Why weren’t there more broadcast network Emmys?
Q: Why is it that television shows that can be seen on antenna TV are not even nominated for the Emmy Awards? The only TV show not on cable, satellite TV or internet streaming that was mentioned was “Saturday Night Live.” I don’t see any point of watching the Emmys anymore if antenna TV shows are excluded.
A: The prime-time Emmys on NBC were indeed a bad night for broadcast networks such as ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC. It was not quite as bad as you thought. The major networks won two Emmys, one for NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” as best variety-sketch comedy show, and one for variety-special directing, for ABC’s Academy Awards telecast. Other broadcast nominees included “The Voice,” “The Amazing Race,” “blackish,” “This Is Us” and the late-night shows from Jimmy Kimmel, James Corden and Stephen Colbert. In this year’s Creative Arts Emmys, broadcast winners included “So You Think You Can Dance,” “Family Guy,” “Will & Grace” and “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.” But it’s still fair to say broadcasters were frequently shoved aside, as Amazon’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” alone received more major-category honors than the four big networks combined.
Now, considering broadcast shows still have millions of viewers, why were they overlooked? For basically the same reason the most popular movie at 2017’s U.S. box office, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” did not even contend for a best picture Oscar, even though the winning film, “The Shape of Water,” made about a 10th as much. Entertainment-industry awards honor the productions they feel make them look good, not the ones the audience likes best.
Still, you embody the dilemma for industry awards shows, because you don’t want to watch a presentation of prizes to shows you don’t care about. Aside from adding recognizable stars as presenters, the TV and movie industries have not come up with a good way to honor, on live TV, both the popular and the prestigious.
Q: Will Connie Britton be back on “9-1-1”? I have not seen her in the previews for the new season.
A: The former star of “Friday Night Lights” and “Nashville” had a oneseason deal to appear as a regular on the Fox drama, and that season is done. Jennifer Love Hewitt has joined the series as Britton’s replacement, while the makers of the drama have held out hope Britton would at least return as a guest star. Britton will be on view again in Bravo’s “Dirty John,” a true-crime drama also starring Eric Bana, arriving later this year.
Q: Why did they change the actress playing James Franco’s girlfriend on “The Deuce”?
A: They didn’t. Margarita Levieva is back for the second season of HBO’s drama, again playing Abigail Parker, the girlfriend of Vincent Martino, played by Franco (who also plays Vincent’s twin, Frankie). What may have thrown you is the second season has major changes in clothes and hairstyles for the characters, including for Parker.