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Emmys' Problem: Too Many Cooks

  • Variety, Tuesday, August 18, 2009 9:56 PM

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' structure and politics -- which seek to foster below-the-line democracy in an above-the-line-dominated world -- has gradually disenchanted industry leaders. The Emmys are just a part of it.

Many within the industry have no clue how the TV academy operates -- that the board consists of 28 branches, with two elected governors representing everything from actors, writers and directors to sound, makeup/hairstyling and title design. The arcane underpinnings remain a mystery to the ever-changing network honchos whose license fees largely support the organization and its charitable endeavors. On top of that, the inability to get things accomplished has dissuaded most well-placed executives from pursuing academy posts.

The academy's organizational unruliness has periodically made the Emmys more entertaining off-screen than on. But until these long-festering issues are addressed, those who might be best able to reform the group or help the awards evolve will probably take a pass.

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