Martin Hilton, executive producer of "The Bachelor," got right to the point today at Deadline’s The Contenders Emmy event. “This show has never won an Emmy. For anything!,” he told the audience dominated by likely voters. “And despite that, this show is a cornerstone of American pop culture.”
Hilton shared the panel stage with his fellow Warner Bros Television exec producers Robin Ashbrook ("Little Big Shots"),Audrey Morrissey ("The Voice") and Mike Darnell, the man who helped launch "American Idol" and "The Bachelor," among others, and who unveiled his lengthy new title: President of Unscripted and Alternative Television at Warner Bros. Television.
At the mention of "Bachelor's" Emmylessness, Darnell shouted, "For wardrobe, nothing!" He noted that "The Bachelor" has been a major hit since 2002, garnering top ratings and inspiring spin-offs. "Martins right,” he said.“This isn't just luck. I would implore you to look at it. You don't last this long without being a really well-produced show."
Hilton, president and chief operator of Next Entertainment, said that "The Bachelor" suffers at Emmy time from its guilty pleasurestatus.To laughter, he urged Emmy voters to get over the bias and do what really needs to be done here.
Darnell took a moment to confess how sentimental he got during last week’s "American Idol" series finale after 15 seasons. "There was such a bombardment of former Idols, so many that I thought I knew everybody but I forgot some kids," he said. "There was so much impact from that show. I guess I appreciated that Fox gave it a sendoff, rather than just pulling it off the air."
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