- Title: USA: PREVIEW OF 52ND EMMY TELEVISION AWARDS
- Date: 6th September 2000
- Summary: (REUTERS -ACCESS ALL) SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) RICE SAYING: "I think it's the same thing in the best actor category as it is best drama. You are going to see it come down to the sopranos versus "The West Wing." Again, is an actor in a buzz show going to win over an actor in a show that probably should have won last year? The thing working against the "Sopranos" is that s
- Embargoed: 21st September 2000 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES/VARIOUS FILMING LOCATIONS
- Country: USA
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVAEAUJSPJS0N90NCZDLD2FU066R
- Story Text: It's politics versus the mob at the emmys this year.
With only a few days remaining until the 52nd annual emmy awards, the race for the coveted emmy award is shaping up to one between a show that tracks the characters of a fictional White House and a show about a suburban family whose father happens to be in the mob.
The television industry is getting ready to honor their best. Red carpets are being rolled out and Hollywood is buzzing with predictions about who will win and who will lose.
It's come down to two favourite shows, "The West Wing"
and the "Sopranos" both nominated for 10 emmys a piece.
There are those who believe that this should be the year that the "Sopranos." Last year it was nominated for the first time and everyone assumed it would win because it had such a strong first year but it lost to the "Practice."
Television correspondent Lynette Rice with Entertainment Weekly predicts this year will belong to "The West Wing."
"We will probably see the West Wing win over the Sopranos," Rice said.
But she warned the emmys are known to be a year late on rewarding great shows, "so, if you go with the emmy history 'The Sopranos' would win."
"It'll be interesting to watch if that rule will apply or buzz will take over and "The West Wing" will indeed win."
Martin Sheen, nominated for "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Dramatic Series" heads all-star cast of "The West Wing." He plays fictional U.S. President Josiah Bartlet. Also nominated from "The West Wing" brat-packer Rob Lowe (St. Elmo's Fire), Richard Schiff (Deep Impact) and Allison Janney (American Beauty).
"The West Wing" debuted this year to critical acclaim.
Award-winning writer Aaron Sorkin, who comes to television via the feature film world, is the series creator and executive producer. His credits include "A Few Good Men" and
"The American President."
"The Wing Wing" revolves around fictional U.S. President Josiah Bartlet and his press staff as they try to solve "fictionalize" international relations problems and domestic policy crisis'. Former White House Press Secretary Dee Dee Meyers is one of many former White House insiders who brings a sense of truism to the fictional Oval office.
In the "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Dramatic Series" it's again 'The Sopranos' and the 'West Wing' which are going head to head.
"I think it's the same thing in the best actor category as it is in the best drama. You are going to see it come down to the "Sopranos" versus "The West Wing." Is an actor in a buzz show going to win over an actor in a show that probably should have won last year?"
Rice believes the votes will come out in favour of Martin Sheen.
The emmy battle for best comedy series is seeing two series which take very different approaches to comedy running neck and neck.
HBO's "Sex and the City" a show about four single women living in Manhattan has no laugh track and comes right out, talks openly about sex, dating and men. While network sitcom show "Everybody Loves Raymond" relies on a traditional approach, using laugh tracks and more subtle language.
"Sex and the City" is favoured to take home the emmy award, saying the show takes chances by not incorporating a laugh track and speaking candidly about sex.
But Rice disagrees, "Everybody Loves Raymond' disproves that theory that you don't have to cuss you don't have to show nudity to be a great show."
Another close showdown is in the "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series." Michael J. Fox, left his hit sitcom "Spin City" because of Parkinson's disease is nominated. But his competition is stiff. He is up against emmy-award winner John Lithgow in "3rd Rock From the Sun," and newcomer Eric McCormick for "Will and Grace" a new sitcom about a gay man living with a straight woman in New York City. And also, he is up against critical favourite Ray Romano.
"There is a feeling that maybe he'll get those additional votes for sentimental reasons not necessarily because he deserves them," Rice said.
Of course, no one will really know who the winner is until the finally envelope is read on Sunday night (September 11th). But if predictions are accurate the cast and crew of "The "West Wing" who threw a party during the Democratic National Convention this past August for their real life counterparts just may be preparing to throw another party -- this time celebrating their emmy sweep. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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