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| Seth Meyers |
If something seemed off about this year's Emmys, it was more than the fact that it was held on a Monday instead of the traditional Sunday. Why was this? As host Seth Meyers put it: they couldn't compete with the MTV VMA ceremony that aired simultaneously. While this makes sense, it also feels like a grand statement about the appeal of the Emmys. They cannot capture a youthful demographic no matter how hard they try. Even if the music show has very little overlap, it still seemed to be dominant force that drove the Emmys to a new night, which felt arbitrary and sad. That is all before it becomes realized that the actual show probably could have used some fresh faces, maybe even some butt shaking. What it really needed was to be a better representation of the best in the field it is recognizing: TV.
For many, the highlight of the evening came early when Jimmy Kimmel took to the stage to do a series of roasts to Best Actor in a Drama Series nominee Matthew McConaughey (True Detective). This is fine, especially since McConaughey has established a stoner ethos that has only slowly been brushed off. It had a lot of laughs, but only because it kept going on and on. What this reflected was not that the show was funny, but that it was out of touch. Kimmel wasn't even in the Drama series section of the night. True Detective wouldn't have an award handed out for at least another hour. Speaking as the jabs seem mean in hindsight of McConaughey's loss, it makes even less sense. So where exactly was Kimmel? He was in Best ACTRESS in a COMEDY Series. Notice the two different words here. Regardless of humor, it was an arbitrary bit that didn't belong.
With that said, the entire show felt like a series of events that didn't belong. Meyers kept to his traditional shtick that transitioned with comments that caught you off guard. The presenters took plenty of time to give shout outs to audience members and essentially earning the Emmys' need for a three hour run time. In fact, the important awards at the end were often rushed, leaving the two biggest awards of the night to be played off at inconsiderable paces. The series had no self-awareness when it came to producing a consistent show and allowing everyone to take their time only to realize that they didn't have that much left. It seems like an embarrassing hypocrisy that Glenn Weiss, who directed the ceremony, also won Best Directing for a Variety Series for the Tonys. As good or bad as that ceremony was, it was miles ahead of the Emmys.
Of course, the entire show is about the awards; or at least it should be. It is supposed to represent the vast array of content that has been released. With streaming services like Netflix producing top tier candidates like House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, it is a welcomed sign to see them recognized. Does that mean that they walked away with trophies? Nope... okay, Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black) won Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, but that's it. While these platforms are revolutionizing TV consumption, it seems like the Emmys have a regressive quality to them. Almost every awards show is suffering from this. Every awards show has way too many old people voting on the staff.
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| Left to right: Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey |
Does that mean that the show was a complete bomb when it came to picking the right winners? No. Breaking Bad won Best Drama Series and three of the top acting categories. While some would argue that True Detective deserved more recognition, the same could be said for Mad Men or Game of Thrones. It was just not going to happen considering the legacy that Breaking Bad created and ended on a phenomenal [sic.] high. At best, True Detective has a shot at season two, even if the anthology format unfortunately means that McConaughey won't be back. Even then, my money is on Mad Men closing out its run on top. Maybe Jon Hamm will even win an award.
For the most part, the drama category remains uninteresting in its predictability yet serviceable. However, the Comedy category is one of antiquated frustrations. It is one that is arguably more subjective than Drama. Humor is subjective and therefore doesn't match everyone's tastes. This is a generality on what is the funniest show on TV. Among the group that features The Big Bang Theory, Veep, Orange is the New Black, Silicon Valley, Louie, and Modern Family, it produced a wide array of series recognizing basic and cable selections. It is a category that was dominated before by the likes of Everybody Loves Raymond and 30 Rock. So, who took the prize? Modern Family.
It seems ridiculous to even point out a singular fact: After 30 Rock (deservedly) won this category for three years, Modern Family took over and has yet to let go. Since 2010, it has won every year making its grand total of five. To many, it is a feeling of acceptance. The series appeals to whoever the Emmy voters are and they aren't afraid of exploiting their banality. The detail that is bothersome is that it has won FIVE years in a row. That hasn't been done since Frasier in the 90's, which is easily a far superior series in ingenuity and creative use of humor. Nonetheless, the year was rich with contestants that were very deserving. Maybe Silicon Valley didn't stand a chance. But Orange is the New Black was this wild new kid who came out of nowhere and won the hearts of everyone. That moment where you discovered the joy of Orange is the New Black prior to the hoopla is revelatory to TV fans. It proved that Netflix meant business.
Most of all, it represented something different for comedy. It was at times dark and depressing, but it was always full of eclectic characters. This universe was strange and fresh in ways that many would hype Modern Family to be. However, where that falls under lowbrow, easy targets, Orange is the New Black is more progressive, even landing actress Laverne Cox on the cover of Time Magazine and making her the first transgender Emmy nominee in history. The show was ambitious in ways that deserved more attention. It was leagues ahead of its competitors (including Louie, which was self-serving and pandering to voters this season).
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| The cast and crew of Modern Family |
It is fine if Modern Family continues to exist, but it is reflective of the growing TV model that it has won FIVE years in a row. Even 30 Rock, which many proclaim as one of the best comedies of the current era, only won three times. What makes this random show with stock characters so special? It makes no sense because TV is changing and while other categories are recognizing it, there was a common phrase that was uttered as each award was presented. Almost everybody during the evening had won before and in many cases, more than twice. It was rehashing the old favorites and ignoring any new blood in a lot of cases. Cut back to 2004 and the simple progression of this category can be recognized for its strange spiral. In 2004, Arrested Development won. Keep that in mind considering its status as a cult series that beat out current favorite Everybody Loves Raymond. The Emmys used to pull surprises like that. Orange is the New Black was the newcomer who deserved that honor. It should have pulled a move akin to The Sopranos and defeated the juggernaut that was The West Wing for Best Drama Series (also 2004).
It isn't important to get caught up in the significance in awards shows. However, where the Academy Awards are indicative of people's general thoughts on film, the Emmys should do a better job of representing the populous's thoughts on TV. The landscape is changing and soon more markets will open. Will they be recognized? Maybe only in terms of nominations. Still, comedies aren't just comedies anymore. Some are hour long and feature dark elements or challenging subject matters. TV is blurring its distinction and thus the award should be treated likewise. Living with a model that was adequate up until a decade ago to recognize new shows is too regressive. Even if Orange is the New Black wasn't to win, there were many other viable options beyond Modern Family.
Let's get to a point where the winners are not based off of the same thing every year. Let's get a little unpredictable and recognize that this is how TV operates. It doesn't always have to be the same thing every year. That's like recognizing reruns as being better than new programming. Just try to make next year a little more exciting and please give us a few upsets. Make us believe that this category is worth anything. After all, every series has its good and bad years. To recognize Modern Family as always being "The Best" is to suggest that it is flawless. It isn't. No show is. Once you distinguish between flawless and telling a joke about a dramatic actor during comedy actress category, then maybe we'll begin to take you seriously again.
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