Emmys Loved Nostalgia For 75th So Look For More On Sunday’s 76th: ‘The West Wing’, ‘Happy Days’, ‘Family Ties’, ‘Murphy Brown’, & More

When I interviewed Television Academy Chairman Cris Abrego and President and CEO Maury McIntyre on Emmy nomination day they indicated that despite low ratings for the star-studded 75th Emmys on Fox, delayed four months to January of this year, they were thrilled with its production and the nostalgia factor you probably could expect for such a major milestone year. They indicated reunions and nostalgia for TV’s past would be returning to ABC’s turn at broadcasting the Primetime Emmys, and just their luck – that network is battling DirecTV in a carriage dispute and there is a possibility Direct TV customers won’t see the show and likely wins for Disney’s collection of networks, notably FX which picked up 21 Creative Arts Emmys over the weekend just for Shogun (14, already a single series first season record) and The Bear (7) in their respective Drama and Comedy Series categories. Hopefully they will come to terms because it is looking like a great nostalgic night once again.

“Kudos to Jesse Collins and his team, who are again back for the 76th I don’t think we could have had a better show for our 75th it was just a pretty amazing, amazing night of awards and honoring and nostalgia. And I think we’re looking forward to the same thing with the 76th. We’re excited that it’s coming up so quickly,” said McIntyre.

Well, it is coming up Sunday and expect Presidential politics to be injected into the show as the Emmys will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the premiere of The West Wing. So far Martin Sheen, Allison Janney, Dule Hill, Richard Schiff, Janel Moloney, and Jimmy Smits have been announced as participants/presenters at the Emmys, though no mention was made of theme as part of a specific West Wing reunion. Count on it.

There looks to be a Happy Days 50th reunion of Ron Howard (Emmy winner this weekend for his Jim Henson docu) and Henry Winkler. And look still for more memories of TV’s past with announced presenters Candice Bergen (Murphy Brown – but don’t look for former VP Dan Quayle to join her); Meredith Baxter (Family Ties); Zach Braff (Scrubs); Don Johnson (Miami Vice), Dick Van Dyke, and more hitting the red carpet at the Peacock on Sunday.

We expect more presenter announcements this week with further information on who will be on stage for the 76th Emmys. We already can confirm one reunion right at the top of the show. Schitt Creek’s Eugene Levy and Dan Levy will be hosting.