I have a cool perk from my old job at NBC. I am a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (ATAS) and I get to vote for Emmy programs as a member of the Television Executives branch. Each year I get dozens of TV screeners on my doorstep. As a print professional, my first thrill is with the packaging. I still have a Food Network lunch pail and an American Idol 45 from the days when presentation was important.
Now, most networks send utilitarian packaging. Regardless of the outer package, I am thrilled that they still send DVDs. My intentions are always pure in April when they begin to arrive. I plan to watch them all. Quickly, the screeners become akin to Lucy and Ethel at the chocolate factory--there's no way to keep up! I wonder if the TV critics even can. I end up relying on my friends and co-workers to help me decide what to vote for.
The way the Emmy voting process works is this http://emmys.org/news/awards-news/infographic-how-primetime-emmy-won: In June, 17,000+ of us fill out ballots to nominate 10 shows per category (Comedy, Drama, Miniseries, Variety Show, etc.) There are some categories like Children's programming that I don't even fill out. Others like Unstructured Reality Program (Kardashians, Real Housewives, Duck Dynasty, etc.) I could not bring myself to vote for. After the nominations are announced, you can sign up as a Blue Ribbon Panel judge for two categories. You can't judge the main categories more than two years in a row. This year I chose Short Format Nonfiction and Comedies.
For Short Format Nonfiction Program, we only had to judge if the piece was worthy of an Emmy. I said yes to 30 for 30 Shorts about Arthur Ashe and I Was There: Boston Marathon Bombings. 30 for 30 won.
For Outstanding Comedy Series you are sent two episodes of the nominated series: Orange is the New Black, The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, Louie, Veep and Silicon Valley. I think this is a flaw in the Emmy voting process. There should be more nominations and the panels should have to watch the WHOLE series. Of these series, I had watched one in its entirety already, had another on my DVR but had only seen a few episodes and had not watched any of the others.
I watched them in this order and here's what I thought:
Orange is the New Black: I love this series and it's the one I had already seen. As much as I love it, I have a hard time considering it a COMEDY.
The Big Bang Theory: I know lots of people love this show and I wanted to be one of them. I just couldn't stomach the laugh track.
Louie: Very likeable, but I don't think these episodes were the best of the season.
Modern Family: A favorite that I have fallen behind in watching. Reminded me of why I love it. Solid A-B-C story lines, great cast. Definitely worthy of winning for the fifth time.
Silicon Valley: Surprising. Had not hard many people talk about it. Made me want to watch more episodes, possibly too much of an inside joke to appeal to many,
Veep: Another surprise. I don't get HBO so I had not seen this series before. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tony Hale, Anna Chlumsky, Matt Walsh, Reid Scott, Timothy Simons and Sufe Bradshaw are absolutely perfect in this cast. The dialogue and acting are so quick and on point it's like watching an Argentinian Tango. It's as irreverent as can be, yet with a mushy heartfelt core.
My Emmy vote, just edging out Modern Family went to VEEP. Who would you vote for? I'll be watching Monday night. Join me on Twitter @pinkypulse #Emmys!
