AND THE EMMY GOES TO ... DIVERSITY IN THE RANKS OF PRIME TIME; `ELLEN' AWARD EMPHASIZES TV SHIFT.Byline: Keith Marder Daily News Television Writer ``Two black men and a lesbian,'' comedian Chris Rock quipped when he took the stage to receive one of his two awards. ``Welcome home, CBS (Cell Broadcast Service) See cell broadcast. .'' Rock's references were to himself; Bryant Gumbel, who hosted Sunday's show; and Ellen DeGeneres Ellen Lee DeGeneres (born January 26, 1958) is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and currently the Emmy Award-winning host of the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show. DeGeneres has hosted both the Academy Awards and the Primetime Emmys. , who was part of the team that won a writing Emmy for ``Ellen: The Puppy Episode,'' the episode in which her TV character announced to the world that she was gay. This year's Emmys reflect more than ever the growing diversity of television. And it was obvious in this, its 49th year, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences had no problem rewarding the controversial and the outspoken, signaling perhaps not a sea change, but a changing attitude. ``It would be nice to have lead actors that reflect society,'' said DeGeneres. ``I think people get bored with the same thing on television over and over again.'' Besides DeGeneres and Rock, a controversial comic with a biting wit who won two Emmys for his HBO Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) A form of oxygen therapy in which the patient breathes oxygen in a pressurized chamber. Mentioned in: Ozone Therapy special ``Bring the Pain,'' Dick Wolf's ``Law & Order'' was picked as the best drama on television for the first time in six nominations. Wolf is a guy who has no problems taking a side on any issue and is perhaps the most opinionated o·pin·ion·at·ed adj. Holding stubbornly and often unreasonably to one's own opinions. [Probably from obsolete opinionate : opinion + -ate1. guy in town. Wolf said that the Emmys had nothing to do with politics. ``This show, ratings don't have anything to do with it, sexual orientation sexual orientation n. The direction of one's sexual interest toward members of the same, opposite, or both sexes, especially a direction seen to be dictated by physiologic rather than sociologic forces. doesn't,'' Wolf said. ``It is a remarkably democratic process. People are rewarded for talent - and not the positions they take.'' Cynics Cynics (sĭn`ĭks) [Gr.,=doglike, probably from their manners and their meeting place, the Cynosarges, an academy for Athenian youths], ancient school of philosophy founded c.440 B.C. by Antisthenes, a disciple of Socrates. had a field day taking shots at DeGeneres when it was announced that her character Ellen Morgan Ellen Morgan may refer to:
in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. prime-time audience, that she was gay. Sure, sure, they said, how convenient it was for ``Ellen'' to wait for the May sweeps to drop the bomb. Well, Sunday night Sunday Night, later named Michelob Presents Night Music, was an NBC late-night television show which aired for two seasons between 1988 and 1990 as a showcase for jazz and eclectic musical artists. was the night for the cynics to shut up. It was time for the issue-oriented to speak on the issues. Emmy in hand for writing on a comedy series, DeGeneres proved that she had nothing in mind but a good show and an honest depiction of a gay character. Choking back tears doesn't get ratings, and that is exactly what DeGeneres did when she met the press to talk about her first Emmy out of six nominations. ``I'm extremely emotional,'' DeGeneres said, while her partner, Anne Heche, looked on from the back of the room. ``It was bigger than I thought.'' Her message was clear: She wants the world to know that gay people are not weird, they are not dangerous, and they are not evil. It's OK to be gay. The gigantic ratings - a record for the show - were nice, but the point of view was the point. ``There are gay people, and it is OK,'' she said. ``I didn't have that on television growing up, a gay character on television. OK, Mary Tyler Moore This article is about the actress. For her 1970s television series, also known as "Mary Tyler Moore", see The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Mary Tyler Moore and Rhoda.'' DeGeneres said that she didn't want to ``be the poster child,'' for the gay and lesbian movement, but the Hollywood elite validated her point of view by selecting her writing staff, including herself, as the best in the business. ``Everyone in Hollywood knew I was gay,'' she said. ``I always felt I was on the outside. I didn't feel part of the club.'' The growing strength of cable channels was another significant trend. The Emmy for best made-for-television movie went to HBO's ``Miss Evers' Boys,'' the true story of an experiment in which treatment was withheld from a group of African-American men infected with syphilis in order to observe the disease's course. It was the fifth year in a row in which HBO has won in this category. All the nominees in the category were cable channels. Alfre Woodard Alfre Ette Woodard (born November 8, 1952) is an American actress. She has been nominated for an Academy Award and has won four Emmy Awards, three SAG Awards and one Golden Globe Award. won her third Emmy for her role as the conflicted nurse in ``Miss Evers' Boys.'' Besides ``Law & Order,'' there were other first-time winners in significant categories. Gillian Anderson, who won for best actress in a drama, gave ``The X-Files,' its first Emmy, and Kristen Johnston of ``3rd Rock From the Sun'' won for best supporting actress in comedy. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Backstage Sunday at the Emmy show, comedian Chris Rock is more than happy to talk about winning two Emmys for his HBO special, ``Bring the Pain.'' Tom Mendoza/Daily News |
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