Celebrities are dead, let’s party!
This year’s primetime Emmys producer Mark Burnett (of Survivor and Shark Tank fame) was asked by TV critics at press tour how he’ll make this year’s telecast different. ”I think ‘In Memorial’ doesn’t need to be a bummer,” Burnett said, drawing a big unintentional laugh from the critics.
But wait-wait, let the man explain what he actually meant by that:
“It can be a celebration of what’s been left behind,” Burnett said. “One thing about being in this business is people can enjoy your work after you’re gone. I’m looking of it being a more of a raise-up than a bring-down.” The sequence will still be a montage of footage from the person’s career, the producer said, but “there’s different ways of tonality, of making choices.”
Otherwise, Burnett said the show will have more “spoof moments” like on the MTV Movie Awards, which Burnett recently produced. ”You can jump off the cliff on MTV, you can lean over it [on Fox],” he said. “Good-natured fun about what television is, that’s our theme.”
That’s stupid! You’re suppose to show respect for the dead. Does’nt sound like that guy has any respect at all. I like the part of an awards show when they remind & remember who’s passed on.
Celebrating a person’s life and work is the best way you can respect them once they’re gone. It’s a whole lot better than just mourning their death.
How is celebrating someone’s career not showing respect?
Yeah, but you remember Amy Winehouse by listening to her MUSIC, not by looking at a black and white photo of her while Queen Latifah sings. Same for TV — Burnett is right on.
Yes I did, Yes I did. Somebody please tell him who the F I is.
Maybe he can ask Debbie Allen to choreograph some dance numbers to accompany the In Memoriam?
Good to hear. I have no problems with people wanting to celebrate someone’s life than sit quietly and not express any emotion whatsoever.
What is wrong with quiet reflection? Do you people want people to start rolling on the floor with tears or laughter to prove they are emotional? There is a time and a place for everything. My main concern is that will increase the star-o-meter factor of the memoriam. I cringe every year when they start clapping at the memorial, then they skip a couple people, then clap for a more famous person. You can just imagine how the family members will feel when their loved one gets a low level of applause. It is so tacky.
The time for a solemn and more respectful rememberance was the FUNERAL or MEMORIAL SERVICE. This is the Emmys, and I for one whole-heartedly agree it should be a CELEBRATION of their work. And no matter who did what, there will always be more popular. I have no problem with that. If you are worried an “unknown” writer’s family will feel cheated, buy a ticket and clap away when you see him.
It’s not a bummer. It’s reverent. There is a distinct difference.
More “spoof” moments? Oh good, ’cause those always go over well.
Now I know for sure I won’t be watching.
Classic Burnett trying to by edgy…let’s hope its not a travesty for the relatives. He’s modeling this show after the MTV Movie Awards… wow did anybody even watch the latest MTV Movie Awards? It used to be popular in the ….90s…now… it has just faded into obscurity and Burnett is going to do the same to the Emmys!
I don’t think the In Memoriam is a bummer now, it’s just lower energy than the rest of the show, which is appropriate. Death is a time for reflection and remembrance and trying to make it into a celebration of the person’s work takes away from the fact that, regardless of whatever achievements someone has acquired, the reason for the memorial is to acknowledge that “here was a human being, part of our community, and now he/she is gone but not forgotten.” People are more than how big their last hit was or how much power and influence they have and this achievements slant will disregard that. I like the quiet, honest moment of remembrance. I don’t know what’s going on in the theater when it’s playing; maybe the audience is milling around and not paying attention?
He needs to be very careful how he approaches it. If he takes up too much time to be different people will be left out and that is all he will hear the next day – who he left out.
Sadly, someone always ends up being left out anyways.
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