Fine-tuning Emmy Awards categories isn’t unusual for the Television Academy in any given year. Case in point, the upcoming 78th edition will feature changes to category names (Outstanding TV Movie is now Outstanding Movie) and rule clarifications (for Outstanding Main Theme Title Music, both the main and main-on-end of a program will be eligible).
But creating a new award altogether is more of a rarity — the last time the academy did it was 2007, when it inaugurated the Honors Award to recognize programming that drives positive social change. Well, until now: This year marks the first-ever Legacy Award, “presented to television programs that have made a ‘profound and lasting impact’ on audiences and remain relevant to society, culture and the industry.”
To find out why it took the academy this long to create the award, who actually receives the Emmy statue and when it will be given, The Envelope spoke with Television Academy President and Chief Executive Maury McIntyre.
How early did the talks start about creating the Legacy Award?
In general, we’re talking about awards throughout the year. We have an awards committee that meets almost every other month to talk about changes just in terms of either things we have seen at the academy or things that other peer groups or the governors themselves have brought up.
But the Legacy Award came about because of a conversation with Pearlena Igbokwe [chairman, Television Studios, NBC Entertainment and Peacock Scripted]. She asked, “Why don’t we do an award that celebrates shows that have had a long-lasting impact?” And we were all like, “That’s a really great idea. We should have done this years ago.” It was just one of those things that when people ask, “Why now?” I’m like, “Because we were idiots and didn’t think about it until now.”
What was the process for getting it approved and making it a reality?
Once Pearlena gave me the idea, I worked with our awards department to flesh it out. I took it back to our executive committee to say, “Here is what we would propose it maybe [should] look like.” We got some feedback from them, so once that happened, we [took] it to the awards committee. Since the Legacy Award is going to be an Emmy, it goes to them for their consideration. They made some changes and then once they review it, if they approve it, it then goes to the board for official approval to move forward.
Was the name always the Legacy Award?
It has been the Legacy Award ever since it got presented and once that happens, how could you call it something else? We have a Hall of Fame for professionals who work in the industry and we need a Hall of Fame for shows that really stood the test of time and that’s a little bit what the Legacy Award is.
Since the award goes to a show, who receives a statue?
The way it’s worded, it’s supposed to go to the top creative individuals who made the show and its legacy. If you give a Governors Award to a program, it usually goes to the main distribution partner but then up to four or five executive producers that had the most to do with the longevity of the show.
This is the first year we’re giving it, but we may find that there could be a director who actually directed most of the episodes and they deserve some of the award. For us, again, it’s really about who in that core creative team helped give this its long life.
Per the release, show nominations come from board of governors and special committees but also “individuals who may suggest recipients in a letter to the Television Academy.” Can anyone nominate a show?
Absolutely. Submit a letter! Part of this award is it has made a lasting impact on the audience, so we want to hear from the audience. What touched you and what still means something to you?
The rules also state shows must have a minimum of 60 episodes over at least five seasons to be eligible, which excludes big shows like “Ted Lasso” or “Succession,” for example.
We went back and forth on what’s the right number and how many years. We may get into it in 10 years and realize we are losing out on some of the most impactful shows because we’re not allowing it to be three seasons or whatever. We think that right now we’ve got a large cohort that we can get to with what we’ve got.
And how’s the conversation going about when and where the award will be given?
It will probably continue to be a conversation until we know who the award is going to. Once we know the [recipient of the] Governors Award or the Bob Hope Award, then we can have a conversation. Does the network want to showcase that? Does it make more sense to put in the Creative Arts Emmys? Or Televerse, our new festival that occurs in August? We have a number of places to do it and I think it’s just a matter of “Where does it fit the best?”
The post The Emmys’ new Legacy Award for classic TV shows, explained appeared first on Los Angeles Times.
