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CNN Live At Daybreak
Interview With Ken Tucker
Aired November 02, 2001 - 7:53 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to take a little time out now from more anthrax and terrorist threats. It's time for our daily segment, "Life Goes On," and the show goes on this weekend -- the Emmy Television Awards.
In the aftermath of September 11, the awards program was actually scheduled -- rescheduled twice. The original show was scheduled to air on September 16. It was then rescheduled for October 7, but on that day, the airstrikes began. So now, they are set for this Sunday, but with added security preparations.
The bookies would probably give you good odds on some of the Emmy Award winners. We have our own odds maker here this morning, Ken Tucker, TV critic for "Entertainment Weekly" -- good to see you.
KEN TUCKER, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": Good to see you. Thanks.
ZAHN: Walk us through the security that might be in place Sunday night.
TUCKER: There's going to be a lot of security. I mean, for one thing, the awards have been taken away from the Shrine Auditorium and moved to the much smaller Shubert Auditorium, which only holds 2,000 people. There's going to be the traditional red carpet, where you'll see all of the stars, but the Academy is asking fans not to come to gawk at their favorite stars, to stay home and watch, because it just increases the security problems.
ZAHN: I understand we won't be oohing and ahhing when Jennifer Aniston goes down the red carpet, because everybody's going to be wearing dull, boring like work clothes?
TUCKER: Well, you know, that was the original edict, asking people to wear kind of business suits and clothes. I think that kind of edict has loosened up a little bit. People can make their own judgments as to what they want to wear. You know, it's show biz. I think that by this time, people want to see a little glitz and glamour. I think it's a gesture towards showing that, you know, we can really get on with this, and you know, the World Series and the Emmys can co-exist.
ZAHN: Absolutely. Life goes on.
TUCKER: Exactly. ZAHN: That's the title of our segment. Quickly, move on to your picks -- best drama in television?
TUCKER: The best drama, you know, I think that "The Sopranos" deserves to win. It's had a stronger season, but I think "West Wing" is going to sweep the Emmys.
ZAHN: Why is that?
TUCKER: I think -- well, for one thing, you should note that the voting was done before any of this happened, so it's not as if there's going to be some patriotic wave of voting...
ZAHN: Oh, interesting.
TUCKER: .... in favor of...
ZAHN: How long before?
TUCKER: About a month before.
ZAHN: Oh, really?
TUCKER: Yes.
ZAHN: OK.
TUCKER: So you can't count that into the mix, but at the same time, I think that the Academy, based on the West Coast, a lot of voters really like "West Wing," a positive upbeat patriotic show. And "The Sopranos" is perceived as more downbeat, although I think it had extraordinary performances and a much better season.
ZAHN: Favorite comedy?
TUCKER: I think...
ZAHN: Or your comedy pick?
TUCKER: Well, I think "Malcolm in the Middle" is going to win. I wish that...
ZAHN: It's a very funny show.
TUCKER: It is. Yes, and it's got a lot of momentum behind it. And I think little Frankie Muniz is up for best actor in a comedy, so he's got a good chance. But I wish "Everybody Loves Raymond" would win. I think it's a stronger show.
ZAHN: And what kind of political pressure is brought -- to bear on anybody? I mean, did you vote according to how the ratings go? Or it's mostly a personal choice?
TUCKER: It's a personal choice. Every voter gets their own set of tapes. They watch the tapes that each show submits, and so they make their own decisions. It's really -- you know, the person I really don't envy in all of this is Ellen DeGeneres as the host of the show, the kind of tone she has to set. Because one, she has to be kind of humorous, and yet, anticipate the kind of moments of solemnity that I think are inevitably about to occur.
ZAHN: You know, at one point, weren't they going to invite firefighters from New York?
TUCKER: Yes.
ZAHN: So they could honor the heroism of all of those great firefighters here in New York City. Is that going to happen or not?
TUCKER: It's not going to happen. You know, I think...
ZAHN: Why not?
TUCKER: Well, I think they feel that there have been a lot of these kinds of benefit concerts and things, and that it almost seemed exploitive and imitative of a lot of things that have already happened on television. And so, I think you're going to hear -- I think it's going to pop up in unexpected -- perhaps to the viewers -- places.
For instance, Kelsey Grammer is going to be one of the presenters, and one of the creators of "Frasier," David Angell, died in one of the planes that were crashed by the terrorists. So I think that there are going to be moments like that. And Walter Cronkite is still scheduled to help open the ceremonies. He'll deliver a kind of a serious message.
So at the same time, you'll also be able to kind of cheer on your winners and root for your favorite shows.
ZAHN: But will the presenters be disciplined? Is that little alarm going to go off backstage when you shoot over the one-minute mark, or...
TUCKER: I hope not. Wouldn't that be great if they just said, oh, the heck with this. I'm going to talk about exactly what I want, be as funny as I want, and be as exciting. I think it would be good.
ZAHN: Ken Tucker, good of you to drop by.
TUCKER: Thank you.
ZAHN: Happy television watching this weekend, and we'll see how your picks fare...
TUCKER: Good.
ZAHN: ... on this Sunday night.
TUCKER: Thank you.
ZAHN: Have a good weekend.
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