Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe The star-crossed 53rd annual Emmy Awards, twice postponed, may be canceled altogether. The TV academy may yet attempt a third date for the awards show, a spokeswoman said Tuesday. Advertisement "No decisions have been made yet," said she. "Several alternatives are being considered. It may take a few days." The problem: whether an awards show of any kind for any reason should be contemplated on national TV following so closely the Sept. 11 tragedies in New York and Washington D.C. The term "appropriate" comes into play at every turn. With the country still mourning the deaths of 6,000 innocent people at the hands of terrorists, is it suitable to celebrate anything of a trivial nature in the mass media? To begin with, the 2001 Emmy show was scheduled for network broadcast Sept. 16. It was shelved as inappropriate following the attack on America Sept. 11 and subsequent vigil of rescue workers at ground zero where the twin towers of the World Trade Center once stood. Advertisement Thereafter, the White House asked Americans to carry on with the lives, their work and their traditions. That call echoed throughout the country by politicians, clergy, and others to show the world the United States would not be intimidated by the brutality of crazed zealots. The TV academy, heeding the call, re-set the Emmy ceremonies, vastly changed and of a patriotic nature, to be held Sunday evening Oct. 7, which was last Sunday. Sunday morning while huge Emmy statuettes were being lifted into place and the red carpet unrolled at the Los Angeles Shrine auditorium, news media reported the counter-attack on Taliban installations in Afghanistan. Partly because the major networks were devoting the day to covering the results of military responses in the war against terrorism, the TV academy deemed it wise to cancel once again the Emmy show. The cancellation wasn't due to fear of terrorist reprisal activity at the event so much as realization of the insignificance of glamour and hoopla over the inconsequential celebration of a show business promotion. The decision to postpone was buttressed by the fact many actors and actresses nominated for awards as well as presenters called to say they would not participate in the show when our troops and aircraft were in harm's way in the Middle East. Advertisement Before noon Sunday word went out from CBS, which was to broadcast the Emmys, and the TV academy, that the event was scrubbed. Apparently no one, including the stars involved and the producers, objected to the decision to postpone the show. Perhaps the only individual to voice disappointment was the show's hostess Ellen Degeneres who is fighting her own demons with a new sitcom this fall and a recent highly publicized broken romance. The Emmy show was to have been a major boost in elevating the blonde comedienne's career by her return to television's weekly programming parade. With two postponements, the 53rd Emmy Awards have declined in timeliness and public interest. They are, after all, something of an intrusion now. Most of the new shows have made their debuts and one, "Danny" (starring Daniel Stern) has already been canceled after only two episodes. The 2000-2001 season shows are old hat now, although some of the winners include dramatic and comedy shows that are enjoying long runs. Entertainment award shows are major money-makers for their sponsoring organizations with the secondary benefit of publicizing the stars, films and shows for economic purposes. Sponsors of such shows as the Tonys, Oscars, Emmys and Golden Globes contribute millions of dollars to the coffers of the organizations, i.e. Broadway shows, movie and TV academies and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Advertisement The presentations represent an opportunity to stage a two- or three-hour extravaganza filled with celebrated actors and actresses -- as nominees, winners and presenters -- to an adoring public. They are awarded trinkets in the guise of statuettes of one sort of another for excellence of performance or artistic expertise. The lavish events' TV ratings are more essential than emotional responses, including tearful acceptance speeches and hilarity provided by unscheduled goofs or clever masters of ceremonies. If the awards were sincere acknowledgments of achievement or gratitude such as gold watch presentations given retiring employees by other organizations there would be no profit. But this is SHOW BUSINESS wherein hoopla, glitz and pizzazz are de rigueur. And the cost is little. Recipient millionaire stars turn up for nothing. They aren't paid a dime. After all, they are being honored by their peers for being the best in the business with eye-popping salaries. Moreover, they are being seen by uncounted millions of bedazzled fans. Maybe this year it would be better all around if Emmy winners were notified by mail and the award FedEx'ed to them post-paid.
