Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-28
On the Air

What the TV awards donors
need are not bigger and better
pigeonholeS, just more of them.
The bestowers of television
honors always are running up
against the category shortage,
which produces dilemmas with
horns that are far from mates
The latest of these is the Acad-
envy of Television Arts and Sci
enceS.
The academy this week an
nounced the nominees from
whom will be chosen the recipi-
ents of this years annual EN-
mics" The members Of the
academy. a Hollywood institu-
ton, arrived at this list with no
help from here. too. Among the
other things cluttering the TV
editors, desk is a blank ballot
which should have been mailed
to the West Coast no later than
January 8.
And why did it not get mailed?
Not because the TV editor is lazy.
or absent minded. or vacillating
or not conscientious. Oh, no!
It didn't get mailed because the
TV editor got begged down IN
category No. 3, BEST Variety
Program.
There we're some variety shows
on the list of possibilities. all
right. But there were some i'm
posing questions raised, too. Is.
for instance, "Liberace," a pro-
gram devoted to man playing
the piano, a better variety
show" than Voice of Firestone
a program devoted to the sing
ing and playing Of semiclassical
music?
Sitting here bordering that
one made it impossible to go on
with the nominating. Going on,
a further examination of the
ballot now discloses. would have
led only to further questions. Is
the Herman Hickman Show"
whatever that is. the peer Of
professional wrestling? Is either
the BEST Program OF News
or Sports?"
And how about Bride and
Groom" and What's My Line?"
They're about as different as
television programs can get. yet
both were in there fighting for
the BEST Audience Participa-
ton. Quiz or Panel Program"
title.
It is obvious. of course. that
some TV columnists were not
bothered by any such nonsense.
They accepted the facts Of tele-
vision life and voted. The NOM
nations got made. Now the
final voting must be done by
the academy members and this
is one non member who is happy
with his status. The final bal
lot is as bad as the nominating
ballot.
Some good shows are going to
be lost in the crush and go I'M
rewarded at the hands Of the
Academy Of Television Arts and
Sciences. "See It Now" Ed
ward r. Murrow's excellent doc
umentary is likely to be one Of
them. It will survive the blow,
but no voter in his right mind
could call it better news"
program than News Caravan"
"Cavalcade of Sports" Blue
Ribbon Bouts" the NCAA foot
ball and the pro football tele-
casts are somewhat better sports
programs than "See 1t Now"
too. But that's its competition.
Clearly the academy will have
to add another category next
year and select the "Best Tele-
vision Program Conducted by
Edward r. Murrow While it's
about it, it might well add still
another. It already selects a
"Best Childrens Show" so it
will be only fair to select BEST
Adult Show"
That would provide niche
for Omnibus" AS it is this year,
Omnibus" is in the BEST
Variety Programs" competition,
against Comedy Hour" your
Show Of Shows" Jackie Glea-
son Show" and Toast of the
Town"
The academy race that stag
gers the IMAGINATION. however. is
the one for the outstanding -TV-
personality honor. to be be-
slowed on the che who attracted
the most attention during the
year. Nominees are Arthur God
frey. Edward r Murrow. Martha
Raye, Bishop Fulton Sheen and
Jack Webb
The nominators living all over
the country short-changed the
voters on this one, it must be
admitted. To the members OF an
organization whose address Is
S25 Sunset boulevard. Holly