Do people still care about the Emmys?
Ratings do not look good (6.9 million). But, they usually adjust up as the day goes on. Last year (2018), the show saw a brutal low as well. With only 10.7 million for a show that honors the best in TV (it is on TV) and it cannot get more than 20 million spells doom for the industry. No matter how they spin it, it is not good. Award shows serve as an advertisement and commercial for the industry, so if no one tuned it, that becomes a waste. Why advertise on a with such low ratings for a special, live event? show that It is designed to praise your industry and you want to people to watch it. Anybody that is in the business and says ratings do not matter and having viewers tune in is irrelevant, is not being honest. And do not let them tell you that the NFL took viewers away. Not likely since they are two different audiences, for the most part. The Oscars, without a host, rose in ratings, but was still low for that broadcast. But, the numbers the Emmys are getting hurt since it honors TV, and is on TV. See ratings. So, if this show was on Netflix, HBO, or Showtime, it would be even lower in ratings, so do not tell me because the shows that are nominated and win are not on broadcast TV, that does not wash with me. More households have broadcast TV and basic cable than those services. No one is getting to sign up for Netflix, Showtime, or HBO, just to watch an award show. And those who already have that service, apparently are not tuning in to see it, anywhere on TV. Putting it on You Tube, etc. is not the answer. There are no TV stars like their used to be and it is not must see anymore. A live event usually pulls in more people but the Emmys, or the Tonys, do not. They lose more and more every year.
* ​As the 71st Emmy Award telecast came to end, one thing was certain. Having no host suited the show just fine. And it went very smooth without one, as it did with the Oscars. Can this trend last or will it spark some sort of internal backlash among hosts and emcees? As expected "Game of Thrones" was crowned the top drama but other awards surprised. No, not that others were snubbed, some winners were not expected and that was a good thing. The one show, "Fleabag," was that surprise.
 And what a fun one it was. Most people have never seen it and most likely will not, but it now has more interest then it every will.
Sure, that will die out. Nevermind the awards for a moment and ask yourself, do people still care about the Emmys? A show about TV stars has expanded to include streaming and You Tube.It feels like it is bloated and just because we consume our entertainment in many ways now, that does not mean the Emmys need to embrace all of it. 
 There is no way, even when I covered entertainment on a regular basis, could I keep up with all the product nowadays. Or would want to. They keep touting this era as the platinum time because of all the choices, but I contend that it is killing interest in the long run - and killing broadcast TV and even basic cable.
​ Yes, we live in a different time for TV consumption, but award shows have not seen the same interest as they used to, and that is their fault, not the viewers.
* Even I do not cover the show the same. Sure, I was younger, but it feels so different now. The Red Carpet shows are lame, and unprofessional. Even those had a different feel. Now, they have people who do not deserve to cover it, doing so. That was a badge of honor to be there and it was limited, that we felt honored to be a part of an exclusive event (yet televised). 

We will get a change to see if people still care about these. The Emmys, which honor TV, has a hard time of late holding an audience. The Daytime Emmys could not even find a TV network to air it. It may not be a trend of hate and politics hurting the ratings, but too much product. No way  can anyone keep up, and we cannot even fake watch all the shows that are on. And that is what happens when the award shows come around. Those talking heads on the carpet, etc. have to talk to all the stars, and there is not a chance they have seen many of the shows. And the stars do alienate the audience with their politics and talk down to those in which they disagree. 

* It is a Purple Carpet, no a red or burgundy one.
* Going in to the night, the Emmys for many categories, were already awarded. See other posts for those winners.
* The tally that will be given out tonight (the inflated totals you will see and read when the show is over) take those into consideration.

Round two of Emmys 2019, handed out Sept. 16, 2019

Press release: ​Game of Thrones and Chernobyl Propel HBO to Top of 2019 Creative Arts Emmys Sunday Night ShowThrones tops all with 10, Chernobyl scores 7; Cherry Jones, Luke Kirby, Jane Lynch and Bradley Whitford are outstanding guest performers; State of the Union sweeps short-form categories


SECOND NIGHT OF 2019 CREATIVE ARTS EMMY® WINNERS ANNOUNCED (Los Angeles, Calif. – Sept. 15, 2019) The Television Academy tonight presented the second of its two 2019 Creative Arts Emmy® Awards ceremonies honoring outstanding artistic and technical achievement in television at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. The ceremony honored performers, artists and craftspeople for excellence in short form drama and comedy series..full press release here, from the Television Academy

As usual, the most Emmys that will be handed out do not take place during the live broadcast. They happen a week before.

* People always get mad at certain winners. That feels like it is talked about more, at times, than the winners. Remember a snub indicates that the winner did not deserve to win. No matter what, the one you may want to win, may not have won even if the one that did, was not in the category, or did not win. Huh? Sheesh.

A snub to one person is a win for another.

Yes, these awards are often political in nature, too, and not just the politicians sort of way.

The Sept. 14 award ceremony will be televised later. That always make me chuckle. These are important, but they are not so important that they need to be aired live, or on the same day as they are presented.

Here is the press release from the Television Academy:
FIRST NIGHT OF 2019 CREATIVE ARTS EMMY® WINNERS ANNOUNCED (Los Angeles, Calif. – Sept. 14, 2019) The Television Academy tonight presented the first of its two 2019 Creative Arts Emmy® Awards ceremonies honoring outstanding artistic and technical achievement in television at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. The ceremony, which kicked-off the 71st Emmys, awarded many talented artists and craftspeople in categories including reality, variety special, documentary, animated program and short form animation, choreography for variety or reality program, and interactive program. This year’s first Creative Arts Awards, executive produced by Bob Bain, featured presenters from television’s top shows including Will Arnett (BoJack Horseman), Marsha Stephanie Blake (When They See Us), Roy Choi and Jon Favreau (The Chef Show), Terry Crews (America’s Got Talent), Jeff Goldblum (The World According to Jeff Goldblum), Seth Green (Robot Chicken), Diane Guerrero (Orange Is the New Black), Derek Hough (World of Dance), Marie Kondo (Tidying Up With Marie Kondo), Nick Kroll (Big Mouth) and Wanda Sykes (Wanda Sykes: Not Normal). FXX will broadcast the awards on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 8:00 PM ET/PT.

Other press release: ​Netflix Leads Saturday Night Edition of 71st Creative Arts Emmys with 15, National Geographic Follows with 8 ...Nat Geo documentary Free Solo leads all programs with seven awards, legendary producer Norman Lear wins his fifth career Emmy at age 97