http://flavorwire.com/510087/how-the-rise-of-the-hourlong-comedy-is-forcing-the-tv-academy-to-change-the-emmys-rules

By Pilot Viruet on Mar 18, 2015 3:00pm

Earlier this year, the TV Academy made a controversial ruling that only half-hour programs are considered comedies in the upcoming Emmy (http://www.ew.com/article/2015/03/17/emmys-allow-glee-shameless-and-jane-virgin-compete-comedies?) race, and that hourlong television shows are automatically put into the drama category unless producers plead their case to a panel and win a two-thirds vote. The decision was met with detractors as hourlong shows were quick to appeal the ruling: Yesterday, Shameless, Glee, and Jane the Virgin — all hourlong shows that can be very funny — won their petition to be considered comedies. (There is no word on Orange is the New Black, meaning either Netflix has yet to petition or that the jury has yet to rule.) …

it is a little unfair for shows to try and get nominated in both drama and comedy categories - sure they can have elements of both, but it kind of misses the point when they are just doing it to get more awards and it means less shows that are pure comedies get the opportunity to win the same awards.

- unless they make a new "dramedy" section?

I think shows (as well as cast and crew) should go in whatever category is appropriate on an individual basis. Shows like Shameless "can be funny," but it sucks that actors like Noel Fisher and Jeremy Allen White, who turn in great dramatic performances on the show, will probably never be nominated because their show's producers want it in the comedy categories. The show can be nominated as a "comedy" show, but let the actors decide if they want to be in comedy or drama. Obviously, they wouldn't be able to be in both categories.

And maybe the show is in "comedy" this year but is stronger with drama the following year, so that's where it's nominated. Technical nominations would follow the lead of the show itself, but writing, directing, and acting would be based on the individual person's decision.

I'm just confused as to how Orange is the New Black is a drama but Shameless is a comedy. The comedy/drama divide seems basically identical on both shows to me.

For the record, I would classify both as dramas because, while they have more comedic moments than straight dramas like Mad Men or Game of Thrones, the plotting and structure of the show is much more like that of a drama than a comedy. I don't think the hour/half-hour category is exactly right (Jane the Virgin and Glee are basically one-hour comedies IMO) but I mean, it makes more sense than this "requesting" nonsense which seems to be totally arbitrary and basically based on the fact that they don't seem to want OITNB sweeping comedy categories, for whatever reason.

If the hourlong television comedy-drama shows like Orange is the New Black and the U.S. version of Shameless are gonna flip-flop themselves between the comedy and drama categories, maybe the TV Academy needs to create a new section for "dramedies", separate from the existing "comedy" and "drama" categories.

For the record, I would classify both as dramas because, while they have more comedic moments than straight dramas like Mad Men or Game of Thrones, the plotting and structure of the show is much more like that of a drama than a comedy.

Same here. I watch both devoutly, and even though I do get plenty of laughs out of them both, the primary draw is the dramatic storylines and performances. Hell, to be honest, this all really began with Desperate Housewives being nominated in comedy categories ten years ago. That made no sense to me, yet it's continued on.

As a huge Shameless fan, it really does annoy me that they insist on being put in the comedy box. They've basically made it impossible for anyone other than WHM and Joan Cusack to be nominated.

here's a simple solution - if they want to be considered a comedy they must add a laugh track

let's see how many of them want to be lumped into the comedy category with THAT stipulation :lol: