Here's your final notice: The 66th Primetime Emmy Awards airs from 7 to 10 p.m. Monday on NBC with Seth Meyers doing the hosting duties live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.
Warm up with the 66th Primetime Emmy Red Carpet Special at 6:30 p.m. Billy Bush, Shaun Robinson and Louise Roe interview celebrities as they arrive, ask them who they are wearing and, because it'll be 4:30 in Los Angeles, comment on how unbearably hot it is.
More? You want more? E! begins its red carpet coverage at 3:30 (!) with Countdown to the Red Carpet: The 2014 Primetime Emmy Awards. I can't imagine who will be around to chat up that early, but they'll make it work.
E! ramps it up at 5 with Live From The Red Carpet: The 2014 Primetime Emmy Awards. That's a mere two hours before the curtain rises. I expect a bevy of C-listers, hangers-on, has-beens and wannabees at that hour.
And now a word about our host.
There will be those unfamiliar with Meyers. If you haven't been watching Saturday Night Live since 2001, then Meyers is probably an unknown.
The 40-year-old Illinois native began his TV career on SNL, where he was head writer for nine seasons and "Weekend Update" anchor for eight seasons.
Since February, Meyers has been the host of NBC's Late Night With Seth Meyers, replacing Jimmy Fallon, who replaced Jay Leno on The Tonight Show.
The opportunity to introduce Meyers to a larger audience is why NBC picked him to host. When it's their turn, the networks typically choose someone they want to showcase.
Last year, for example, CBS tapped popular star Neil Patrick Harris from the network's How I Met Your Mother.
In 2012, ABC called on Jimmy Kimmel (Jimmy Kimmel Live!) to do the honors, and Fox named its Glee star Jane Lynch to host in 2011. The last time NBC had the Emmys (2010), Fallon was called on to be a first-time host.
All of these entertainers did a credible job. In fact, the only misstep in recent memory was in 2008 when a seriously ill-advised ABC trotted out co-hosts Tom Bergeron, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, Jeff Probst and Ryan Seacrest.
Each had been nominated in the just-created category of host of a reality or reality competition program.
The most bizarre attempt at hosting was for the 55th Primetime Emmys in 2003. Fox served up a smorgasbord of co-hosts that appeared to be assembled by committee. They were Ellen DeGeneres, Brad Garrett, Darrell Hammond, George Lopez, Conan O'Brien, Bernie Mac, Dennis Miller, Garry Shandling, Martin Short, Jon Stewart and Wanda Sykes.
Being an old-timer, I believe nobody has ever equalled Johnny Carson, who co-hosted in 1963 (with Bob Newhart and David Brinkley) and went solo from 1971-74.
One final thing.
The Emmys plan a celebration of the life and work of Robin Williams, who died Aug. 11. Producer Don Mischer said Emmy officials want to strike just the proper tone.
"With the tragic loss of Robin, we're trying ... to figure out what to do in the right, appropriate and meaningful way," Mischer is quoted by TV Guide. "It's about what can we do to properly remember Robin and create perhaps an emotional moment about Robin, knowing all that he did for all of us who love entertainment and love comedy."
The "In Memoriam" segments for those in the industry who died the previous year are always tricky in the middle of an awards program. Last year, the Emmys overloaded with special tributes to James Gandolfini, Gary David Goldberg, Cory Monteith and Jean Stapleton. But it was Williams' tribute to Jonathan Winters, who died April 11, 2013, that turned out to be a major highlight.
"Jonathan Winters was my mentor," Williams told the audience. "I once told him that and he said, 'Please. I prefer idol.' But I knew it was true."
• Masterpiece Mystery! A new British medical drama kicks off at 9 p.m. today on AETN. Set in 1961, Breathless stars Jack Davenport (Pirates of the Caribbean, Smash) as brilliant London surgeon Otto Powell. It's "a stylish story of a dark secret amid the complexities of the sexual revolution."
This is steamy, soapy stuff. It has abortion, lust, deception, secrets and British accents.
The three-part, 90-minute drama airs at the same time through Sept. 7.
• MTV awards. The MTV Video Music Awards air live from 8 to 10 p.m. today. Look for Taylor Swift to perform along with Beyonce. Others set to entertain include Iggy Azalea, Rita Ora, Nicki Minaj, Maroon 5, Usher, 5 Seconds of Summer, Fifth Harmony and Ariana Grande.
The VMA red carpet preshow arrives at 7 p.m.
The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Email:
mstorey@arkansasonline.com
Style on 08/24/2014