Sunday, October 7, 2001
Getting on with the show - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- The 53rd Annual Emmy Awards, which were to be held on the 23rd of September were postponed until tonight. In light of the events of September 11th, the annual Hollywood glitzfest of the small screen will be a little humbler (if at all possible in Hollywood) and definitely toned down. Black tuxes and the phalanx of photocalls on the red carpet will be eliminated for strict business attire and fewer flashbulbs.
Ellen DeGeneres will still host the awards presentation, however legendary newsman Walter Cronkite will deliver the opening remarks to what already feels like a sombre affair. The comedy will be expunged of political humour and the dramatic awards will lead off the telecast which in conventional years, comedy honours would be doled out first.
The question that’s been dogging everyone’s showbiz consciousness as of late, is whether the award show should go on at all. Sure the television season’s start got pushed back a couple of weeks and regularly scheduled programming has been nothing remotely regular; things are retreating to relative normalcy. They must. There is the example of MuchMusic’s (Canada’s answer to MTV) cancellation of their own music video awards. Frankly, a MuchMusic prize isn’t as lofty as an MTV one, but the gesture was made and quite nice if you ask me. However one of their personalities was on TalkTV the other day, saying that the television academy is far from sincere, as they’re actually going on with the Emmy’s. The personality said that this is a time of mourning and until the last survivor is pulled out of the rubble, entertainment should take a back seat.
Whilst well meaning and such, postponing the Emmy’s was a good gesture and toned down or not, getting the show going again is just what we all need. We need something petty to talk about, watch and ogle at. The Emmy’s are just that therapy, irrespective of the tone they’ll perform with tonight.
The telecast will originate from Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium, but because cast members of HBO’s The Sopranos and Sex and The City are hesitant on leaving their East Coast sets, because of security risks, the telecast will take place also at Rockefeller Center’s Studio 6A, where Conan O’Brien’s Late Night show is shot. Airing tonight at 8:00 on CBS, expect that so-said toned down affair, and the requisite display of made in Hollywood solidarity for a grieving nation.
The Emmy’s besides who’s with whom and who’s wearing what, are about the awards. Sure it’s decadence and self-adulation at its finest, these awards, but hey we need eye candy once and a while. I equate these exercises in chest thumping as a sort of ‘up yours’ to those of the bin Laden camp who can’t stand it at all. Nearly 30 awards will be presented on the three hour telecast and it should be interesting.
Will last year’s Drama Series winner The West Wing, once again trump The Sopranos? Will Will and Grace reclaim the best Comedy Series prize they won one year ago? Sure it seems tasteless to handicap a meaningless race for gold, but let it be some meager attempt to move on from the heartbreak of September 11th.
For best Drama Series, nominees The West Wing, The Practice, Law and Order and ER have won the Emmy in the past. The Sopranos, in this its third outing, have not won but its chances this year look slim. The West Wing was just powerful this year, while everything besides The Sopranos is growing tired. Smart money is on Wing winning, but it should go to The Sopranos.
Lead Actor in a Drama Series is a most distinguished category this year. Last year’s winner James Gandolfini of The Sopranos faces competition from four-time winner Dennis Franz of NYPD Blue and Andre Braugher of the short-lived Gideon’s Crossing. Also in the category are Rob Lowe and Martin Sheen of The West Wing. My spies tell me that the tape submitted by James Gandolfini was quite violent, which only means that his performance may not be voted for by the generally conservative Academy. Sheen’s tape however includes the tour de force he gave in last season’s finale where President Bartlett marches up the aisle of the National Cathedral, calling God himself, ‘feckless’ and a bunch of other things in Latin. I think it’s Sheen’s year, while I’m sure everyone in Hollywood thinks Tony Soprano should get it.
Lead Actress in a Drama Series has nominations for The Sopranos’ leads Lorraine Bracco and Edie Falco, Sela Ward (last year’s winner) in Once and Again, Amy Brenneman in Judging Amy and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’s Marg Helgenburger. Everyone except Helgenburger -- who’s in this category simply because her show aired directly after Survivor -- and Brenneman have won Emmy’s, however these two won’t win this year. Spies say that Bracco, who’s submitted tape includes the powerful episodes in which she deals with rape, and Falco, are neck and neck in this race. Some say it’s Bracco’s Emmy, but she really isn’t a lead in the show, rather a recurring support player. My money’s on Bracco, but I won’t be surprised if Mrs. Tony Soprano (Edie Falco) wins again. If not, Sela Ward will come up the middle and win again.
For best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, the nominees are: Jane Kaczmarek, Malcolm In The Middle; Debra Messing, Will and Grace; Patricia Heaton, Everybody Loves Raymond; Calista Flockhart, Ally McBeal; and Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City. Flockhart, and her show, were shut out last year and this return to the fold could signal a possible win. The odds say that Kaczmarek will win, but I don’t think you should count out Patricia Heaton of Raymond who won last year. Remember that Helen Hunt won four times playing straight man to Paul Reiser, so I think Heaton will buck the trend. Really, Sarah Parker should win, but she won’t. Sex and the City is too New York for the Academy.
In the male category -- Lead Actor in a Comedy Series -- Kelsey Grammer makes his umpteenth appearance nominated for Frasier. Joining him are Eric McCormack of Will and Grace, Ray Romano of Everybody Loves Raymond, John Lithgow of 3rd Rock From The Sun and Malcolm of Malcolm in the Middle, Frankie Muniz. Remember that Fred Savage never won an Emmy for The Wonder Years. That said, Muniz won’t win tonight. Ray Romano won’t win, because Jerry Seinfeld never did, as didn’t Paul Reiser. Count John Lithgow out, because the tape he submitted is a comic romp, while Kelsey Grammer submitted a rather subdued and profound episode of Frasier. (It’s the one where Dr. Crane receives a lifetime achievement award.) The Academy is rumoured to like something profound, if not sad, especially in comedy. Odds are in Grammer’s favour, which means he could be winning his sixth Emmy tonight. If I were voting, I’ll tick off Eric McCormack. How could it be that Jack and Karen won Emmy’s last year, while Will and Grace did not? (I’m told the tape ‘Will’ submitted was that of the flashback episode, where Will discovers he’s gay. Therein was an episode balancing comedy and pathos, usually a winner in the Academy’s book.)
For Comedy Series, my source (Tom O’Neil’s website: «www.goldderby.com») says that it’s a neck and neck race between Everybody Loves Raymond and Malcolm In The Middle. Frasier and Sex and The City are non-starters, obviously. The Academy’s insane game of repeatedly honouring the same old, same olds each year probably dictates that Will and Grace will probably win the top comedy Emmy tonight.
It should be a fun night nonetheless. Judy Garland’s biopic may capture a couple prizes and just probably Robert Downey Jr. could win a supporting prize for his turn on Ally McBeal. Whatever the case, the Emmy’s bow tonight. And with September 11th on our mind, lest we forget.
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And since this is my first column in nearly a month, thanks to all who sent messages. I’ll try and write more. If not, bear with me, I’m either busy, tired or not engaged with much of anything.
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An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .