Hollywood, CA - Made-for-TV movie The Reagans, which was forced off the CBS schedule last fall after a slew of conservatives and Republicans voiced their disapproval, has been awarded with seven Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Movie. Historians called the movie pure fiction and critics almost unanimously bashed it, so how is it up for seven awards?
The Emmy voters are trying to send a message to Washington - and to the public - in this election year. They are promoting left-leaning messages by awarding and publicizing programs that contain them, even if the programs aren't very good.
Noting the political aspect of The Reagans' inclusion, TV critic Aaron Barnhart wrote: "What - you think they nominated The Reagans because it was good??"
The trend continues with 12 nominations for "The West Wing." Although the show is a longtime critical favorite, most media writers have observed a sharp decline in quality since the show's creator, Aaron Sorkin, left in 2003. The storylines have become more melodramatic and borrow from soap opera conventions. Still, the liberal president played by Martin Sheen "has been labeled wish fulfillment for Democrats," writes Kay McFadden in the July 19 issue of the Seattle Times.
For some Emmy voters, punching the ballot for "West Wing" is the next most satisfying thing to casting a vote for Kerry in November.
The largest share of nominations went to "Angels in America," the HBO miniseries about the breakout of AIDS in the 80s. This movie levies a heavy criticism against the Reagan administration for not acting swiftly or decisively on the issue, and it takes steps to further normalize homosexuality in American life. Film and television critics had extremely positive things to say about "Angels," unlike The Reagans and the last season of "The West Wing," which at least restores some credibility to the Emmy proceedings.
Even for the biggest optimist, it's hard to ignore the political flavor of this year's nominations. The slant makes it harder to take the Emmy Awards seriously, which was pretty difficult from the start, and it is further proof that the Hollywood entertainment establishment is solidly pro-Democrat.
McFadden is very bold about it: "The recognition afforded all three shows is part and parcel of an election year in which the heavily pro-John Kerry entertainment community is launching a show-business assault on the administration of President George W. Bush."
