Fox successfully petitioned the Television Academy to allow their performance of Rent to compete in the Variety Special Live category at the Emmys.
Network television has been doing some really cool things with live theater lately, putting popular musicals on network television to introduce a whole new group of people to that world. Fox’s performance of Rent in January of this year did just that, introducing a whole new generation of people to Jonathan Larson’s iconic musical. However, after an unplanned injury caused the show to air footage from the previous night’s performance, it looked like Fox might not be able to submit the show for Emmy consideration in the Variety Special Live category.
However, as Variety reports, the Television Academy has officially given Fox the green light to submit their performance of Rent for the Variety Special Live category rather than the Variety Special (Prerecorded) category. The Academy’s reasoning is that though the only part of the performance that was aired live was the final number due to Brennin Hunt’s (Roger Collins) foot injury, the rest of the show that was shot the night before was shot live-to-tape.
Rent’s executive producer Marc Platt issued a statement to Variety about the category change, saying, “Although an unforeseen injury dictated that only a portion of Rent was broadcast live, the entire program was performed in front of live audience without edit or interruption. The TV audience was able to experience the production as intended by our extraordinary cast and crew. I’m pleased the Academy recognized the unique circumstances of our situation.”
It’s an important change for the show’s Emmy chances as the category delineation means the performance of Rent will be separated from shows like Carpool Karaoke and stand-up specials that populate the prerecorded category.
You can see if Rent takes home the trophy when the Emmys air on Fox on September 22.
Source: Variety
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