FIRST OFF . . .

Fox Broadcasting Co. and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences have named Don Ohlmeyer executive producer of the “39th Annual Prime Time Emmy Awards.” The telecast, originating live Sept. 20 from Pasadena Civic Auditorium, marks the first Emmy show in Fox’s three-year deal to telecast the prime-time Emmys, formerly the province of the Big Three networks, which had televised the awards on a rotating basis. Ohlmeyer, who has directed and produced myriad sporting events--including the Olympics--says he wants to “devote more time to the human side of the equation” rather than striving for brevity at all costs. “In the past, in an effort to make it shorter, we have lost the heart and soul of the show,” he said.