On over-long award shows like the Emmys, Mark Evanier writes:
What do you want them to cut? The entertainment interludes? That would be like PBS cancelling the show you want to watch but retaining the pledge breaks…or something like that.
Has he seen PBS recently?
Still, he’s got a point. I don’t usually watch the Emmys, but I saw more of this Oscar ceremony than I expected to. And, with rare exception, it was hard to point at any one specific thing they should have cut. Short of scrapping the show altogether — which isn’t going to happen — the best option seems to be fast-forwarding through the boring parts like Evanier and just watching the little bits you want.
There’s invariably something or someone I want to see in award shows, but I am a big fan of the taping and FF method.
As far as the Emmys, I watch those for the writing award for comedy/variety shows. They all send in hysterical film clips. This year the best was Late Night – the writer’s names were announced to a group of Mexicans getting in the back of Conan’s pick up truck. Now that’s a classic.