How Many Hosts Does It take To...

Ciao, Ciao!

Welcome to another week. Indeed much has happened since our last visit...Some good and some not so much.

However for this brief moment of entertainment, I will focus on what can be largely controlled positive here in the world of news and politics (aka Hollywood).

So, let's get right down to business.

And The Award Goes To...
Just as many, I am sure that you viewed the 60th Annual Emmy Awards last Sunday evening.

The big winners of the evening were 30 Rock (NBC) and Mad Men (AMC). Surprisingly, Mad Men made history with the win, being the first basic cable program to win for Outstanding Drama.

Really, I could not be more thrilled as for the most part, I do not spend time regularly watching Network shows. Most of my viewing (Largely accomplished by Tivo), transpires on cable. Most of my favorite shows are not Network based programs, but the boutique programs offered by way of cable.

Having said, I would have preferred to see an actual category for Outstanding Reality Series in which a cable Reality Show (Non-scripted, Non-Competitive) could be recognized and rewarded.

The deserved contenders of such an award would be powerful and insightful programs such as A&E's riveting Intervention, Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch, or The History Channel's Ice Road Truckers.

Friends of the Academy, such a pertinent category is long overdue!

The Not So Opener
As mentioned in earlier post, the show slightly modified in format included not only one, but as well, four additional hosts....All Reality Show (For the most part) favorites such as Heidi Klum (You either in or you Auf Wiedersehen), Howie Mandel (Who came a long way from stand-up), Tom Bergeron (?), Ryan Seacrest (Cornerstone of E! programming), and Jeff Probst (Dimples).

What was expected and lauded as a historic moment, was soon bandied the worst in historic moments for the long running awards show.

Quite frankly, the thought of one, two, three, four, and even five hosts sounded like a good idea - If you can get such a great response from the usual one host, why not have several?

More important, why don't we dispel rumors of the notion that Reality Shows are largely unscripted by having them (The myriad of hosts) babble about on stage. No, we don't need rehearsal, just get up on stage and just say whatever comes to mind....Or, not....

Show Opener: MASSIVE FAILURE.

Flashback 2007...Speaking of tragic events, you may recall, the Writer's Strike late last year in which we lost Billions of dollars in production, ad revenue and sponsorships, time and countless jobs in a period of just 4.5 months.

During the tumult, what most discovered is that the hosts of said Reality Shows are actually reciting SCRIPTED dialog from an actual professional, creative writer. Yes, even your beloved David Letterman uses scripted jokes and dialog written by the hand of an experienced raconteur.

Reality Show Host + Live Television = Real Live Hosted Disaster
How was it ever expected that Reality Show hosts are actually useful in real situations?!

Further, how could said hosts ever have agreed to such a potentially disastrous laden circumstance? Was there some level of trickery involved or was the Academy attempting to prove a point.

Perhaps the intended message was something like, "You're not as Real as you think - you Reality Show people" (-?).

Alas, although Reality Shows are absolute fodder for many, the realism is that the top rated shows on television continue to be Reality Shows, season after season.

My irreverent position: This only the beginning and we will definitely see even more integration of Reality Shows into the television landscape as we move forward....

Get ready for another 10 years of American Idol, Survivor, Project Runway, Deal or No Deal, and America's Funniest home videos. Good Fun.