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CNN Sunday Morning

Interview With Ari Karpel

Aired November 04, 2001 - 08:20   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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: In Los Angeles, they've been getting a lot of practice rolling out the red carpet. They hope their practicing is done. Emmy organizers believe the third time will be the charm. The show is going on tonight after being postponed twice. Once because of the terrorist attacks, and then the second time when the U.S. launched its military campaign in Afghanistan a month ago.

CNN's Sherri Sylvester tells us that, in light of the terrorist attacks, tonight's program will have a somewhat different flavor.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHERRI SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The twice- postponed Emmy show will go on Sunday in a smaller theater with stepped up security, and without fan bleachers. This time around, the telecast will highlight Hollywood's efforts throughout history to boost morale in times of crisis. Organizers are determined not to cancel.

BRYCE ZABEL, CEO, TV ACADEMY: I think it's increased our resolve. For 52 years people managed to give out an Emmy award, and we don't want to be the people in the 53rd year who couldn't do it, because we think that sends out the wrong message. And the symbol should be that America is going on about its business, as our leaders have asked us to do.

SYLVESTER: Some somber tributes written for the October 7 show remain, but host Ellen Degeneres has been encouraged to add her comic touch as well.

DENNIS FRANZ, EMMY NOMINEE: Everybody is cautious and -- but I don't think that's getting in the way of us celebrating.

SYLVESTER: The cautious optimism of the Emmys if prompting other organizers to go on with their plans. And the award show season is an important one. Broadcast rights for the upcoming Oscars brought the Academy $45 million. In return, networks get near-Superbowl sized ad rates. Locally, a Golden Globe, Screen Actor's Guild, or Grammy event brings work to hairdressers and makeup artists, limo drivers, caterers and florists.

MAYOR JAMES HAHN, LOS ANGELES: We need things like the Grammys, which are great economic boosts to the economy. Those are good things to have when you're in uncertain economic times. SYLVESTER: Most award planners say that offering viewers a temporary escape is just as important.

JEFF MARGOLIS, SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS: We can never forget; but just for a moment, get your mind off of it and lift your spirits, be happy. And that's what we're doing.

SYLVESTER: Oscar producer Laura Ziskin says the Academy will pay whatever it takes to secure its venue. Inner security, she believes, depends on getting back to normal.

LAURA ZISKIN, PRODUCER, ACADEMY AWARDS: There was this great quote of Winston Churchill. He said: "A love of tradition has never weakened a nation. Indeed, it has strengthened nations in their hour of peril."

SYLVESTER: And so the Emmys, too, continue a tradition, getting back to business, Hollywood style.

Sherri Sylvester, CNN entertainment news, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN ANCHOR: As you just heard, tonight's Emmy awards show will be a bit different from shows past.

Joining us now from New York to talk a little bit about that is Ari Karpel, senior associate editor for "TV Guide."

Thanks for joining us.

ARI KARPEL, SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR, "TV GUIDE": Good morning.

MESERVE: First of all, this show has a really tough programming slot, does it not?

KARPEL: Absolutely. We're up against game seven of the World Series. Not to mention, NBC has "Uprising," their very much promoted new movie. There's also the finale of "Band of Brothers" on HBO, and "Toy Story II" on ABC. So the Emmys certainly have competition.

MESERVE: It doesn't get much worse than that, does it?

KARPEL: No, it really doesn't.

But I think there's some reasons to watch. Reasons that it's certainly going to stand out tonight. Not the least of which is Barbra Streisand's finale singing "You'll Never Walk Alone," which is certainly an interesting edition to the evening.

But, you know, I think the TV industry, like most of America, is not used to being unsure of itself. And it's had a really hard time figuring out the best way to handle this awards show. And it will be very interesting to tune in and see exactly how they do it.

MESERVE: Well, what sort of tone do you think they're going to be trying to strike tonight?

KARPEL: Well, on October 7, which was to be the second attempt at airing the Emmys, but was the day the U.S. began bombing in Afghanistan, it was going to be fairly somber, with a lot of tributes to heroes from September 11; and, certainly, very patriotic. And it was to open with Walter Cronkite.

Some of that has changed. They've dropped -- as you said earlier -- some of the tributes. And Walter Cronkite will be included, but he won't be opening. Certainly, Ellen Degeneres will. So they want it to patriotic; they also wanted to be celebratory of the industry itself, not as competitive as it normally is.

Normally, when they go through the nominees they show in split screen the different people sort of nervously waiting to see whether they're going to win. And they won't be showing that this time. It's going to be more about celebrating the industry, celebrating these actors.

MESERVE: A lot of glitz and glamour this year, or are they playing that down?

KARPEL: They're certainly playing down the glitz and glamour. It's, you know, definitely interesting to see how Hollywood does that. They're calling it "dressy business attire." I don't know what that is in normal life; I certainly have no idea what that means in show business.

But Joan Rivers will still be doing her "E" pre-show. And she told "TV Guide"'s reporter Diane Clehane that she's going to just simply have conversations with these people. She's not going to focus on the fashion. But, of course, if Calista Flockhart is wearing an interesting outfit, Joan will ask about it.

MESERVE: And security has to be extraordinarily tight for this?

KARPEL: Absolutely. Every limo will be checked. They say that every star, no matter how big -- like Barbra Streisand, I presume -- will be examined in some way.

MESERVE: Now I have to ask you for your predictions. Who's going to win tonight?

KARPEL: It's like last year. It's really a race between "The West Wing" and "The Sopranos." "The Sopranos" has 22 nominations, and "The West Wing" has 18. But at "TV Guide" we really believe that "The West Wing" will take it this year. Certainly, they had a very strong season. It was emotionally consistent, and the finale was extraordinary, whereas "The Sopranos" finale sort of left people scratching their heads.

MESERVE: And best actor, actress?

KARPEL: Certainly Martin Sheen from "The West Wing." I think from "The Sopranos" Lorraine Bracco will likely take it for best actress in a drama. For comedy, I'm hoping Jane Kaczmarek from "Malcolm in the Middle." And it would be very interesting to see Frankie Muniz win -- the little boy from "Malcolm in the Middle" -- but that's unlikely. It will more likely go to Eric McCormack in "Will and Grace," who does deserve it.

MESERVE: Ari Karpel of TV Guide, thanks a lot. We'll see if you predictions come true tonight.

KARPEL: Thank you.

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