British TV shows scoop Emmy awards in US

[julian_craster]

British TV shows scoop Emmy awards in US

By Wesley Johnson, PA, in New York



THE INDEPENDENT

Published: 20 November 2007



British television productions won a string of International Emmy awards in New York last night, picking up seven top honours.



Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent shared the best actor award for his role in the BBC's The Street, which was also named best drama series at the ceremony at the Hilton New York hotel.

Stephen Fry's The Secret Life of a Manic Depressive scooped best documentary as BBC actors and productions left with six awards, including best arts programming, best non-scripted entertainment and best comedy series.



The 35th International Emmys recognised excellence in TV programming produced outside the US.

Former US vice president Al Gore was also honoured for his role in launching the cable/satellite channel Current TV and his efforts to sound the alarm over global warming.

Broadbent, who was nominated for his role as an embittered pensioner in the BBC's The Street, shared the best actor honour with Dutch actor Pierre Bokma.

The Street, which follows the lives of different residents of one street, was named best drama series.

In Fry's documentary, The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive, the comedian/actor talks about his own and other people's experiences of living with bipolar disorder.

Simon Schama's Power of Art: Bernini, the BBC/WNET Thirteen's work about the Baroque sculptor, was named best arts programming while the BBC's How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria scooped best non-scripted entertainment series.

The BBC's Little Britain Abroad was named best comedy.

Death of a President, by Borough Films for More 4, won best TV movie/mini-series.

Directed by Gabriel Range, it centres around the fictionalised assassination of US President George Bush.

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is the largest organisation of global broadcasters with more than 500 members from nearly 70 countries and over 400 companies.

After picking up his award, Fry said: "It's a lucky evening for us.

"We're lucky to have this institution, the BBC, and that's helped generations of people (in television)."

Gore, who received the Founders Award from Oscar winner Robert De Niro, said the future of democracy depended "to a surprising degree on democratising television".

"Television has had the greatest potential for educating and informing of any medium in the history of communications," he said.

British actress Victoria Wood was nominated for her role in the drama Housewife, 49, based on the real Second World War diary of a Lancashire housewife, but the award went to France's Muriel Robin.



Following is a list of winners of the 2007 International Emmy Awards as presented by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences"



Arts programming: "Simon Schama's Power of Art: Bernini" (United Kingdom).

Best performance by an actor (tie): Pierre Bokma for "The Chosen One," (Netherlands) and Jim Broadbent for "The Street" (United Kingdom).

Best performance by an actress: Muriel Robin for "Marie Besnard - The Poisoner" (France).

Best children's and young people's program: "The Magic Tree" (Poland).

Best comedy series: "Little Britain Abroad" (United Kingdom).

Best drama series: "The Street" (United Kingdom).

Best documentary: "Stephen Fry - The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive" (United Kingdom).

Best non-scripted (reality) entertainment: "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?" (United Kingdom).

Best TV movie/mini-series: "Death of a President" (United Kingdom).

International Children's Day of Broadcasting award: "From South to North, From East to West, Thailand ICDB-Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS" (Thailand).

Directorate award: Patrick Le Lay

Founders Award: Al Gore (Editing by Philip Barbara)

[oxfam1uk]

... and I'm delighted to say that I didn't watch any of them !



Nor do I have any intention to. Non-stop misery and drearyness, especially Mr Bipolar Fry.



Seeing how the BBC receives a colossal guaranteed income, it would be surprising if it didn't make great programmes. But none of these shows appeals to me at all !



Now where's my "Professionals" DVD set ? ...

[Steve Crook]

name='oxfam1uk']... and I'm delighted to say that I didn't watch any of them !



Nor do I have any intention to. Non-stop misery and drearyness, especially Mr Bipolar Fry.



Seeing how the BBC receives a colossal guaranteed income, it would be surprising if it didn't make great programmes. But none of these shows appeals to me at all !



Now where's my "Professionals" DVD set ? ...

That's a shame, you're really missing out by not seeing Stephen Fry's documentary. It wasn't at all miserable or dreary. It was life enhancing.



It's a worthy winner of the Best Documentary prize



Steve

[christoph404]

I agree,the Stephen Fry documentary was brilliant, Fry has an honest and frank quality about him which makes him very watchable and likeable, the programme thoroughly deserves the recognition it received.

[batman]

name='Steve Crook']That's a shame, you're really missing out by not seeing Stephen Fry's documentary. It wasn't at all miserable or dreary. It was life enhancing.



It's a worthy winner of the Best Documentary prize



Steve

I will second that, Steve. It was a really interesting and very moving programme.



Bats.

[DB7]

I find Little Britain more miss than hit, and oddly enough already looking quite dated.

[dremble wedge]

name='batman']I will second that, Steve. It was a really interesting and very moving programme.



Bats.

And I'll third it.

[oxfam1uk]

I'll admit that documentaries about mental illness are necessary and educational. But I'm afraid Stephen Fry gets on my nerves (probably my fault).



I sense that, like Rowan Atkinson and Woody Allen, he is one of those "comedians" who are only really happy when lying on a psychiatrist's couch, talking about themselves.



I heard good things about that Victoria Wood drama, though, so I might get around to seeing it.

[willothewisp]

I'm also surprised Little Britain Abroad won best comedy.

I'm normally a fan but thought it was awful.

[Steve Crook]

name='oxfam1uk']I'll admit that documentaries about mental illness are necessary and educational. But I'm afraid Stephen Fry gets on my nerves (probably my fault).



I sense that, like Rowan Atkinson and Woody Allen, he is one of those "comedians" who are only really happy when lying on a psychiatrist's couch, talking about themselves.

Far from it. He gets embarrassed when asked to talk about himself. The special evening they did to celebrate his 50th birthday included an interview with Mark Lawson and Stephen couldn't stop squirming and twitching.



You really should try watching some of the things he's done



First, he's not a "comedian", although he did that very well in A Bit of Fry and Laurie. He's not even mainly a comic actor, although he did that very well in Blackadder Goes Forth. He's also a very good "straight" actor. His performance in Wilde was a marvel to behold. It was the role he was born to play. But I would say that he's mainly a writer, of various novels as well as his autobiography and a few films, plays and musicals. He's an "all round, good egg" a doer of good works and a bit of a genius



Steve

[oxfam1uk]

He's an "all round, good egg" a doer of good works and a bit of a genius

So you're a fan, then?



We'll have to agree to differ about him !

[Steve Crook]

name='oxfam1uk']So you're a fan, then?

I'm amazed that everyone isn't.

We have yet to discover if there's anything that he can't do.



Steve

[dremble wedge]

name='Steve Crook']I'm amazed that everyone isn't.

We have yet to discover if there's anything that he can't do.

He can't rap, I remember him trying to do so on Who's Line Is It Anyway some years ago and failing abjectly.



Of course that isn't necessarily a bad thing...

[stevie boy]

I see the Street got an award and Jim Broadbent was superb in it last year. The new series has not grabbed me like the first one but there is time ,I suppose, for it to improve.

[Steve Crook]

name='dremble wedge']He can't rap, I remember him trying to do so on Who's Line Is It Anyway some years ago and failing abjectly.



Of course that isn't necessarily a bad thing...

I would say that's a definite advantage.

Rap just lets people with no talent think they're artistic.

Now I have no objection to letting everyone express themselves, but why inflict it on the rest of us? Very, very occasionally, someone does do something good in that style. But the rest of it is just absolute ©rap



Stephen Fry can't dance either. He is worse then the worst Dad or Uncle dancing at a family wedding



Steve

[Fellwanderer]

name='Steve Crook']



Stephen Fry can't dance either. He is worse then the worst Dad or Uncle dancing at a family wedding



Steve

I don't know about that! I think I could give him a good run for his money.

[Scorpionick]

You can't even call Stephen Fry a "straight" actor, after his elopement from that play he was doing in the early 90's - very unprofessional! He just happened to be in with the Cambridge crowd of Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson, Kenneth Branagh et al. (Who's al? - Editor) He's a very good novelist. (There - I said something nice about the man.)

[Steve Crook]

name='Scorpionick']You can't even call Stephen Fry a "straight" actor, after his elopement from that play he was doing in the early 90's - very unprofessional! He just happened to be in with the Cambridge crowd of Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson, Kenneth Branagh et al. (Who's al? - Editor) He's a very good novelist. (There - I said something nice about the man.)

You can still call him a "straight" actor, just one that did something silly

What about Wilde? What about Absolute Power? etc., etc.



Steve

[David Brent]

Non of the Emmy Award winning shows mentioned have been shown in Australia yet.

Seems we are always at least 12 months behind in getting to see the Brit shows.



In these days of super modern technology I have no reason why it still takes so long.

Must still be using the convict boats for transport.



Dave.

[lordtednfs]

name='David Brent']Non of the Emmy Award winning shows mentioned have been shown in Australia yet.

Seems we are always at least 12 months behind in getting to see the Brit shows.



In these days of super modern technology I have no reason why it still takes so long.

Must still be using the convict boats for transport.



Dave.

Very true David. You maybe 12 months, we must be 12 years behind.



Here in the Philippines we get the Australia Channel and we have just had Rocket Man and Miss Marple with Geraldine McEwan but the rest is very dire.



There is no sign of the beeb ever coming here and I know the ITV sell bundles of stuff to Oz, but we never get to see any quality tv from home.



I even have Dream Sat, terrible name, only real decent thing on is Discovery Channels, Nat Geographic, Animal Planet & Travel and Living. Best prog to watch out for on Discovery Channel is Mythbusters, it's a must for me.



How I miss decent tv.



If I could have my choice of tv stations I would certainly be one happy chappy.



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