Emmys sadly snubbed non-station shows

You’d think that out of 256 nominations in 57 categories for the recent 50th Annual Emmy Awards the odds might favor non-station produced shows. But that didn’t happen.

Only six independently produced shows that ran on a TV outlet, or one third of the 17 nominees, won in the two categories of Programs and Individual Achievement.

Two of the six shows won in the Program category. Director Jim White took home a gold statuette for “Find Yourself a Dream: The Bob Love Story,” in the category of “Outstanding documentary of current significance.” The show aired on WYCC.

White’s screenplay, “Butterbean,” based on the former Bull’s life-affirming struggles and achievements, will be produced as a feature film next year, directed by Mark Ellis, known for his lengthy list of inspirational sports film credits (“We are Marshall,” “The Replacements”).

America’s Film Fund and the Chicago Capital Entertainment Group is producing, in collaboration with the Sports Studio.

It was no surprise that WTTW’s long-running and popular “Check, Please” series won in the category of “Outstanding conversation/interview program/series.”

Executive producers are V.J. McAleer, David Manilow and Joel Cohen; producer, Alpana Singh; associate producers Susan Godfrey and Sarah Warner.

The four individual achievement winners:

  • “Durastar Walkaround” was named outstanding advanced media informational program: International Trucks. Chris Olsen produced for ProActive, A Freeman Company.
  • “Faith Chicago” airing on TLN was named for outstanding program host/moderator contribution. Sunmee Choi was executive producer and host, co-hosts, Eric AuCoin and Romie Middleton-Jackson Middletown-Jackson. Latrice Bennett was associate producer.
  • Caryn R. Bell’s prize was for outstanding achievement for directing ? edited, for “The Joy of Easter,” produced and presented by the Apostolic Church of God. It aired on WCIU.
  • Allan Phillips claimed outstanding music composition/arrangement for “Grannies on Safari,” produced by the Art Explorers/Brave New Pictures, Inc.

Disappointing was the failure to launch for two fine shows that went head-to-head in the Arts/Entertainment Program category: “Grannies on Safari” and HMS Productions’ “Billy Sunday.”

“Sunday” got two additional nods for individual achievement and “Grannies” for one.

As they say, there’s always next year.