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Emmys 2013: Does Anybody Really Care?

Renée Fabian |
September 18, 2013 | 11:51 p.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

2013 Emmys (ABC)
2013 Emmys (ABC)

This Sunday, CBS will air the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ 2013 Emmy Awards, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris. There is always so much hype around these award shows, but do people really care about the show or the Emmys? Well, yes and no. The show (fun presenters, performances and memorials)? Yes, definitely. The award winners and acceptance speeches? Not really.

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences have a difficult task, as the medium of TV has exploded. There are hundreds of cable channels with original programming on top of the standard broadcast networks. Netflix has also entered the foray with House of Cards nominations this year, broadening the definition of what programming is eligible for awards consideration. There is way more shows than spots for awards contention, and as a result, quality series are often forgotten. 

Nominations in both the category for Best Comedy Series and Best Drama Series are all the same between 2012 and 2013, with the exception of Louie in the comedy category and House of Cards in drama. Four out of six nominees in both the Best Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series category are exactly the same as last year. With the wealth and diversity in current TV programming, it’s baffling that the 2013 roster is like a rerun of the 2012 Emmys. That's not a compelling reason to care about who gets the awards.

But, what people do care about is a good show. This year, the Emmys are banking on memorials to draw in viewers. Following similar format changes made to the Grammys, CBS is including special memorials for the first time in honor of TV personalities who recently passed. These special memorials--which will include James Gandolfini of Sopranos fame, Cory Monteith of Glee, as well as several others--are expected to bolster Emmy ratings, which saw a small increase in 2012. While maybe a bit morbid, viewers gravitate towards genuine emotion, heartfelt speeches and performances.  

Viewers hunger not for a list of thank you’s, but are looking for their favorite TV heroes to evoke some real feeling, awards show or not. Isn’t that what good TV is all about anyway? More than likely, it will be Tina Fey & Amy Poehler’s awards presentation, Elton John’s performance, or James Gandolfini and Cory Monteith’s memorials that viewers will care about in the morning, not the name of Lena Dunham’s publicist.

Check out Emmy ratings over the last five years.

Emmy Viewers (Tumblr)
Emmy Viewers (Tumblr)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember to check out Neon Tommy's full coverage of the 2013 Emmys here.

Reach Staff Reporter Renée Fabian here or follow her on Twitter here.



 

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