Readers Sing ‘Sopranos’ ’ Praises, Slam the Emmys

The television academy has disgraced itself with the whitewash called the 1999 Emmys (“Emmy Snub of ‘Sopranos’ Is a Crime,” by Howard Rosenberg, Sept 13). Who do the mysterious “panels” that vote on the major awards consist of? What manner of Machiavellian machinations and insidious lobbying must have gone on to produce such a laughable result?

This year the Emmys abandoned even the flimsiest pretense of independence from network control. Giving the best series Emmy to the best series on television, “The Sopranos,” just couldn’t be allowed to happen. The fear behind the results is palpable. “The Practice” is a fine show. Compared to “The Sopranos” it is utterly predictable. “The Sopranos” is the most satisfying television series in many, many years. There is no comparison.

Dennis Franz is a wonderful actor. He has won the Emmy for “NYPD Blue” a few times already. Did he really need another this year? James Gandolfini’s work as Tony Soprano is groundbreaking, multidimensional and a major cut above any other performance on television this year.

FUZZBEE MORSE

Hollywood

*

Maybe the reason “The Sopranos” didn’t win all of the awards they deserved on that inane Emmys show was that its creators and artisans respect, too highly, the intelligence and capabilities of their audience. This standard is in direct conflict with the untalented, shallow, unintelligent silliness, movie-star good looks, and safety-in-household-name nonsense that Hollywood has chosen to promote as its household product, clogging up television’s arteries for decades.

BETSY BEGIAN

Santa Monica

*

“Frasier” writer Jay Kogen’s smug, self-congratulatory Emmy acceptance speech would have been unwelcome at any ceremony. But in a year when the lack of access of so many groups from the corridors of creative and executive power in Hollywood has been a matter of intense debate, his celebration of his accidental good fortune of birth was especially galling.

MICHAEL HUGHES

Los Angeles

*

I am in total agreement with Liz Smith that Paul Reiser’s genius and creative talent was once again overlooked by the Emmys. “Mad About You” was his creation and Helen Hunt only became a star because of it. I was thoroughly disgusted that she even accepted the Emmy! I don’t care if I never see Helen Hunt in anything again!

PAT BENDER

San Diego

*

The “brains” who “vote” for the same shows year after year were hard at work again. I wonder if they’ve seen any of the shows they have voted for. I think they should be quizzed to make sure they have actually watched some of these TV “masterpieces.”

HOMAYOUN BAREKAT

Davis

*

Halle Berry, after offering her show-biz narrative with all of the zeal of an earnest Miss America contestant, announced the winner for best miniseries as A&E;’s “Horatio the Hornblower.”

Actually, we should probably give her the benefit of the doubt, with the ceremony’s being so close to Rosh Hashana.

DAVID ROSS

Palo Alto