ones that are just as good AND that everyone like. It's the new anti-conformist thing. Everyone is anti-conformist! Liking a popular show or admitting that a popular show is actually good is beyond most people in Hollywood nowadays. Oh well.
Jennifer | Sep 22, 2008 8:39:18 AM | #I am so happy you said that you put my thoughts into words...not the place pay for your own political ad.
thank you. I turned it off at the first one. Hey why don't they leave.....Canada isn't that far away!!
Well, I have to say- that had to be the WORST award show I have EVER watched! Palllllease people- hire a talented host that can at least entertain us- not a bunch of reality stars who are not at all funny. You could tell a few did not want to partake and felt stupid-
As far as the previous posted. I would love it if you oculd write a pilot, tv show, mini-series, film. Hence- they aren't that stupid...stupid.
And... if you had that forum- I could bet, you'd be up there spewing your crap- since you are using THIS forum to do it here! Duh! I can't stand people like you- hypocrit!
Yeah, Stewart and Colbert aren't for everyone--you have to be intelligent to understand them.
a | Sep 22, 2008 8:43:48 AM | #I forgot that one can't watch these awards shows and not get bombarded with political statements. I wanted to be entertained and see the pretty dresses, not hit over the head by self-righteous liberals. Makes my stomach turn. I had to stop watching the Oscars...now I can't watch the Emmy's. Phooey.
C | Sep 22, 2008 8:44:18 AM | #Wow R - you must have been watching along with us in my living room. Cheers on your review - we agreed 100%. We were pre-cringing when AB walked up and could not believe he took the high road. Too bad the other over paid talking heads felt compelled to bore us with how they "feel" - just read the lines folks and move on. In fact KUDOS to Don Rickles - one of the few class acts in the house - watch and take notes - the master has spoken.
SJ | Sep 22, 2008 8:44:43 AM | #Disliking something in or about a country does not equal spewing hate against it. Admittedly I didn't watch the whole thing, but I saw few political remarks, and the ones I did see were reasonably graceful, like Laura Linney's community organizer remark. I'm not really sure what you're talking about, though I do give you irony points for spelling imbecile wrong.
henna | Sep 22, 2008 8:46:01 AM | #"I have a forum, I'm an imbecil and I want to tell the world what my tiny mind has come up with despite the fact that I have no brain at all..."
It's spelled imbecile and just because someone has a different opinion than you doesn't make them stupid.
Nathan | Sep 22, 2008 8:46:13 AM | #We learned, actually it was confirmed, that Stewart and Colbert are geniuses. That Baldwin can be gracious in victory. And that ABC can't produce an Emmy show to save its life.
Sure, I mock the previous posting...but 1) does ABC have any control over what people say at the mic? No. In fact, they cut MANY people off in mid-sentence, so to say they were giving people an open forum is idiotic. 2) I can't believe someone is surprised a bunch of hollywood types are bleeding liberals. Outrage! 3) The prune thing was funny.
JP | Sep 22, 2008 8:47:31 AM | #The only thing I learned is that once again I made the mistake of turning these on to begin with.
Hollywood hasn't gotten any money from me, at least voluntarily, in a long, long time. It will be even longer now. $10 for a movie, $100 for cable, extra to watch the pay channels that get all the awards?
No thank you, I can find better entertainment by turning my TV off.
AntiHollywood | Sep 22, 2008 8:49:23 AM | #Spewing hate about the country? Please, more like the truth - as Harry Truman said, "I don't give them Hell. I just tell the truth about them and they think it's Hell"!
Thank God for Stewart and Colbert - they try to keep the Mass Media honest.
I AGREE WITH DUCKY ABOVE. "R" IS A HYPOCRITE!!! HE/SHE IS SURE TAKING THIS BLOG AS A POLITICAL PLATFORM! RIGHT! GO HEAD "R" GO BE FAMOUS, THEN MAYBE YOUR OPINION MIGHT COUNT. LOL
Pauly | Sep 22, 2008 8:49:38 AM | #Elitism? Liberals?
Did I just stumble onto a Republican Internet Area? Frankly, just because some of you people disagree with the political statements of these prominent and articulate POLITICAL comedians, does not mean they are doing a bad job. (Well maybe except Mahr) And just because you didn't see does not mean it isn't good television. Why don't you guys get yourself a cable box or (gasp!) get satallite and watch these quality programs.
Juan | Sep 22, 2008 8:50:09 AM | #It is amazing what a herd mentality Hollywood has. They are all so desperate to make it known that they are liberal bc that's the only way to be accepted in Hwood. They don't dare risk any dissenting opinion (its left and only left) bc they will be ridiculed. How ironic that the people that preach tolerance are the MOST intolerant,hateful people of all. They can't just disagree with you - they want to shut you up permanently. They want to destroy you. Just ask Palin.
Lola | Sep 22, 2008 8:51:43 AM | #I purposely didn't watch the emmies because these people have forgot how to entertain. If I had wanted to watch another Democratic Convention I would have just watch a pre-recorded episode.
Ted Koscheski | Sep 22, 2008 8:51:58 AM | #Ya, Palin... like she isn't using the "media" aka television to state her platform? It's time to think about what you say before you say things.
Steve | Sep 22, 2008 8:53:49 AM | #And Bill Mahr has gotten so shrill and negative I can't watch him. He's not funny, he's just...bitter and distorted.
Bob | Sep 22, 2008 8:54:07 AM | #Stewart & Colbert weren't the problem..... the lame picks (who the fxxx is Jeremy Priven?) and the lame audience was the problem....
the greatest comics of all time..(Pryor,Carlin,Lenny Bruce) are not going to go over if your audience is waiting for a prop comic.
Oh please, this "herd" mentality might just be opinion of people who actually socialize and converse. They are not afraid to not speak up. Hell, look at John Voight. He's an actual conservative.
Juan | Sep 22, 2008 8:55:57 AM | #"...elite, popular shows"
Wow.
The word 'elite' has lost all meaning. My hat's off to Rove et al.
At any rate, should awards not go to the "elite" of possible contenders?
No show other than Mad Men is as good as Mad Men, no matter how many people can't afford cable. Ignorance and/or lack of taste on the part of the public is no reason to award mediocrity or worse.
Bill | Sep 22, 2008 8:59:40 AM | #Laura Linney's remarks didn't even make sense in the context. How does sitting at home staring at your Emmy even remotely remind someone of community organizers?
Chris | Sep 22, 2008 9:02:46 AM | #What has happened to the Hollywood of old. The Hollywood where you could watch the beautiful stars and just forget about the day to day drudge of your life. Last night's show will be the last Emmy's I watch and more than likely, the last Hollywood awards show I ever watch. Stars that I used to enjoy watching opening up their mouths to give us their political view and their hate of America, its pathetic. I was so disappointed not at who won or lost but at the very obvious left wing slant of the show. They should all take a lesson from George Clooney and keep their opinions to themselves. It did cost Kerry the last election and if they keep this up, their precious Obama will look like the elitists they are ~ how is that for out of touch. Most of us cannot afford $28k for dinner at Barbara's house. Most of us struggle to pay for our families to even go to the movies. Please Hollywood, go back to glamour and glitz!! Stop your political rhetoric because you too are going to lose your fans and your source of income when we stop paying to see you act!!
Kimberly | Sep 22, 2008 9:02:56 AM | #yeah juan, you make my point. of course they arent afraid to speak up...its anyone that disagrees with them that risks being blasted.
and are you really trying to say that conservatives don't "converse and socialize"? oh brother. gotta love how snobby liberals are towards conservatives...keep it up...people dont like it and they wont vote for your guy bc they dont like being talked down to like that.
Bob | Sep 22, 2008 9:05:08 AM | #Don Rickles made the show for me- I liked the Laugh In cast/skit but that was about it.
As some stated, this is not a political platform- not all of us have cable and the shows that won- couldn't hold a candle to 10 years ago NBC.
Fey & Big Mouth Baldwin don't rock.. about the only good one worthy was Stewart &.. for a 60th Anniversary, they should have opened BIG- not a bunch of headless hosts standing around trying to "act".. pathetic..
NIX101 | Sep 22, 2008 9:05:20 AM | #
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