It’s unanimous! Neil Patrick Harris saves the 61st Annual Primetime Emmys and it shows as the rating numbers came in- up 10% in key demographics versus the record low numbers for last year’s dismal broadcast. Overall, the Emmys on CBS garnered a 4.2 rating/11 share in adults 18-49 and 13.3 million viewers overall from 8 to 11 p.m., (last year’s ratings on ABC (3.8/9 in 18-49, 12.3 million viewers overall). This makes this year’s broadcast the most watched Emmy show since 2006.
Let’s see what his peers had to say about Harris’ hosting of the Emmys:
“From the moment he walked onstage…you knew you were in good hands.” (Los Angeles Times)
• “The very model of a smart, funny host, he was the classiest Emmy host since Johnny Carson, with equally good posture.” (Entertainment Weekly)
• “Affable, charming and simultaneously self-deprecating and comically self-aggrandizing.” (Hollywood Reporter)
• “You’re doing such a wonderful job.” (Jon Stewart—during the telecast)
• “This is how you host the Emmys.” (Jeff Probst—during the show)
Unfortunately didn’t win for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Jon Cryer won for “Two and A Half Men”), but he won out in hosting an exciting and humorous award show.
The only complaint about the Emmys came from HBO as it seems that they were left out of Harris’ opening number, “Put Down the Remote”, that named just about every other network in rapid succession. A spokesman for CBS dismisses HBO being miffed about not being included in the song, “They had a great night. I can’t possibly imagine that complaint from a network so well represented on the broadcast.” HBO was honored in nominations 99 times at this year’s Emmys.
If you missed the Emmy broadcast, you can catch NPH’s opening number here:
Oh, are we never to know the secrets of the ballot-tabulating Ernst and Young? Dr. Horrible uses his interceptorizor during the Emmys and hijacks the broadcast:
[Commentary]
The show was paced well and didn’t dull for a moment. I really liked how they showed all the people who were behind-the-scenes of the show and the BTS bits right as they cut back. It’s always a team effort to pull off a production of that caliber! The inclusion of obscure (and sometimes false) trivia to the winners as they made their way to the stage as narrated by The Daily Show’s Jon Hodgman were funny, but I found that it wore out its welcome as the show went on. Of course, I’m always glad to see the Dr. Horrible gang! In fact, I think I squealed when they came on. All in all, I was very entertained by the Emmys. I did not even watch last year’s broadcast which was hosted by several different reality TV show hosts. NPH did a great job keeping the attitude of the show bright and humorous and drove the pace of an easily methodical award show to become a seamless piece of quality entertainment. Bravo, Neil Patrick Harris and Don Mischer (both producers for the Emmys)!
What did you think of the Emmys? Let your voice be heard in our Forum!
[Source] Variety, Hollyscoop, LA Times
