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Emmy Awards Canceled
Monday
October 8, 2001
It was supposed to be the biggest night in television, but in light of Sunday’s American and British air strikes in Afghanistan, the Emmys' red carpet was rolled up. CBS President Les Moonves said the show would not go on that night. “By and large the television community felt this was not a night to gather together and have an event. It just felt wrong."
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It was a heartbreaking decision for many. One publicist said, “I called my client, Dennis Franz, who just said it's the right thing to do and everybody please be safe."
Executive producer Don Mischer says that host Ellen DeGeneres took it particularly hard. He says, “She was disappointed. She'd put a lot of effort and a lot of time and a lot of personal emotion into this, and really would have done an incredible job."
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences President Jim Chabin told “Extra” some good would come from this last minute cancellation. “We're going to make the best of an awful situation."
The post-Emmy parties may have been canceled, but the exotic lobster salad and filet of beef didn’t go to waste. All of those dinners were donated to needy families throughout Southern California. That also goes for the elegant flower arrangements. Hundreds of these bountiful bouquets were packed-up by the truckload and donated to L.A. area hospitals.
The unanswered question now is: will the Emmys be welcomed back on the air sometime this year? Don Mischer says, “We do not know if the Emmys will go on or not at this point."
The event was already pushed back three weeks after the September 11th attacks and all of the changes and extra security pushed the show a million dollars over budget. Still, Jim Chabin believes canceling was the best decision. He says, “I think we made the right call. I'm sure we did."
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