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American Morning

90 Second Pop: The Emmys Sucked

Aired September 22, 2003 - 09:48   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: This morning it's "90 Second Pop" Emmy style with a lightning fast look at TV's biggest night. Joining us from Los Angeles this morning, entertainment reporter Jodi Ross who has been up all night because she went to the show last night in person.
But here in our studio Christopher John Farley of "TIME" magazine. he's senior editor there. And Andy Borowitz. He is creator of the "Fresh Prince of Bel Air," also "A CEOs Guide to Surviving in Prison" should anyone need that book at this time.

But anyway, before we begin, I want to first run a clip of Martin Short who was one of the many presenters last night. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTIN SHORT, ENTERTAINER: Here's to the losers. We toast your shame. You've brought disgrace and dishonor to your family name.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Martin short is so funny. I got to tell you, I thought the co-presenter thing was weird. Andy, what was the idea behind it? And do you think it worked?

ANDY BOROWITZ, FORMER SITCOM WRITER: I didn't think it worked. I think there was this idea, a fallacy that multiple hosts somehow make a show funnier. It hasn't been true of "60 Minutes" and I don't think it was true of this show either.

I just thought that it was almost like a safe bet. We're not going to put all of our eggs in one basket. And it started feeling like open mike night at the Ramada Inn or something.

But you know what? Jon Stewart, funniest man on the stage. And he won the award for Best Comedy Music/Variety Series. I think his punishment should be that he should host the Emmys next year. Because he's hilarious and I thought his material was great.

CHRISTOPHER JOHN FARLEY, SR. EDITOR, "TIME" MAGAZINE": I think his punishment, especially for his he was funny especially for his diversity remarks, should be the host of the BET Awards.

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: I missed those diversity remarks...

(CROSSTALK)

FARLEY: ... a remark after he won for writing, his show won for writing, he made a joke about diversity because all the writers seem to be white and male. And I'm sure Trent Lott was sitting at home saying, This is must-see TV.

But it didn't work for me. I thought the multiple hosts also didn't work. It felt like a lot of people competing for the same office, kind of like the California gubernatorial election but without the laughs.

O'BRIEN: Jodi?

JODI ROSS, ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: Yes, I was going to say, Soledad, I third that vote. I felt like it was eleven different stand-up acts. Very disjointed to me. I don't think the comedy of Conan O'Brien goes hand in hand with the comedy of George Lopez goes hand in hand with the comedy of Jon Stewart. I think there's no flow to the show when you do that.

It was certainly a risky move and a bold one, but not a good one.

O'BRIEN: Wow, three thumbs down.

FARLEY: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

O'BRIEN: Jodi, I want to ask but the surprises of the night because you were there. Was it the Tony Shalhoub thing that was the big overwhelming surprise? Debra Messing won for the first time. But I think many people think of her as not a surprise in that category really. How would you weigh in on that?

ROSS: I agree with that. I don't think there was a clear-cut winner anyway in that Best Actress for Comedy. I heard different things about Sarah Jessica, I heard Jane Kaczmarek mentioned, I head Debra Messing mentioned. We didn't know who exactly was the front- runner there.

Tony Shalhoub is a surprise to the audience possibly, but not to critics. The show that he's on, "Monk," is critically acclaimed. A lot of favorites as far as reviewers go. Audience members, I don't know how many people watched USA network or even ever heard of that show or ever heard of Tony Shalhoub. That of course changes after last night. But I think that might have been a surprise to just people at home watching on their couch.

Of course the biggest surprise was "The West Wing." I mean that show's been virtually ignored as far as critics go, at least for the last season. Aaron Sorkin left the show and it's been nowhere near at the height that it was at the beginning. That pulled through for Best Drama. Still shocked about that.

O'BRIEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Andy, what was your big surprise of the night?

BOROWITZ: I don't know if I was too surprised by anything. I will say that I thought that Debra Messing's gown was fabulous. The only reason I bring that up is I want to prove I've been watching "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: ... where is that coming from? We're not talking fashion yet.

Any big surprises for you?

FARLEY: Well my big surprise was the fact that Bob Hope didn't get to have a longer clip show. I mean the guy's lived for 100 years.

O'BRIEN: They did do a tribute.

FARLEY: Yes, but ten seconds. His clips were ten seconds for 100 years. That didn't seem to be enough for the guy's life, you know.

O'BRIEN: You guys just sound like -- did you not think it was an overall -- again weigh in on how the show went. You didn't love it?

BOROWITZ: You know I used to go to the Emmys a lot. The best part of the Emmys to me is that you got up to go to the bathroom, a seat filler would immediately jump in and take your seat so it didn't look like there were any empty seats. I think they should turn the cameras around show that. That would be so much more entertaining.

O'BRIEN: Not exactly a warm response to last night's show.

BOROWITZ: It's a long show.

FARLEY: I also didn't get the reality category. I mean a reality show category. That's like having a mangy dog category at the Westminster Dog and Kennel Show. Doesn't make any sense. It's like you shouldn't get a reward for doing a reality show, should you?

O'BRIEN: Wow, you guys, tell me what you really think. We basically panned the Emmy Awards from last night.

Well, Jodi, thanks so much. Go home now, get some sleep. Thanks for joining us this morning and staying up all night.

Christopher John Farley, always nice to see you. And, Andy Borowitz, as well. Nice to see you guys.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired September 22, 2003 - 09:48   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: This morning it's "90 Second Pop" Emmy style with a lightning fast look at TV's biggest night. Joining us from Los Angeles this morning, entertainment reporter Jodi Ross who has been up all night because she went to the show last night in person.
But here in our studio Christopher John Farley of "TIME" magazine. he's senior editor there. And Andy Borowitz. He is creator of the "Fresh Prince of Bel Air," also "A CEOs Guide to Surviving in Prison" should anyone need that book at this time.

But anyway, before we begin, I want to first run a clip of Martin Short who was one of the many presenters last night. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTIN SHORT, ENTERTAINER: Here's to the losers. We toast your shame. You've brought disgrace and dishonor to your family name.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Martin short is so funny. I got to tell you, I thought the co-presenter thing was weird. Andy, what was the idea behind it? And do you think it worked?

ANDY BOROWITZ, FORMER SITCOM WRITER: I didn't think it worked. I think there was this idea, a fallacy that multiple hosts somehow make a show funnier. It hasn't been true of "60 Minutes" and I don't think it was true of this show either.

I just thought that it was almost like a safe bet. We're not going to put all of our eggs in one basket. And it started feeling like open mike night at the Ramada Inn or something.

But you know what? Jon Stewart, funniest man on the stage. And he won the award for Best Comedy Music/Variety Series. I think his punishment should be that he should host the Emmys next year. Because he's hilarious and I thought his material was great.

CHRISTOPHER JOHN FARLEY, SR. EDITOR, "TIME" MAGAZINE": I think his punishment, especially for his he was funny especially for his diversity remarks, should be the host of the BET Awards.

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: I missed those diversity remarks...

(CROSSTALK)

FARLEY: ... a remark after he won for writing, his show won for writing, he made a joke about diversity because all the writers seem to be white and male. And I'm sure Trent Lott was sitting at home saying, This is must-see TV.

But it didn't work for me. I thought the multiple hosts also didn't work. It felt like a lot of people competing for the same office, kind of like the California gubernatorial election but without the laughs.

O'BRIEN: Jodi?

JODI ROSS, ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: Yes, I was going to say, Soledad, I third that vote. I felt like it was eleven different stand-up acts. Very disjointed to me. I don't think the comedy of Conan O'Brien goes hand in hand with the comedy of George Lopez goes hand in hand with the comedy of Jon Stewart. I think there's no flow to the show when you do that.

It was certainly a risky move and a bold one, but not a good one.

O'BRIEN: Wow, three thumbs down.

FARLEY: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

O'BRIEN: Jodi, I want to ask but the surprises of the night because you were there. Was it the Tony Shalhoub thing that was the big overwhelming surprise? Debra Messing won for the first time. But I think many people think of her as not a surprise in that category really. How would you weigh in on that?

ROSS: I agree with that. I don't think there was a clear-cut winner anyway in that Best Actress for Comedy. I heard different things about Sarah Jessica, I heard Jane Kaczmarek mentioned, I head Debra Messing mentioned. We didn't know who exactly was the front- runner there.

Tony Shalhoub is a surprise to the audience possibly, but not to critics. The show that he's on, "Monk," is critically acclaimed. A lot of favorites as far as reviewers go. Audience members, I don't know how many people watched USA network or even ever heard of that show or ever heard of Tony Shalhoub. That of course changes after last night. But I think that might have been a surprise to just people at home watching on their couch.

Of course the biggest surprise was "The West Wing." I mean that show's been virtually ignored as far as critics go, at least for the last season. Aaron Sorkin left the show and it's been nowhere near at the height that it was at the beginning. That pulled through for Best Drama. Still shocked about that.

O'BRIEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Andy, what was your big surprise of the night?

BOROWITZ: I don't know if I was too surprised by anything. I will say that I thought that Debra Messing's gown was fabulous. The only reason I bring that up is I want to prove I've been watching "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: ... where is that coming from? We're not talking fashion yet.

Any big surprises for you?

FARLEY: Well my big surprise was the fact that Bob Hope didn't get to have a longer clip show. I mean the guy's lived for 100 years.

O'BRIEN: They did do a tribute.

FARLEY: Yes, but ten seconds. His clips were ten seconds for 100 years. That didn't seem to be enough for the guy's life, you know.

O'BRIEN: You guys just sound like -- did you not think it was an overall -- again weigh in on how the show went. You didn't love it?

BOROWITZ: You know I used to go to the Emmys a lot. The best part of the Emmys to me is that you got up to go to the bathroom, a seat filler would immediately jump in and take your seat so it didn't look like there were any empty seats. I think they should turn the cameras around show that. That would be so much more entertaining.

O'BRIEN: Not exactly a warm response to last night's show.

BOROWITZ: It's a long show.

FARLEY: I also didn't get the reality category. I mean a reality show category. That's like having a mangy dog category at the Westminster Dog and Kennel Show. Doesn't make any sense. It's like you shouldn't get a reward for doing a reality show, should you?

O'BRIEN: Wow, you guys, tell me what you really think. We basically panned the Emmy Awards from last night.

Well, Jodi, thanks so much. Go home now, get some sleep. Thanks for joining us this morning and staying up all night.

Christopher John Farley, always nice to see you. And, Andy Borowitz, as well. Nice to see you guys.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com