Emmy Episode Submissions: A Look Back
Emmy Submission Blunders: When Grate Shows Missed the Mark
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The Emmy Awards, a glittering celebration of television’s finest, are also a stage for some truly baffling decisions. While we frequently enough focus on who wins, the real drama, for some of us, lies in the submissions. specifically, the moments when actors, or their teams, made choices that left us scratching our heads, wondering what could have been.
The Case of Jason Alexander and the Unforgettable Eclair
few actors embody the frustration of Emmy snubs quite like Jason Alexander. despite his iconic portrayal of the perpetually neurotic George Costanza on Seinfeld, Alexander famously never took home an Emmy for his work on the show. And oh, the opportunities he missed!
In 1995, Alexander made two submission choices that, in retrospect, feel like colossal missteps. He submitted “The Race,” an episode where George is under suspicion of being a communist,and “The Gymnast,” memorable for George’s desperate act of eating an eclair out of a garbage can. These were the episodes he put forward for consideration during a season that offered far richer comedic territory.
Imagine the possibilities! He could have submitted “The Big Salad,” where George experiences a comedic-of-manners freak-out over a seemingly innocuous large salad. Or perhaps “The Beard,” which features George’s meltdown after being set up with a bald woman. These episodes showcased the full spectrum of George’s anxieties and absurdities, the very qualities that made the character a television legend. It’s a blunder that, even 30 years later, can ignite passionate debate among fans.
Blue-Ribbon panels: A Double-Edged Sword
The Emmy system has evolved, but in the past, “blue-ribbon panels” played a important role in determining winners. These panels, comprised of older, often retired Academy members, had the unenviable task of screening numerous submitted episodes. While their dedication was admirable, their preferences sometimes led to peculiar outcomes.
One irksome tendency was the prioritization of comedy actors who submitted more dramatic episodes. This approach, which seems to echo in some current award season discussions, meant that the nuanced comedic performances were sometimes overlooked in favor of more overtly dramatic turns. Debra Messing‘s Emmy win for a Will & Grace episode where the titular characters have a heated argument about having a baby is a prime example of this phenomenon.
Yet,there’s a compelling argument to be made for the return of such a system. In today’s television landscape, where the sheer volume of content can be overwhelming, a curated panel tasked with meticulously reviewing episode submissions could offer a valuable service. It could help cut through the noise, ensuring that truly remarkable work, even within a crowded field, gets the attention it deserves.
Making Episode Submissions Matter Again
The idea of making episode submissions more impactful is certainly appealing. It’s a way to re-center the awards on the craft of acting and the specific storytelling choices made within a season. It encourages actors and their teams to think strategically about which episodes best represent their performance and the quality of the show.While the blue-ribbon panels had their flaws, their core function – to provide a focused, expert evaluation of submitted work – is something we could benefit from revisiting. In an era of Peak TV, where distinguishing the truly outstanding can be a challenge, a system that encourages thoughtful submissions and expert review might be exactly what the Emmys need to regain their focus. it’s a concept that, much like George Costanza’s most memorable moments, is worth revisiting and, perhaps, even championing.