The MTV Film & TV Awards will nonetheless air on Sunday, however the present is not going to air reside as deliberate from Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. As an alternative, it will likely be a pre-taped present crammed with pre-taped acceptance speeches and comedy bits.
Bruce Gillmer, president of music, music expertise, programming and occasions at Paramount World, and an government producer of the present, launched an announcement Friday (Might 5), saying: “As we fastidiously navigate how finest to ship the fan-first awards present we envisioned that our crew has labored so laborious to create, we’re pivoting away from a reside occasion that also permits us to supply a memorable night time stuffed with unique sneak peaks, irreverent classes our viewers has come to anticipate, and numerous moments that may each shock and delight as we honor the perfect of movie and TV over the previous 12 months.”
The present, now in its thirty first 12 months, had gave the impression to be headed for a giant night time when it booked Drew Barrymore as host and corralled Jennifer Coolidge to obtain its Comedic Genius Award. However when members of the Writers Guild of America went on strike on Tuesday, after negotiations with studios and streamers had collapsed the earlier night time, the present was thrown into chaos.
The primary setback got here on Thursday, when Barrymore pulled out as host in solidarity with the putting writers, which embody the writing workers of her hit daytime speak present. “I’ve listened to the writers, and in an effort to really respect them, I’ll pivot from internet hosting the MTV Film & TV Awards reside in solidarity with the strike,” Barrymore mentioned in an announcement.
Whereas shedding a big-name host simply three days earlier than a reside present is a troublesome break, there have been no laborious emotions on MTV’s half. “Drew, with out query, she’s been unimaginable,” Gillmer informed Selection. “…She isn’t surprisingly, standing in solidarity with the writers, which now we have full respect for. She has our full help.”
Additionally on Thursday, MTV referred to as off the pink carpet for the occasion, so celebrities wouldn’t need to face questions concerning the strike. However the plan at the moment was nonetheless to have a reside present. The WGA mentioned on Friday that it was planning to picket the present, which made holding a reside present more and more problematic.
The MTV Film Awards, the forerunner of the MTV Film & TV Awards, had been as soon as pre-taped, so this isn’t unprecedented.
The MTV Film & TV Awards will nonetheless air Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on MTV, with simulcasts on BET, BET Her, Comedy Central, CMT, Brand, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Paramount Community, Pop, TV Land, VH1.
Government producers for the 2023 MTV Film & TV Awards, who’re changing into battle-tested within the challenges of reside tv, are MTV’s Gillmer, Wendy Plaut and Vanessa Whitewolf, together with Den of Thieves’ Jesse Ignjatovic and Barb Bialkowski. Jackie Barba and Alicia Portugal are executives accountable for manufacturing and Lisa Lauricella serves because the music expertise government.
Is it doable for producers to placed on a enjoyable, entertaining present with a lot working towards them? You’ll simply need to tune in Sunday night time and discover out.
