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Emmys are out of touch with TV viewers
By AprillBrandon in Pop Goes the Culture
September 17, 2009

First of all, does anyone even watch award shows anymore? I mean, besides catching the Oscars this year, which I only did because Wolverine was hosting them (and Momma loves her some Wolverine), I can honestly say I haven't watched an award show since my senior year in college. And that was only because my roommates were obsessed with the VMA's.

In today's world of instant news, there is no longer a need to watch award shows when you can get all the highlights immediately afterward wrapped up in a nice, pretty Internet bow. For example, I present Exhibit A: The Kayne West/Taylor Swift scandal. Why watch three hours of acceptance speeches and cheesy host banter when you can catch a two minute clip of the best action the next day?

But according to this Reuters story on Yahoo, it's not just the ever-evolving way we consume news that is slowing killing awards shows, especially in terms of the Emmy Awards (last year's Emmys had the lowest ratings in the show's 60-year history, attracting just 12.2 million viewers). It's the ever-widening gap between what judges say are the best shows and what TV viewers think.

According to the story, the shows that typically win Emmys are far from the most popular shows on TV.

"Asked to 'turn the Emmys upside down' by voting for the stars and shows 'overlooked and snubbed,' visitors to Entertainment Weekly's website EW.com chose HBO's "True Blood" for best drama and NBC's "Chuck" for best comedy series. Neither are Emmy-nominated."

Meanwhile, shows such as "30 Rock" and "Mad Men," both winners last year, pull in a fraction of the viewers that the most popular shows get.

However, the Emmys one saving grace this year may be their host. NPH! (For those not hip to initials, that stands for Neil Patrick Harris). If Doogie is a part of it, well then, I may just have to tune in this year.

P.S. The Emmys are on Sunday, for the four of you out there that plan to tune in with me.

Comments


  • sandwichh sandwichh Report a ViolationReport a Violation
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    If it had not been for the drunken DA Kanye I would not have even have known the show happened.

    The award shows have only evolved into the patting each other on the back of the out of touch richy elite. It's all about themselves, me society.

    September 23, 2009 at 2:04 p.m.

  • shopper10044 shopper10044 Report a ViolationReport a Violation
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    Mad Men is one of the greatest and highest quality shows I have ever seen. However, because it is on cable, it probably won't get the same number of viewers as a network show. We don't get AMC, so we have to download Mad Men from iTunes or wait until it comes on DVD. The Emmy's should be based on quality not viewers. The shows with the higher viewer numbers already get their award in advertising dollars.

    September 19, 2009 at 9:01 a.m.

  • AltonEaston AltonEaston Report a ViolationReport a Violation
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    I also don't know of anyone that watches award shows. I think the increase in award shows have diluted the appeal of all. It also, appears to me that the award shows are like "Entertainment Tonight"; a commerical for Hollywood/Nashville.
    Do you have a theory on why we only see limited coverage of The Cannes Film Festival? I don't even know if they are worth watch either.

    September 17, 2009 at 10:31 p.m.

  • AprillBrandon AprillBrandon Report a ViolationReport a Violation
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    Thelastsignal,

    Actually, it's not my story, it's a story on Reuters. And I see your point. But I think the story makes for an interesting discussion.

    As for Doogie, I may be out of touch, but Doogie will always rock. He may not be as legend...wait for it...dary as Barney, or as awesome as Dr. Horrible, but I will always love him.

    September 17, 2009 at 2:55 p.m.

  • KCi KCi Report a ViolationReport a Violation
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    Emmy's? Emmy's what?

    September 17, 2009 at 1:45 p.m.

  • thelastsignal thelastsignal Report a ViolationReport a Violation
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    What does viewership have to do with quality? Do you think The Da Vinci Code should win a Nobel for Literature? Should Twilight win an Oscar for Best Picture? Should Nickelback get a Best Album Grammy?

    Also, Chuck was almost canceled due to lack of viewers. It's not even close to being one of the most popular shows on TV. The EW.com poll is a reflection of the internet echo chamber. I'm not saying that it's a bad show, I'm saying your information is misleading. According to viewership, 2 and a Half Men is the funniest show on TV.

    Lastly, a Doogie reference? Who's out of touch again? Guy is on a network show that people seem to enjoy and one of the most popular internet releases of all time. Come on, he's Dr. Horrible.

    September 17, 2009 at 1:23 p.m.