CBS Decries Its Dearth of Emmy Nods

For CBS President Leslie Moonves, Thursday’s announcement of the nominations for the 50th Annual Emmy Awards proved to be bittersweet.

Though the network was pleased with acting nominations for Christine Lahti of “Chicago Hope” and Roma Downey and Della Reese of “Touched by an Angel,” Moonves was less than pleased that CBS was shut out of the categories for best drama and comedy series.

In a previously scheduled press conference before a gathering of national television writers in Pasadena, Moonves said he was particularly upset that the comedy “Everybody Loves Raymond” was passed over.

“The biggest injustice was done to ‘Everybody Loves Raymond,’ ” he said, calling the series one of “the preeminent shows in television. . . . It was robbed.”

He said he also thinks the veteran medical drama “Chicago Hope” was deserving in the best drama category, in which it has previously been nominated.

Moonves said the shutout in those categories was not totally unexpected. “We’ve never done immensely well with the Emmys,” he said.

Meanwhile, the executive continued to defend his decision to cancel “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” after six seasons, a move that has prompted an emotional campaign by angry viewers to bring back the series.

Moonves said it was a very difficult move but one he had to make. “ ‘Dr. Quinn’ served us well for six seasons but has had a ratings decline for five consecutive seasons,” he said.

A “Dr. Quinn” movie is still a possibility, although star Jane Seymour--who received a nomination for outstanding actress in a drama series--has not committed to the project. Series creator Beth Sullivan and others associated with the program are “already on board,” Moonves said. The series did not have a farewell episode.

Despite the axing of “Dr. Quinn,” Moonves insisted that the network is not abandoning its core female audience, noting that “Touched by an Angel” and “Early Edition,” which is taking over the “Dr. Quinn” time slot of 8 p.m. Saturdays, are still targeting that audience.

But he said CBS is determined to attract a more urban, male audience in prime time and plans to take advantage of the return of NFL football to CBS to promote shows such as the martial arts comedy-drama “Martial Law” and the quirky, “Rat Pack”-like “Buddy Faro.”

“We are committed to being a broadcaster,” said Moonves. “We want to attract more males and be more urban. We need to get younger. The network must provide more diversity.”

He said that the “relentless pursuit” by the networks to attract the 18-to-49-year-old demographic is leading to a dangerous “narrowcasting. Viewers who fall outside that demographic need to let advertisers know that they have buying power too.”

Moonves expressed confidence in Bryant Gumbel, even though his “Public Eye” newsmagazine fell flat last season and is not on the fall schedule. The series is continuing to air this summer and has shown some small audience growth, he said.

“A decision has not been made yet on ‘Public Eye,’ but Bryant is an A-1 guy and he will continue to be with us,” Moonves said.