Yesterday was the last day to vote on one of the main categories for the 2014 Emmy Awards. Today we have an extra Emmy poll in which you can vote for a change in the Emmy system.
As you all know, cable shows have made a rapid growth in the amount of Emmy nominations at the expense of broadcast shows. This has led to various broadcast shows/actors/actresses being snubbed at the Emmys this year, most notably (among others) The Good Wife, James Spader, Bellamy Young, Mads Mikkelsen, Hugh Dancy, Johnny Galecki and Mindy Kaling.
As a result of that, people are calling for a change in the Emmy system. One of the ideas is to split the Emmy categories for cable and for broadcast. So instead of e.g. The Good Wife being nominated in the category Outstanding Drama Series, it would be nominated in the category Outstanding Broadcast Drama Series (or something like that). Similarly, James Spader could be nominated in Outstanding Lead Actor in a Broadcast Drama Series.
So here's the poll: should the Emmy system indeed split the categories? And if they do so, should they only do this for outstanding drama/comedy series or for all categories (lead acting, supporting acting, guest acting, writing, directing etc.)? Also, should they change it as soon as possible or do they have to wait a few years?
Vote in the poll below and let us know what you think in the comments. If you have any alternative solutions to the problem, feel free to sound off in the comments as well.
The Emmy system needs a complete overhaul. Cable/Broadcast should have been split years ago and more than one Emmy voter needs to retire.
ReplyDeleteYes definitely. Cable have more freedom in terms of sex, violence and language. Hard to compare that with broadcast shows.
ReplyDeleteI think they shouldn't, precisely so shows in network have to go the next mile. It is perfectly possible to write good, consistent storylines without being HBO (aka sex and violence abound).
ReplyDeleteIMO, The Good Wife proved a network is able to produce an awesome drama that can go head to head with cable.
If they split it, there is less incentive for networks to evolve.
Of course. Networks shows have little to no chance in drama right now precisely because there is a bias against them. People view sex, violence, and language as quality?
ReplyDeleteI think the bigger issue is the enforcing of Categories. For example, True Detective should NOT be in Drama Series and there needs to be a damn 'Dramedy' category already.
ReplyDeleteI think that Network dramas with 22+ episodes really shouldn't be compared to cable shows with 13 or less episodes. It makes sense that cable shows are more tightly written because they don't have to think about as many filler episodes.
ReplyDeleteI'm close to considerate it, since broadcast tv has been shut out.
ReplyDeleteThey can blame themselves for the amount of poor shows but also the academy for ignoring them because cable shows have status.
Unless they make it a rule that voters must watch both, then yes. It's obvious that the people nominating do not watch network dramas as some fantastic work is getting overlooked year after year.
ReplyDeleteI second your post JJ. Francesco.
If that's true why don't the cable channels try writing some without the gratuitous sex and violence and see how their numbers go.
ReplyDeleteNetworks have evolved they just have evolved to bouncing boobies because they can't.
No the networks should make better shows. There is talk of expanding the categories from 6 best drama nominees to 10, which I think would be excessive but expanding to 8 would have two more potential nominees and The Good Wife would have got in. This whole 13 is easier than 22 episode argument in favor of separating cable/network doesnt hold water anymore with the amount of series on networks doing 13-16 episodes. Why doesnt CBS cut The Good Wife down to 15 episodes if CBS really thinks that is an issue and make TGW their Emmy show. Each of the major networks air more shows than cable but for the most part the networks dont care about quality they are too busy trying to make shows that appeal to everyone or making second rate versions of already successful cable shows. With all of the hours that the networks program why they cant devote one hour a week to a prestige quality drama is beyond me. CBS does it with TGW, NBC has Hannibal (but the subject matter is an issue for some Emmy voters), and it looks like ABC is trying for the Emmy with American Crime, but those shows are few and far between.
ReplyDeleteBy the way the chances of the Emmys separating cable and network are almost zero.
Agree that the Emmys need to take charge and not allow category fraud like True Detective and some of these "guest actors" who are in nearly every single episode. Have to give the Golden Globes credit for changing the mini series category to "limited series" and making the decision for where these shows belong, it makes the Emmys look bad. Dramedy category is a no for me.
ReplyDeleteI say no; emmys have to be open minded about the greatness of broadcast television, like Hannibal and The Good Wife for example, which are more than able to battle through cable ranks. Also, if they could please, PLEASE stop ignoring good sci-fi and fantasy shows that'd be great.
ReplyDeleteIf we separate broadcast and cable on the emmys, it's saying that they are completely different levels of quality and I think there are broadcast shows that are as good as cable shows- sometimes even better than them; it's not all about being able to say "fuck" or show nudity, it's about how you work around the storytelling you are constructing.
Yes. ASAP
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I don't care. If I watch something, I know if it's good or bad and there's no award in the world that would change my mind.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Breaking Bad? One of the most successful shows out there, totally not relying on sex. The Walking Dead, same thing. House of Cards, little to no sexual innuendo. Silicon Valley (which is HBO, btw), same. The list goes on.
ReplyDeleteI don't think GoT is representative of what all of cable is like, neither of what all good shows are like. Besides, the scenes in GoT are there, for the most part, because GRRM wrote a very sex heavy book, period.
I think maybe have a bigger amount of nominations? Cause there will never be a day when there are more network dramas or actors nominated than from cable, and there are really good shows/actors on network that deserve at least a nomination.
ReplyDeleteAn actor is an actor--what's the difference if on cable or broadcast?
ReplyDeletebut how about putting Orange is the new Black in the drama category and not comedy? A little humor does not a comedy make.
ReplyDeleteThe argument that we should separate is a little weird and at this point in time, almost discrimination with the rise of streaming services. Whether it's on broadcast, cable or Internet, it's a drama. No matter if it it's 24 or 13 episodes, it's still a comedy. House of Cards is an Internet series, just like Orange is the New Black, so by this poll those shouldn't even be eligible for an Emmy at all? Drama is drama, comedy is comedy. Our current expansion of services, especially streaming, means these terms are becoming useless, so it would be weird for the Emmy awards to now adapt to the changing entertainment platform. That said, I wouldn't mind adding a few extra nominees into each list, with the amount of shows out there increasing every year.
ReplyDeleteNo. I think they should remain under the same category, I'm really not convinced that there is a bias against Network shows. The most striking trend in recent years has been a surge in the quality of Cable dramas in the past few years.(with shows like Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Homeland,etc. etc) and these shows rightfully deserve to be rewarded. The Network stations don't need a special category; they need to up their game and produce better shows in the drama category). Plus, there are really only 2-3 cable stations that get the bulk of the awards (namely HBO and Showtime),whereas there are actually a ton of Cable stations that get overlooked even more than the Network stations, Cable stations like USA, Lifetime, ABC Family, MTV, TNT, A&E, FX, BBC America and the SyFy station are all considered cable stations, yet many of their best shows and actors/actresses also struggle with Emmy noms (e.g.The Americans, Tatiana M in Orphan Black)
ReplyDeleteMy biggest issue with the Emmy Awards is that they aren't very inclusive of certain genres. If there ever was a bias, I'd say that it was against shows in the SyFy/ Supernatural or Fantasy categories. Instead of having these shows compete with real dramas, they should introduce a separate category that is more specific to these genres. I think we'd then start to see a lot more of our favorite Network shows winning more awards. Creating a drama or comedy category specifically for Network shows, isn't the way to go, because I'm not sure it would solve the bias against SyFy shows. Furthermore, I think the standout comedies and dramas on the network stations (like The Good Wife, Downton Abbey, Scandal, The Big Bang Theory) do get nominated.
The Cable shows might dominate in the drama category, but the Network shows still clean up in the comedy category. For example, the last time that a Cable network won for outstanding comedy series or Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series was in 2002! Modern Family and 30 Rock have since been cleaning up in those categories, with the remaining awards going to shows like Glee, Ugly Betty, The Office, Arrested Development, Everybody loves Raymond, Desperate Housewives, Pushing Daisies and Friends. In fact the only comedy category that has a decent number of Cable wins is the best actress category. The past 3-5 years hasve seen the emergence of some major Cable show contenders, but prior to that, I think Network did very well in the primetime emmies. e.g.The West Wing, ER, Boston Legal, The Practice, 24, Law& Order SVU, LOST, The Good Wife, Downton Abbey and House have won a lot of Emmy awards over the years, and other shows like Greys Anatomy , Brothers & Sisters, Medium also have received a few Emmy nods. Yes, there are a number of shows that I'd love to see get more recognition, but I don't think that Networks dramas are as neglected as they appear to be. The shows that suffer the most across the board, on both Network and Cable stations are the SyFy/Fantasy shows.
Di also mentioned about the violence - Breaking Bad had a fair amount of violence. Walking Dead goes without saying. Don't know about House of Cards; Silicon Valley is a comedy - different rules apply imo.
ReplyDeleteNo, because it would condone the idea that broadcast tv is lesser, and that it's only shot is to have a category of its own. It's an admission that they are lesser forms of series.
ReplyDeleteBut, also the emmys are shit.
I would prefer another distinction though. The rigors, both scheduling, production and narrative of 10-12 eps seasons and 20-22 are very different, so instead of separating by cable or broadcast, it could be by length of the season. I would also pile miniseries into "Short Season Drama".
Cases of series that fall in between could go either way, depending on were they are nominated, but they can only choose on category.
Yes please.......last broadcast show to win is 24.......and that show is better than all current cable show combine
ReplyDeleteI voted No. I want shows like Hannibal to go head to head with the best and be given a fair chance. Pity the latter didn't happen. But that just means the judges need to be changed not the system.
ReplyDeleteMy point is simply that I believe audiences are smarter than we give them credit for. Boobs and explosions might do the trick for a while, they might bring people to watch a movie, but most viewers don't stick around for a show if there isn't anything else interesting in it. Otherwise many of the shows that are today considered to be successful would have flopped. And, more importantly, some terrible stuff would still be out there. See True Blood, for example. It is the HBO epitome of drugs, sex and violence. But it had a story, a consistent story, good acting, good directing, etc. As soon as it lost those elements, even though sex and violence were still there, they lost the audience. Those who managed to stick around did it for loyalty. But the numbers dropped considerably.
ReplyDeletein that sense, I don't see comedies in a separate category. Sex is as much of an artifice as in drama. But once more viewers have limited tolerance for a show that is all about boobs...