From the Chairman
John Shaffner
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Spring is here. Even in southern California, the change of seasons is evident. The rains are ending, the networks are shooting pilots and planning the upfronts, and award shows have been showing terrific ratings gains.
Certainly, the tough winter and the recession have influenced viewing habits, reminding us how cozy and canny it is to stay home and watch television. But the medium can help heal our spirits, not just our wallets: in our increasingly fractured culture we need to gather as one every so often, and great TV events like the Super Bowl, the Olympics and the Oscars have given us plenty to share and discuss.
Spring also marks the start of Emmy season, and here may I address for a moment the members of the Television Academy and our friends in the industry who will soon be applying for membership: Our contest depends on your participation. You have the privilege of nominating and then selecting those to be honored with the Primetime Emmy at our August 29 telecast and our Creative Arts Awards ceremony on August 21.
This is an important responsibility that comes with your membership. So submit your Emmy entries, watch your e-mail for the nomination ballots and sign up for the at-home judging panels. The reward comes in seeing the great work of our industry and knowing that the best work will be recognized because you took part.
Please remember: this year’s awards calendar is condensed — the Primetime Emmys will air the weekend before Labor Day. So please don’t miss the deadlines!
As our contest proceeds, we are working with our telecast partner, NBC, and executive producer Don Mischer, whom we are delighted to welcome back — he did a masterful job last year. Don and his colleagues are already assembling the jigsaw puzzle of talent and entertainment that will become The 62nd Primetime Emmys. Many of their decisions, of course, will depend on you — and the decisions you make that lead to the Emmy nominations.
Even in strong economic times, we work in an uncertain business. But the creativity of the television community will flourish under any circumstances — and in any format. Turn to “The Magic Makers” in this issue of emmy for a look at some of the artists and craftspeople who — yes — make magic on five very different shows. Photographer Kiino Villand went behind the scenes of two dramatic series (True Blood and Mercy), two reality series (Survivor and MythBusters) and a game show (The Newlywed Game). The result is a wonderful window onto the daily life of our community.
One last thing about spring. In the tradition of the renewal of hope, on May 5 we will present the third annual Television Academy Honors, recognizing television with a conscience. This year’s honorees include episodes of CBS’s CSI, Fox’s Glee, ABC’s Private Practice, National Geographic’s Explorer and Current TV’s Vanguard as well as HBO’s Taking Chance and Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am? With Maria Shriver and Discovery Health’s Unlocking Autism. The subjects range from substance abuse to the treatment of persons with disabilities to honoring our soldiers lost in battle.
Each program represents the power of television and, more important, the dedication of our colleagues to bring about a positive discussion of our human condition. We are proud to work among them.
John Shaffner
