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A Recent Poll Finds 42% of Americans See Award Shows As ‘Meaningless’

Photo by Mirko Fabian via Unsplash

A Recent Poll Finds 42% of Americans See Award Shows As ‘Meaningless’

By Movieguide® Contributor

Some of the biggest names in Hollywood showed up for this year’s Emmy Awards ceremony, but that didn’t seem to matter to most Americans. A new poll shows just how disillusioned many people are with these award shows. 

A poll conducted by OnePoll found that 42% of Americans see award shows as “meaningless.” 

Out of the 1,000 people polled, just 34% were planning on watching the Emmy Awards ceremony at all. In comparison, 61% said that they had watched the Emmys “sometimes” in the past. 

Even those who profess to watching lots of TV — 15 or more hours a week — didn’t want to watch the awards show, with 53% saying they had no interest in watching the Emmys. 

The reason for this lack of interest might be due to the television programs that are on the air today. The poll also found that four in ten of the poll’s respondents believe that the Television Academy is “out of touch with what the average TV fans like to watch.”

It’s not surprising that many Americans are no longer interested in watching award shows. Movieguide® previously reported on the rise in inappropriate content in popular television shows:

Much like high school, the popular kids of cable are making gratuitous sex and violence the norm and major networks are going to have to up the ante if they want to contend with them.

According to an article entitled “More Sex, More Violence, More Troubled Kids,” author Kristen Fyfe confirms that TV shows are in fact portraying more graphic content. The Parent Television Council found “that portrayals of violence are up 75 percent since 1998. And, the violence portrayed is now a fundamental part of storylines, whereas in 1998 violence was incidental to plots. The study also found that violence is depicted more graphically than ever before.”

Fyfe continues, “A quick glance at a prime time lineup makes it easy to see why violence is up:  C.S.I., C.S.I.:  New York, C.S.I. Miami, 24, House, ER, Criminal Minds, Crossing Jordan, Bones, Prison Break, Medium, Law and Order, Law and Order SVU, NCIS.  Hour after hour after hour prime time is filled with shows that plumb the darkest reaches of human nature, and show the grisly aftermath of murders, rapes and assaults.”

With shows receiving awards for the more disturbing content, one can only assume the trend of more maturely rated shows will increase, creeping their way into the major networks’ prime time lineup.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.