by Thinus Ferreira
With "red carpet" coverage done from inside a studio kilometres away from the theatre, no Ryan Seacrest, and with no stars really even on a red carpet or inside a theatre, nominees and stars zooming in from their Hollywood mansions and host Jimmy Kimmel who will have to pad with jokes and be ready with impromptu banter if there are technical difficulties, 2020's 72nd Prime Emmy Awards on Monday will look and feel very different this year.
Jimmy Kimmel is joking that the Emmys this year will look like "a big, unpredictable Zoom meeting".
Here's everything you need to know about this year's ceremony:
South African viewers will once again mainly be able to watch 2020's Emmy Awards coverage on E! (DStv 124) doing coverage and adapted "red carpet" coverage given the limitations and changes because of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, and the actual ceremony live very early on Monday morning and again during primetime on M-Net on the same day.
Saturday 19 September 2020
19:05: Daily Pop
A "Live Emmy Special" featuring co-hosts Carissa Culiner, Justin Sylvester, and Morgan Stewart discussing the upcoming 72nd Prime Emmy Awards.
Monday 21 September 2020
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic E! will be doing Emmy Awards "red carpet" coverage but it will look and be very different this year.
22:30 - 00:00: E! Countdown to the Red Carpet: The 2020 Emmy Awards* E! (DStv 124)
Oddly this pre-show doesn't appear this year on MultiChoice's DStv electronic programme guide (EPG) or the latest amended September 2020 schedule NBCUniversal issues to the media.
It is however once again being done and produced as part of E!'s Emmy coverage package from 16:30 in the United States and one of two things might happen: Over the weekend either the E! schedule and DStv guide will be updated to add and reflect this pre-show, or the schedule won't show it although it will be broadcast.
If you're interested in it, tune to E! from 22:30 on Sunday night anyway, or just set a PVR recording. Although the schedule show titles won't match, you might end up seeing this show.
In this pre-show done live from the Universal Lot in Universal City, California, the Nightly Pop co-host Nina Parker, E! style correspondent Brad Goreski, The Rundown presenter Erin Lim, and actress Laverne Cox will be the presenters.
Included in this coverage will be their countdown of 10 of the most anticipated Emmy nominees and their biggest moments.
00:00 - 02:00: E! Live from the Red Carpet: The 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards E! (DStv 124)
(repeat: 09:25 - 11:15)
As the stars virtually come together for the Emmys, Giuliana Rancic will once again headline E!'s Live From The Red Carpet: The 2020 Emmy Awards with Vivica A. Fox replacing Ryan Seacrest.
The red carpet coverage will be done from the Universal Lot in Universal City, California and the two will bring viewers interviews with Hollywood stars and Emmy nominees.
02:00 - 05:00: 72 Primetime Emmy Awards (live) M-Net (DStv 101)
There will be no beautiful people in tuxes or glam dresses and no real red carpet but there will still be a large production team at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, using the theatre as the "production base" from which to do the Emmys broadcast this year with Jimmy Kimmel as the host.
Over 130 cameras have been shipped out across America and across the world and set up in the homes of nominees and stars in 20 cities and 10 countries.
Nominees were sent a ring light, a laptop computer, a boom mic and a camera. They haven't been given any dress code.
On Wednesday during a virtual media briefing with the press the Emmy producers said they fully expect and are prepared for things to go wrong since there are so many moving parts and say they will adapt in the best way possible in the moment, with Jimmy Kimmel that will take it in his stride as everyone work together to broadcast the Emmys in the best way possible under the circumstances.
There will be 26 categories.
21:30 - 00:25: 72 Primetime Emmy Awards (primetime) M-Net (DStv 101)
The "cleaned-up" recorded broadcast for primetime with proper breaks.
Tuesday 22 September 2020
14:40: Daily Pop E! (DStv 124)
Co-hosts Justin Sylvester and Carissa Culiner take a look back at the 72nd Emmy Awards, the looks, the interviews, the winners and snubs, with commentary about the big moments and newsmakers.
22:00: Nightly Pop E! (DStv 124)
Co-hosts Morgan Stewart, Nina Parker and Hunter March break down the 72nd Emmy Awards with their unfiltered views and commentary about the ceremony.
