People’s Choice Awards: Strike leaves little choice
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Days after the WGA declined to give a waiver to the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards -- and at a time when many in Hollywood continue to worry that striking writers will derail the pomp, circumstance and box-office windfall that arrives with each award season -- another award show has decided to drastically alter its format to ensure a picket line won’t disrupt the proceedings.
On Wednesday, the People’s Choice Awards announced plans to produce its Jan. 8 broadcast in a ‘magazine-style’ format. Instead of a live ceremony with presenters giving statuettes out to honorees, the show, hosted by Queen Latifah, will consist of taped pieces. A source close to the production described the new format as a post-produced show package.
Industry sources said the change in format came as a direct result of concerns about WGA picketing and the strike discouraging movie, television and music stars from attending.
The People’s Choice Awards have been broadcast annually since 1975, recognizing the most popular people and work in popular culture. Unlike the Academy Awards, Emmys or Grammys, which are voted upon by professional peers, the People’s Choice Awards are dictated by the general public. Honorees in music, movies and television are selected based on results from polls, market research and online voting. Categories run toward the esoteric and include favorite tour, favorite all-around movie and favorite hair.
-- Chris Lee
