Will Emmys honor "Anatomy" and "Idol?"

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Will the most popular show on American television finally be embraced by its peers? And can a new hit medical melodrama elbow its way past some of TV's perennial Emmy favorites to be crowned the year's best drama series?

How the Fox network's star-making "American Idol" and ABC doctor drama "Grey's Anatomy" fare at the 58th Primetime Emmy Awards are two major questions to be answered on Sunday night at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

But there is a third question on the minds of organizers: Will anybody care enough to watch?

The annual show presenting U.S. television's highest honors could prove to be a ratings dud due to factors beyond its control, and some fear it may even suffer its weakest Nielsen performance ever.

This year's ceremony is being held a month earlier than usual, in August, a period when, thanks to vacations, viewing levels are traditionally at their lowest. NBC, which is broadcasting the Emmys this year, asked for the shift because it wanted to avoid a scheduling conflict with its plans to begin televising Sunday night football in September.

The Emmys face another hurdle. The show is going up against a bit of clever counter programming at rival ABC, whose executives were angry that two of their top shows -- "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" -- were shut out of the major Emmy competition this year. They blamed new Emmy voting rules designed to give newer shows, less popular series and smaller networks a better chance this year.

ABC denies seeking revenge, but announced it would air the hit movie "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" opposite the awards show, in defiance of an unwritten understanding by which rival networks have traditionally kept a lower profile on Emmy night.

Even this year's Emmys host, comedian Conan O'Brien, joked his own parents would probably tune into Disney's pirate film: "They are big

Although "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" are largely out of the running this year, pundits say a newer ABC hit, "Grey's Anatomy," stands the best chance of clinching the coveted Emmy for best drama series.

The show faces stiff competition from the Fox espionage thriller "24," a five-time nominee for best drama, and from NBC political saga "The West Wing," a four-time winner. Another past champion, HBO mob drama "The Sopranos," is nominated again, but is considered a long shot this year, along with the Fox hospital drama "House."

In the contest for best comedy series, the heavy favorite is NBC's workplace satire "The Office," adapted from a British series of the same name.

For a fourth year in a row, the Emmy battle for best reality competition show includes a bid for recognition by "American Idol," now the most watched show in prime time.

This year, Emmy handicappers say it is the show to beat, facing competition from two CBS reality hits -- three-time champion "The Amazing Race" and "Survivor" -- as well as ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" and the Bravo channel's "Project Runway."

• Email Story
• IM Story
• Discuss
• Printable View

RECOMMEND THIS STORY

Recommend It:

Not at All Somewhat Moderately Highly Very Highly

Average (Not Rated)

» Recommended Stories