Is there anything more exciting than strangers thanking other strangers?
Actually, for a boring show it was still better than any Academy Awards show in recent memory. There were some high points, including a brilliant opening sketch that had Jimmy Kimmel getting the Botox punched out of him by most of the female nominees. It made me laugh, anyway. I also liked the “In Memoriam” send-up that mourned his own passing. All award shows could use this kind of self-deprecating satire, without waiting for Ricky Gervais to do it for them.
Only a few people stretched out their meaningless litany of thank-yous long enough to be played off the stage. Tom Berenger and Julianne Moore come to mind, and some other gasbag in a tux. By and large, people kept it brief and kept the show moving along. The two lowest points in the show were the flat Tracy Morgan thing that was supposed to trick the Tweeters, and a supremely unfunny bit where Jimmy Kimmel had his parents ousted from the auditorium. Ha, ha.
People talk about surprises at award shows, but the only surprise for me was how few of the nominated shows and actors I even knew. Apart from Breaking Bad, Mad Men and Downton Abbey, I just haven’t seen that many of these supposedly wonderful shows. Complete strangers were up there grabbing awards. That’s what life without cable will do to you.
If people find the Emmy Awards increasingly irrelevant, maybe that’s one reason why: Back in the days of three or four networks, there was a good chance everyone had seen every nominated show and actor. Look at 1969, for example: the big winners were shows like Marcus Welby, M.D., Mannix, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Room 222. Pretty much every American with a TV had seen all of these shows, and presumably found it more interesting that the endless thank-yous were at least being delivered by people they recognized.
Last night, when Homeland‘s Damian Lewis won for best lead actor in a drama, it was literally the first time I’d ever seen the guy. Clearly, I have a choice here: Either spring for a premium cable package, or just wait until all of today’s big hits finally trickle down to Netflix or Amazon. No hurry, I guess. It’s not like I’ll be missing out on any good TV conversations among friends. There hasn’t been a universally watched show since Seinfeld. And probably never will be again.
Somethin’ from the oven
Holiday Bill is back
Give me that remote control
‘Fargo’ in Bemidji
A latter-day look at “Twin Peaks”
“Homeland,” Season 1, IS on Netflix (DVD version), and well worth putting in your queue. The actor who won is very good, as is Clare Danes. I’m not sure HE’S better than the other male nominees, though. A lot of talent on the ballot this year! I’d have been happier with either Cranston or Hamm because I know them both better.
I just put the first season of Homeland in the Netflix. Can’t wait to see what all the fuss is about.
Life without cable is great. We pulled the plug on cable when we bought our first house in 1979 and never looked back. We have a small antenna and get all the networks and PBS. Not having a cable bill every month, we can buy books, CD’s, and quality programming in DVD.
Every fall, the list of shows we consider worth trying is very short, and some of those are only good for five minutes. If we really love a show, it is often cancelled. Case in point, “Jerico.”
We didn’t watch the Emmys, but if we did, we would have been looking at each other wondering who those people were.