Shaking Up the Emmys By Moving Five Categories Out of the Telecast Might Not Work, But at Least the TV Academy Is Trying Something
The Television Academy has moved five Emmy categories from NBC’s 14 September primetime broadcast to the earlier ceremonies, in an effort to refresh a telecast facing pressure to remain relevant. The article argues that the change may not succeed, but says the Academy deserves credit for attempting a significant adjustment rather than preserving the format unchanged; NBC and producer Jesse Collins Entertainment now face the task of making it work.
The affected awards are variety-series writing, supporting actor and actress in a limited series or film, and limited-series-or-film directing and writing. The decision means some nominees may need to attend the 5 and 6 September ceremonies as well as the main event, while the DGA, WGA and SAG-AFTRA have condemned the move as devaluing the honoured work; the columnist counters that many other skilled television professionals have long received their awards outside the primetime telecast.
- Five Emmy categories will move out of the primetime broadcast.
- Unions say the change devalues nominees’ contributions.
- The article sees it as a risky but worthwhile experiment.