Emmy awards mark new era for cable TV, By LYNN ELBER AP Television Writer LOS ANGELES TV’s Big Three networks aren’t just suffer ing viewer erosion because of cable. They’re suffering awards erosion, too. For the first time ever, a cable channel HBO got more Emmy nominations than any of the major networks. Home Box Office got a whopping 90 nominations in the 49th annual Emmy nominations announced Thursday, edging NBC’s 89. Symbolically, that small gap is vast. After a half-century of domi nating the medium, the networks are losing ground in both audience and prestige. “It’s a significant acknowledg ment within the industry of the sea change that has been taking place among viewers within the last decade,” said Larry Gerbrandt, an analyst with the media research firm Paul Kagen Associates. “What viewers are increasingly finding is there is programming as fresh, as original, as well-produced on cable” as on the major networks. NBC’s medical drama “ER” led with 22 nominations and remains TV’s most-watched show. But HBO’s “The Larry Sanders Show” beat the network sitcoms with 16 nominations, the most ever for a comedy in one year. Among HBO specials, “Miss Evers’ Boys,” received 12 nomina tions, and “Bette Midler: Diva Las Vegas” got 10. “This is a landmark moment,” In Pig Alley: • Across From McAllister Prlcg.:Garage (rear) SHANDYGAFF CHR FRIDAY,. _.rr HOURB-10 fcOME MEET SANTA CLAUS!!! HBO executive Chris Albrecht said. Other programs making strong showings included “The X-Files” on Fox with 12 nominations and ABC’s “NYPD Blue” with 11. “Frasier” and “Seinfeld,” both on NBC, got nine each. The Emmy Awards will be announced Sept. 14. CBS got 60 nominations, ABC 44 and Fox 19, for a network total of 212. HBO and 14 other cable chan nels got a record 138 nominations in all. In 1988, the first year cable was even recognized by the Emmys, HBO received six nomina tions. Thursday’s nominations opened the door on another era: The first Emmy recognition of TV commer cial excellence. The five nominated commercials included a Levi’s jeans spot in which two strangers’ eyes lock in an elevator and they share a funny, fast-forward fantasy of courtship and marriage. Members of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences proved unsentimental, failing to nominate Roseanne for the final season of “Roseanne.” Also overlooked were series unveiled during the 1996-97 season, including the acclaimed “The Prac tice.” Voters saluted Ellen DeGeneres of “Ellen” with a best comedic actress nomination during a year in which the ABC sitcom drew both praise and criticism for outing DeGeneres’ character as a lesbian. “ER” hunk George Clooney, who MARTINIS 5-7 presents JULY Richard H. Frank, president of Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and past Emmy-winner Dana Delany read the nominations for best actress in a comedy series during the 49th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. This year marked the first time a cable channel received more nominations than any major network and also the first recognition of TV commericals. has been splitting his time between “Home Improvement” star Tim TV and movies, was bypassed for Allen, last nominated in 1993, the first time in the show’s three missed out again. But his co-star years. Co-stars Anthony Edwards, Patricia Richardson got nominated. Julianna Margulies and Sherry “Friends” didn’t receive a best- Stringfield got lead acting nomina- comedy nomination, although an tions. error during the awards announce- Barbershop chorus comes back in style By MELISSA STENZHORN Collegian Arts Writer Scattered colorful umbrellas and sun visors sheltered people from the sun. Some enjoyed a picnic and sipped lemonade to pass time. Soon the sound of melody from a ragtime piano filled the air and people bopped their heads to the beat. The harmony of The Nittany Knights Barbershop Chorus and ragtime pianist, Mike Evock, attracted a crowd of about 200 to the South Hills Business School, 480 Waupelani Dr., Sunday. The performance was part of the summer concert series sponsored by the South Hills Business School. The series continues every Sunday through Aug. 31. Tunes of ragtime opened the evening and set' a novelty mood. Some'children giggled and danced to musical numbers such as “The Entertainer” and “The Maple Leaf Rag.” The Nittany Knights, who have been singing in the area for more than 30 years, continued the evening by serenading the audi ence. The group sang both oldies and more contemporary songs a cap pella. Each song was given a brief introduction by the Master of Cere monies. Several times throughout its per formance, the chorus broke down OUR FAMOUS SEMI-ANNUAL GIVE-AWAY SALE into different quartets to create a blend of voices. The harmony was a mixture of melody, tenor, baritone and bass. State College resident, Susan Trotter, said she has only seen the chorus twice this summer but she greatly enjoyed this particular per formance. “I really liked the piano player, the chorus and the quartets,” Trot ter said. “But I liked my father’s quartet best.” Clarence Trotter, Susan’s father, is a tenor for the Nittany Notes quartet and has been a member of the chorus for 35 years. Trotter said he enjoys perform ing and it becomes more fun as time passes. This particular performance was different from other shows becatrse, toward the end of the evening, the chorus asked the audi ence to actively participate by singing along. “I’ve Been Working on the Rail Road” and “By The Light of the Sil very Moon” were among the songs sung by the chorus and audience during the sing-a-long. The chorus participates in sever al performances during the sum mer. Past programs include perfor mances at Centre County Memorial Park, Boalsburg and the Lions Club in Jersey Shore. A baritone in the chorus, Elton Atwater, said singing in front of an commercials ment briefly had the show among the nominees. A real supporting actress nomination did go to Lisa Kudrow as flaky Phoebe. “I was expecting to be disap pointed,” said “X-Files” creator Chris Carter. audience gives him goose bumps and is a satisfying experience. “Barbershop is more than a hobby it’s a disease,” Atwater said. “We get hooked on it and can’t let go,” he said. The chorus is always looking for students and other members of the community to become involved in singing with them. Currently, there are about 25 active members in the chorus. Sev eral members have been involved The Daily Collegian Friday, July 25,1997 —ll Nominations run from pop to obscure Nominees in top categories for the 49th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards by the Academy of Televi sion Arts & Sciences: DRAMA SERIES: “Chicago Hope,” CBS; “ER,” NBC; “Law & Order,” NBC; “NYPD Blue,” ABC; “The X-Files,” Fox; COMEDY SERIES: “Frasier,” NBC; “The Larry Sanders Show,” HBO; “Mad About You,” NBC; “Seinfeld,” NBC; “3rd Rock From The Sun,” NBC. MINISERIES: “In Cold Blood,” CBS; “The Last Don,” CBS; “The Odyssey,” NBC; “Prime Suspect 5: Errors Of Judgement,” PBS; “Stephen King’s The Shining,” ABC. VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES: “Dennis Miller Live,” HBO; “Late Show With David Let terman,” CBS; “Politically Incor rect With Bill Maher,” ABC; “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” NBC; “Tracey Takes 0n...,” HBO. AP Photo ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES: David Duchovny, “The X-Files,” Fox; Anthony Edwards, “ER,” NBC; Dennis Franz, “NYPD Blue,” ABC; Jimmy Smits, “NYPD Blue,” ABC; Sam Waterston, “Law & Order,” NBC. for many years. There are only a few students singing with the Nit tany Knights. David Howard (graduate-geogra phy), a tenor in the group, has been an active member for about three months. Howard said he believes singing with the group is worth while. “Just getting together, meeting people and doing things outside of school and work is just fun,” Howard said. Collegian Illustration/Christopher Kellehei -by The Associated Press
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