Edited to reflect that it isn't just writers impacted, as the directors have filed a letter of complaint as well.

It should be noted up top that Brian Seth Hurst -- 2nd Vice Chair of the Emmys -- has been tweeting obfuscating links at people about this controversy. But at some point Wednesday he removed "2nd Vice Chair of the Emmys" from his Twitter bio so that people would think he was just some random person, and not someone with a vested interest in controlling the story.

Don't be fooled. He's an Emmy shill trying to snow you. (The only part he's being entirely correct about is that all the awards will still be telecast. That's not the issue, and never has been the issue.)

Late 9/5 update: Hurst appears to be retreating altogether. All of his Emmys propaganda tweets from today have been deleted from his Twitter timeline.


Note:

It's important to note this is actually about the Emmys/CBS not wanting to showcase cable shows over broadcast shows. It isn't about writers.

For instance, Comedy series writing isn't being shafted, drama series writing is. Why? 4 of 5 comedy nominations are broadcast. 4 of 5 drama nominations are cable.

The eight shafted categories are: best miniseries, movie, supporting actor and actress (although it's unclear *which ones*), drama series writing, movie/mini writing, variety directing, movie/mini directing. Look up the nominations for those categories and you'll see why the broadcast network(s) don't want them taking up too much air time.

Executive producer Don Mischer has specifically talked -- openly -- about the need for the Emmys telecast to be "mainstream" and that too many nominees and winners are from shows the "mainstream" audience doesn't care about.

In other words, while the ostensible reason for the Emmys is to celebrate quality wherever it might be found in television, executive producer Don Mischer insists that the telecast itself eschew quality if that quality isn't "mainstream" enough.


Background:

Emmy shuffles telecast awards: Eight of the 28 honors to be prerecorded 


Does Emmys' 'time-shift' reflect misplaced priorities? 


More than 100 TV writers protest Emmy changes 


TV Showrunners Protest Changes to Primetime Emmys Telecast 
Amongst the signers are David Fury, Jane Espenson, Jeffrey Bell, and Steve DeKnight.


Directors Guild: Emmy change a 'material breach' 


DGA Letter To TV Academy Regarding Proposed Emmy Changes (August 04, 2009) 


And it seems that the Emmys are officially on Twitter, @PrimetimeEmmys , so this was my sample protest tweet:

Note the hashtag. Have at 'em. Don't be a d*ck, but be firm.


Read the excellent rant from Maureen Ryan

Rant alert: The Emmys get it wrong. Again. 


Editorial comment:

Out of the last ten Emmys, seven "Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series" (one of this year's shafted awards) went to cable shows. During that same period, six years had cable shows for at least four of that category's five nominees.

In case anyone's wondering why a broadcast network is including "Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series" amongst the categories its seeking to limit the audience's exposure to.

I think this is a terrible insult to the writers, without whom we would have no TV at all. It's a shame that the success of the cable shows hasn't inspired the major networks to raise their game, so that one wouldn't feel the need to try to screw the writers in this way. I don't see what is so incompatible with having well-written stories on series that appeal to a broad cross-section of society. (I was raised in the time of Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Those programs had good ratings, lasted several seasons, while offering well-written, often very clever episodes.)