A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM A&E

Cynopsis Media presents 

2011 Primetime Emmy® Award Pre-Nomination Special Report
by Daisy Whitney
05/31/11

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, May 31, 2011, and this is the second of a five-part series predicting the nominees for this year’s primetime Emmy® Awards.  Today’s installment looking at the potential nominees for Outstanding Non-Fiction Series, Outstanding Non-Fiction Special.

BEFORE THE BALLOTS: Non-Fiction Series, Non-Fiction Special
By Daisy Whitney

Scroll through the programming guide online or on your TV and the vast majority of shows will be non-fiction. That may also be why non-fiction is one of the toughest categories for which to predict Emmy® nods.

TV critics have been reluctant to anoint contenders for this year’s nominations in non-fiction series and special, in part because the category is so broad, but also because there aren’t as many one-time standout entrants as last year when Discovery’s Life premiered to much buzz and when IFC touted its Monty Python series. Both earned nods, though neither won. They were bested in 2010 by PBS’ The National Parks: America’s Best Ideas, a Ken Burns production, with that network’s American Masters and American Experience snagging nominations, alongside Discovery’s Deadliest Catch.

But this year the absence of some of those shows from the category makes for a tougher guessing game, especially as Discovery moves five-time nominee Deadliest Catch to the reality category. But though the crystal ball is hazier than usual, it’s possible to see through fog and make some early picks for who’ll be celebrating a nomination on the morning of July 14.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM A&E

In and Out Series

The non-fiction series and non-fiction special categories, which are separate from the reality competition and reality non-competition candidates, tend to go to more traditional documentary-style programming or long-form news programming. But there can be crossover between reality shows and non-fiction, and that’s why perennial non-fiction contender Deadliest Catch is able to move over to reality for consideration this year.

The absence of Deadliest Catch in non-fiction may open the door for the network’s Stormchasers to snag a nomination. The show may also be on voters’ minds because of the current tornado season, the most violent on record. “It’s about science, but science with heart,” said Clark Bunting, President and General Manager of Discovery Channel. “What these guys do is use science to help save lives [by understanding the impact of storms].”

Sure to be tapped in non-fiction will also be American Experience on PBS. The public network is pushing the Triangle Fire episode for best non-fiction series for its exploration of a workplace fire in 1911 in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory that killed more than 100 people in New York. The show has been nominated several times and has won twice for best series. PBS will also likely proffer its Emmy-winning American Masters for consideration for more series gold. It has already been honored seven times with the non-fiction series award.

Over at History Channel, the network is touting Swamp People for a series nod.

While the playing field is less predictable this year, History’s Dirk Hoogstra, Senior VP Development and Programming, would like to see shows tapped that are “big risks and inspired tries.” He counts competitor Science Channel’s Idiot Abroad among those. That show sends self-described curmudgeon Karl Pilkington on a forced trip around the globe to visit the Seven Wonders of the World. “That show is an inspired risk to take. And that to me was a standout,” Hoogstra said.

Discovery’s Bunting also expects to see ESPN’s documentary series “30 for 30” receive a nod. “Those personal essays are spectacular and give you insight and dimensions,” he said.

HBO will do its part to garner attention for Real Time with Bill Maher, a show that’s received multiple nominations but no trophy. “He’s overdue for something,” said Frank Nicotero, Comedian and Host of Yahoo TV’s Primetime in No Time.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM A&E

What’s Special

HBO’s vaunted documentary team won the trophy last year for Teddy: In His Own Words on Teddy Roosevelt, and will likely collect more nominations this year as it trumpets a handful of specials including Ricky Gervais: Out of England 2  The Stand-Up Special, Trace Morgan: Black and Blue, and Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On.

The network will face stiff competition from the acclaimed documentarian Ken Burns for the latest installment in his baseball saga  Baseball: The Tenth Inning. PBS is pushing that film in many categories including for outstanding non-fiction special.

Then there’s History Channel, which is angling to be tapped for its Gettysburg special, slated to premiere yesterday, Memorial Day. Produced by Tony and Ridley Scott, the two-hour documentary is part of the network’s programming extravaganza commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. “It goes well above and beyond a reenactment,” Hoogstra said. “It’s about the drama and the ability to put yourself in the shoes of the characters we follow. It’s raw, intense, gritty, on the ground.”

TLC may make a case for its special Off The Rez, about a young female basketball player from a Native American reservation. The show has earned comparisons to Hoop Dreams.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM A&E

Source:The Nielsen Company, Live+SD (000), 12/27/93  5/24/11, Persons 2+ ranker of all A&E primetime premiere program averages

This 5-part series of 2011 Primetime Emmy® Award Pre-Nomination Special Reports are available on the Cynopsis website in our special Primetime Emmy®2011 section.

Later —
Daisy Whitney for Cynopsis
daisywhitney@gmail.com
05.31.11

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