EARLY BIRDS FIRST TO GET THE EMMY NEWS

Television ratings for the annual Emmy Awards may be slipping, but that didn’t stop a large media throng from showing up at the Preview House in Hollywood at 5:30 a.m. Thursday as nominations for this year’s awards were announced by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

More than 150 people were present, including television, radio and print media, actors, publicists and limousine drivers.

The nominations were read by a handful of television stars. Bleary-eyed, yet responsive, the group included Joanna Kerns of “Growing Pains,” John Karlen of “Cagney & Lacey,” Amanda Blake of “Gunsmoke Revisited,” Ed O’Neill and Katey Sagal of “Married With Children,” Emma Samms of “Dynasty” and Bonnie Bartlett of “St. Elsewhere.”

“I can’t speak too well right now,” Sagal said, with a chuckle before entering the theater. “But I’ll be all right. I have a script and I’ve already had three cups of coffee.”

James Loper, the academy’s executive director, was more articulate.

“We have a terrific turnout, better than we expected,” he said. “If everyone is willing to get up next year, we’ll do the same thing.” Asked if he were awake, Loper responded: “barely.”

In recent years, the nominations have been announced at 9 a.m. in Pasadena. The academy chose the early morning hour this year to receive live media coverage on the east coast from the network morning programs, “Good Morning America,” “The Today Show” and “The Morning Program.”

Consequently, camera crews began setting up at 1 a.m. Others involved--academy representatives and publicists--arrived at 4 a.m.

The media throng seemed unfazed by the early morning assignment. Dave Rhein, a reporter for the Des Moines Register, was having a grand time, drinking coffee and chatting with the stars. “I think this will be interesting to our readers who really don’t know what goes on at an event like this,” he said.

Standing patiently in a corner was limousine driver Anthony Sapien, 27, who was responsible for driving actor O’Neill to the event. “I had no problem with the time,” he said. “Now my day will end sooner.”

Not everyone, however, was pleased. Camera in hand, TV fan Rosemary Pampuro, 34, showed up at 6 a.m. hoping to take in the 20-minute presentation. She arrived too late.

“I’m disappointed,” she said, “I really wanted to see Ed O’Neill.”

Even more upset was one publicist, who leaning against a door said: “I’m tired, I feel sick and I feel like I’ve already worked an entire day.”