One moment said it all about last Sunday’s Emmy Awards. Did you see when Bones‘ David Boreanaz presented the Outstanding Guest Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series awards alongside The Hills‘ Lauren Conrad? Usually the most affable of actors, Boreanaz, introduced by Heidi Klum as star of The Bones, could barely bring himself to look at Conrad. His dead stare and body-language said, "I was on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, two great shows this academy barely even acknowledged. Now I’m acting in another hit show, and I have to hand out an award with a reality star? Get me outta here!"
And, indeed, many of us wanted outta there. The 60th annual Emmy Awards scored the lowest ratings since 1990 (12.3 million viewers, down from 13 million last year), and more Americans wanted to watch their Sunday night football. The use of five reality-show hosts — Klum, Howie Mandel, Ryan Seacrest, Tom Bergeron, and Jeff Probst — to emcee the night led to more awkward pauses than the 90210 cast trying to order something off a KFC menu.
What to do to fix the Emmys? Start with these ideas.
• Make Neil Patrick Harris the new host. The smooth guy uttered the most succinct critique of the night—"Thanks to Howie Mandel’s prattling, our bit has been cut"—and that’s typical of his ad-lib aplomb.
• Cut it to two hours. What to remove? Here’s a start: Don’t bother airing the Best Miniseries/TV-Movie categories. The industry long ago ceded this genre to HBO (last year: Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee; this year: John Adams and Recount). There’s already a nonbroadcast, pre-Emmy Awards ceremony for lesser categories, so let the cabler get its predictable slew of trophies off-camera.
• Refine the nostalgia. Instead of an onslaught of embarrassinglyrushed salutes (the Laugh-In tribute was so…sad), pick one show anddive deep into its history, with the best scenes and whatever survivingstars would make the most coherent, emotional presentation. Look at thesmartly done TV Land Awards for pointers on this.
• Show us clips from nominated shows. But here’s the key: not just anyclips. Since it’s now made public in advance which episodes actorssubmit for Emmy consideration, broadcast a few moments of theperformances they chose as their best work to the Emmy panels. Thiswould make home viewers instant Emmy judges, adding an element ofinteractive fun. And, hmmm—d’you think handing out a viewers’-choiceaward or two would result in some fresh or underrated shows beingrecognized? I think it might. Battlestar Galactica, there would behope for you yet!.
• Oh yeah—that new reality-show-hosting award, snagged by Probst?That’s going to get as tedious as the reality-show award. We love TheAmazing Race (but after a sixth win, a snooze on the Emmys) and weadore the Probster, but, really, these folks don’t need their ownaward. To the television academy: Have the guts to announce it was aone-time experiment that failed, and use the time to let trainedperformers entertain us, as God and Lucille Ball intended. And spare usthe future spectacle of Heidi Montag in a red wig doing a Lucy tribute.
Comments (1-30) of 62 Add your comment
NPH or Ricky Gervais for next year’s host! I agree with your suggestion of a People’s Choice – BSG needs some love!
Get rid of all king realty related television show or “stars”. Focus on good tv!! It’s quite simple really!
Conan should host it every year — he was awesome.
People who watch the Emmys are people who like TV. People who like TV don’t care about reality shows, they care about the talent and craft that goes into creating something worth watching every week. Don’t underestimate the viewer! I remember last year or the year before, it was discussed that Hugh Laurie was a possible host, but the Emmy committee decided that Americans wouldn’t be able to comprehend that he is a comedian. I think they replaced him with Ryan Seacrest? LAME! That should be in award show 101 — get a decent host!
PS — Neil Patrick Harris is a fantastic idea, as long as they let him sing.
Weird el, I like TV and reality shows AND care about the Emmys. Although someone else is long overdue to beat the Amazing Race!
I agree with everything in this article. David B. had a good reason to be upset about his presenting partner. He should be insulted, and by the look on his face he was.
NPH would be de – wait for it – lightful.
Sorry. I had to.
Who is Lauren Conrad?
I’d like to see NPH and Eddie Izzard together bc that would be hi-larious. Ricky Gervais is great but I don’t know if he’d be able to pull off an entire awards show
I am so on board for getting rid of the Miniseries/TV-Movie category.
I agree that NPH should host, but I do think reality shows deserve their kudos. I hardly watch any and I am sick of seeing The Amazing Race win, but I definitely think it takes skill to produce a reality show–and to host one.
“The Probster”–really lame comic-book villain, or worst superhero ever?
I think a People’s Choice category is a great idea. I’d go one step further, and break it into two awards – one for the show, and one for an actor/actress. Maybe even add a rule that it would have to be for a show or individual who wasn’t already nominated? But maybe not, since often the really good ones do get nominated, they just don’t win the awards they deserve (what’s up NPH and Amy Poehler??).
You’re right about the best movie/mini-series. since they are always on premium cable, I never see any of them when the emmies air (but sometimes rent the winners). But people’s choice award? I hate to say it but Two and a Half Men would win.
The miniseries awards took up half the show! And many viewers of the emmys don’t even have premium cable, so those awards mean nothing. I also LOVE the idea of showing clips of nominated shows–that’s the best part of the oscars for me! (next to the dresses…)
David Boreanaz should feel insulted I think any good actor/actress would have been.
When is EW going to get a Bones TV watch????
They could easily move the writing and directing Emmys to the Creative Arts ceremony. That would remove 5 awards from the big telecast. Also, with the low number of tv movies and miniseries being produced, they might consider combining the miniseries and tv movie categories.
Well the other annoying thing about the TV movie categories this year is that the SAME movies were nominated for every category. Every acting category, directing, writing.
Were there only 5 TV movies made this year?
Was David Boreanaz mad because she got the name of his show wrong? And I
bet more people know LC then him. His show only doubles her ratings. Just remember he was just an extra playing a vampire on buffy in first episode.
Sort of on the fence about the movie/mini-series being relagated to the pre-broadcast ceremony, even though it’s supposed to celebrate TV, often “bigger” stars are in the movies/mini-series so…were I a producer, I’d want the biggest stars possible.
David Boreanaz *hugs him* not only did he have to present with a talentless bimbo but he had to put up with her being rude as well. 12yrs on TV drama, David should be shown more respect!
That is what the Golden Globe and Oscars are for. Many of us have not even seen the mini series/TV movie and don’t care (regardless of big stars). I want to root for my faves!
YES to killing the Miniseries/Movie category. It would shave a whole hour. And not because of HBO-envy. The whole reason that set of awards is so prominent, is that the miniseries used to be the only place on TV to see real (movie)STARS! Now with nearly every drama headed by an Oscar-nominated actress, we have enough stars on TV shows — and we want to see MORE of what they are up to Emmy night!
I agree with showing the clips that the actors and series are nominated for. Didn’t they used to do this? No one could tell anything with the 1 second blur that flashed when mentioning the nominees.
Why is NPH listed as the best potential Emmy host ever here, but not a choice on the poll question on the main page? He beats all the poll suggestions.
JIM KIRK, I have to agree that ‘Bones’ only doubles ‘The Hills’ ratings. However, David wasn’t just an extra on ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. He was a main character for 3 seasons. Then, David had his own show with the spin-off ‘Angel’. ‘Bones’ is eh. Has ok ratings, but the writing is terrible, now.
Anyway, whether David was insulted by having to present with a reality star or not, he should have handled it like a professional. You’re paired with a partner. Deal with it and make the best of it. Plain and simple. Overall, I don’t think he had a problem with LC. I think he was more nervous than anything. He’s never presented at The Emmy’s before. He presented at the Creative Emmys, but that’s not the same. I don’t know if I like how you’re making David out to be stuck up and thinking he’s better than anyone, because I don’t see him as that kind of person.
Boreanaz is the man. Felt so bad for him.
NPH would be a good host, maybe better than Gervais. Maybe not as funny, but a better host. I think NPH has a better host demeanor than Ricky. Gervais would no doubt provide a lot of laughs, but it, may too, drag after a bit. (I’m a fan of his, really.)
People’s choice would never happen. And I’m not really sure it should to be honest. But the main point of it is that the award would go to a show that probably doesn’t deserve it.
I think reality has a place at the awards. The reality shows honored were well produced. I’m a fan of TV, the emmy’s and some reality TV shows. I’m ready for some variety in the award though. Really, The amazing race can’t be that far and above every other reality show for 6 years running. I watched it for about two seasons and had enough (same with Survivor). Not that there isn’t a lot of the same basic premise in the shows every year, but…it’s time to look at a show other than AR.
Speaking of Bones what happened to the Pop Watch recaps? They need to be brought back ASAP…
Re: Boreanaz. I agree. He maybe could’ve handled himself a little better if it wasn’t nerves. He seemed more stiff than perturbed anyway.
A People’s Choice Award is a BAD idea. While shows like B-Star G and Friday Night Lights might be popular with a more discerning audience, I can’t help but think that the winners every year would be mass-appeal fare like “Two and a Half Men” and “CSI”.