• Variety, Thursday, February 19, 2009 9:45 AM

With Oscar producers promising a rethink of this year's program, execs at the Emmys are mulling their own prime-time shake-up. Facing what could be another brutal year for award-show ratings, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences may present fewer awards on air this year. It is an answer to critics who have blasted the Emmycast's bloat.

Insiders say the ATAS wants to shuffle categories, such as TV movie, miniseries, reality and variety shows, out of the actual broadcast. Possibly they would be moved into a pre-show ceremony the same evening.

Former Academy governor Stanley M. Brooks expresses concern that TV movies and miniseries might be treated as a "stepsister to series." The problem is not too many awards, he says, "it's that the show is not very good. Give us something relevant. It would be a real tragedy if they diminished the show by eliminating any of the long-form categories."

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