Politics in spotlight at Emmy Awards

By Paul J. Gough

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Politics crept then crashed into Sunday's Emmy telecast, with trophies going to such socially conscious fare as "John Adams" and "Recount" and plenty of zingers and pleas to vote on November 4.

Tom Hanks, in accepting the best miniseries award for "John Adams," drew parallels from the federalist period to today.

"The election between Adams and Jefferson was filled with innuendo, lies, a bitter partisan press and disinformation," the producer said. "How great we've come so far since then."

Hanks was far from the only celebrity who spoke out.

Accepting a "celebratory Emmy" to remedy being left out when "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" won a 1968 Emmy for writing, Tommy Smothers wasted no time getting off a barb at the current occupant of the wartime White House, just as he did for Democrat Lyndon Johnson at the height of the Vietnam War.

"It's hard for me to stay silent when I keep hearing that peace is attainable through war," Smothers said. "And there's nothing more scary than watching ignorance in action."

Smothers added: "I dedicate this Emmy to all the people who feel compelled to speak out and are not afraid to speak to power and refuse to be silent."

Laura Linney, who won for best actress in a miniseries for "John Adams," said the victory helped her reflect on "the community organizers who helped form our country." Community organizers in general -- and Barack Obama in particular -- were a favored target at the Republican National Convention.

Jon Stewart was nonpartisan in his acceptance speech after "The Daily Show" won a record sixth consecutive Emmy for comedy/variety.

"I look forward to the next administration, whoever it is," he said. "I have nothing to follow up with. I am just saying I look forward to the next administration."

Also nonpartisan was a well-known Hollywood liberal, Martin Sheen, who appeared behind the "West Wing" desk to exhort viewers to vote November 4 "for the candidate of your choice." That was seconded by "Recount" executive producer Paula Weinstein, who dedicated the award to the election workers "on the ground fighting to have every vote count and they will be there again November 4. Vote."

Jay Roach, who directed "Recount," seemed to think that the November election might have the makings of another miniseries. "It's going to get close again this election," he said. "Keep your local officials honest and please, vote, vote, vote, vote."

Not that the program itself didn't have some built-in spaces for politics. The 60th anniversary tributes honored, among other series, "Laugh-In," "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," "The West Wing" and "M*A*S*H," all shows that in their prime were socially conscious.

One of the canned lines between Kathy Griffin and Don Rickles drew comparisons to another recently united duo. "The world hasn't seen a pairing like this since John McCain and Sarah Palin," Griffin said.

And it took only about five minutes for an Emmy nominee to mention politics.