Son of Jack Klugman upset over Emmys tribute

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- The son of late actor Jack Klugman says a tribute to actor Cory Monteith at this Emmys on Sunday should also include his father.

Adam Klugman called out the organizers of the Emmys for creating a special tribute to Monteith, a former "Glee" cast member who died of heroin and alcohol poisoning in July, while putting his father, who starred in the 1970s television shows "The Odd Couple" and "Quincy, M.E.," in a routine "In Memoriam" video, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Jack Klugman passed away in December.

"They're celebrating this self-inflicted tragedy instead of celebrating the life of my father, who won three Emmys. ... Cory Monteith never won an Emmy," Klugman said, referring to Monteith's overdose.

Klugman said he has nothing against Monteith, who died at the age of 31, but "to compare the contribution he made to the contribution my father made -- it doesn't compare."

"Every generation of television viewers has its favorites, and when we decided to expand the 'In Memoriam' segment to remember certain individuals, we wanted these pieces to be representative as well," Emmys executive producer Ken Ehrlich said. "To a younger generation, Cory Monteith's portrayal of Finn Hudson was highly admired, and the producers felt that he should be included along with the four other individuals we have singled out."