Emmy Abominations: What You Can Do to Stop Them

From E! Online - Grill, Gossip & Gripe by Wanda - July 20th, 2001

It has been more than a week since the Emmy nominations, and I've managed to calm down--a little. And I have you to thank for that. The only thing that kept me sane this week (okay, saner) was the deluge of emails commiserating over the repeat nominees, supporting the snubbed casts and offering advice on how we can make those Emmy voters wake up and smell the steaming-mad fans.

As promised, during the past two days at the UPN and the WB press tours, I passed along your heartfelt messages of support (and frustration) to some of the most robbed contenders--Gilmore Girls' Lauren Graham, Buffy creator Joss Whedon and the entire gang of Scoobies. They were touched by your well wishes and asked me to send back a big fat thanks for "getting" what they do, unlike those silly Emmy tube boobs.

So, before we get into the meat of today's column--what you can do to help open the Emmys to new shows and stars--I wanted to share with you what a few Buffy-ites think of all this Emmy nonsense.

Alyson Hannigan: "An Emmy nod would be a cherry on the icing that already had cherries on it. But really, the fact that the fans and the press are supporting us and saying, 'Pshaw! Why didn't Buffy get a nomination?' That means even more."

Nicholas Brendon: "Sarah, Alyson and James really should have been considered. They did amazing work. But this year just proves that the voters' eyes are wide shut again."

Joss Whedon: "I defy anybody else to find a better ensemble. So, on their behalf, I get a little annoyed, but honestly, it never occurred to me we'd get any Emmys. I mean, the show's called Buffy the Vampire Slayer, guys. If my kids were doctors, we might get nominated, but that's not going to happen."

So, since Joss isn't turning the show into "Dr. Summers the Disease Slayer" any time soon, I figure it's time to rally the troops and push for changes in the ATAS. After reading your emails, I've listed the best suggestions for ways to make sure the same shows don't keep getting nominated.

What the Emmy Board Can Do

1. Term Limits on Nominees: Three nominations, and you're out. That way, Dennis Franz and Kelsey Grammer won't have to fake complete shock every year when their names are called for the umpteenth time.

2. Term Limits on Voters: As one fan named Libby put it: "Do we really want to see the Emmy equivalent of Strom Thurmond making these decisions?" Enough said.

3. Add a Young Actor/Actress Category: Not a favorite of mine, because I think badasses like Sarah Michelle Gellar, Michelle Tractenberg and Evan Rachel Wood can duke it out with the best of them, but many of you pushed for this. Granted, it has worked for the Daytime Emmys--Sarah got her one and only Emmy nod back in her All My Children days.

4. Copy the Grammys: Select a well-rounded panel to oversee the nomination choices, and rectify any crazy misjudgments. Of course, this isn't failsafe. Think Milli Vanilli.

5. Retrieve Voters' Heads from the Nether Regions: This might take some serious medical procedures, but as Joss points out, they've got more than enough doctors in the house.

Now, Here's What You Can Do

1. Join the Grrr...Argh Campaign: I'm not sure where this originated, because I received it from a slew of places, but it's a fab idea: Go down to your local minimart and pick a postcard, one that depicts the lovely features of your local area, whether it be Toronto or Kiev. In the message space, write: "Grrr...Argh!" (the ending quip on Joss Whedon's shows). Send to: Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, 5220 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601.

2. Wait for Next Year's WandAwards: This year, the WandAwards were all about recognizing the quirky little categories the Emmys don't address. Next year's event is still in the works, but given the current ATAS backlash, I'd say we're ready to roll out more of an "anti-Emmys" feel, with the same old categories but none of the same old nominees, because we'll have voters who "get it" (namely, you).

3. Relax: Realize that in the grand scheme of things, maybe the Emmys really don't matter. As James Marsters says: "I think it's cool we're overlooked--I'm serious. When your mom starts to hum Britney Spears while doing the dishes, she's not cool anymore. So, if we don't get Emmys, the hell with them. Joss doesn't want uncool people watching us anyway."

I'm only halfway through the TCA press tour, and already, I have a ton of juicy tidbits to share. So, join me this Monday at 6 p.m. ET for the latest on your fave stars and shows--including Aidan and Carrie's fate on SATC, what's brewing on Charmed's new season and Roswell's trouble with an unhappy cast member who's lost his hankerin' for Tabasco.

In the meantime, check out why James doesn't want Buffy and Spike to get together in Monday's Multimedia clip.