FYC & Me
For MY Consideration?? In this economy?
Perhaps there’s no marriage of two interests of mine than this: watching the best episodes of my favorite TV series from the year in a crowded theater; you know, the silver screens reserved for movies. The intimate small screen charm of television but with hundreds or people laughing, crying, gasping. We’ve observed as television has gotten more cinematic for 20 years now (thank LOST!) and yet it rarely gets celebrated outside of our homes on screens bigger than 65”.
Record scratch, freeze frame, you’re probably wondering how I got into this situation 🥴
This summer has been my second year as a member of the Television Academy. Holding for applause. And as a voting member, there are varied perks throughout the year but the peak is referred to as “FYC (For Your Consideration) season.” Sorry if those sentences carry no recognizable words should you not live in a coastal media city, and sorry for betraying my humble midwest beginnings— I’m traveling to Ohio in a few weeks to lobotomize and reset. Allow me to break it down: the TV Academy is responsible for the Emmy awards, objectively television’s biggest honor! And throughout April, May, and June, FYC season exists to remind us how good every show is, should our vote be able to be swayed.
Hundreds of event invitations are sent out to bring the voting body to events celebrating TV shows from the past year with the sole purpose of swaying their vote, of reminding that their show existed and it was good and it should be considered as one of the best comedies or dramas, etc. Emails land in my inbox saying you should come spend one night of your life celebrating Guy Fieri’s Diners Drive-Ins and Dives! We’ll have food, drinks, and Guy Fieri!1 FYC events are a safe space for people who like TV to celebrate TV, or at least people who pretend to like TV but actually like free prosecco.
And with FYC events, I get to give back, ; if you engaged with me about a show this year, I might have invited you as my +1. Being able to bring friends as guests to these events is basically charitable giving— not tax-deductible!
FYC season is the best season!! And now it’s over-ish.
The dichotomy of attendees seems to fall in one of two buckets. First, the people who go to the events solely for the free food, the cost being sitting through a screening and cast/crew panel— oh the horror! The amount of people I’ve been stuck chatting to who have never heard of the show they’re about to celebrate, but hey the event yesterday had french toast, so that was cool. You get your roasted carrots Denise! But I fall in the other category. Fortunately for TV-going me, I likely know what my favorite comedies and dramas and reality shows and limited series of the year are. I’m not sure I attend these events to “consider” as much as I do to “smile” (heard of it???) So where thousands of people apply to go to any event that will hand out free lemon bars and niçoise salad, I zero in on the good ones.
Last year, my first in this pretend-prestigious group, I wasn’t sure how if at all these events would sway my vote. Now after a second year, I don’t think they truly do (but I’ve chatted with enough people to know I’m in the minority here). It’s clear that there are thousands of people who have voting power who don’t study up on their candidates (hmmmmm reminiscent of another kind of election PERHAPS) and they can be easily swayed by ads, buffets and parfaits on pass-around trays.
Bypassing the details that make this all less glamorous (praying you get accepted in a digital lottery to attend, sprinting away from the office early to stand in a cattle line to make sure you actually get in, glancing around to wonder: who did I work with 10 years ago here that I don’t want to ever talk to again?, waiting in a theater 30 minutes before anything starts which is something I specifically plan to avoid when going to a movie), these events is my idea of a fun night out. Brb while I do my stretches before getting on my high horse.2
There’s certainly room to zoom out and look at all of this as a colossal waste of money (hm are you trying to audit Warner Bros. finances? Relax) Being cynical about FYC events is optional, live a little! It’s fun to see the episodes that made me laugh at home and confirm that everyone is as delighted by them as I was. I binged the entirety of Big Mistakes on an international flight, extremely captive audience, and loved it. Rewatching the pilot and second episode in a theater confirmed that it was funny and compelling. To see pre-screenings of season and series finales and sit upon those secrets for just a few days before they release to the public is the highest I feel all year. I knew how Hacks ended before you and I’ll humble brag about it!! (Spoiler at this footnote)3
At the end of the season, it’s so clear which companies have frivolous money to spend to hopefully get Emmy statues. It’s not rigged, per se, but money does solve a lot of problems, and I will be thinking about those fried PB&J sandwiches as a dessert when clicking that radio button when voting.
In addition to dessert, the best way to sway me, a VOTER, is with a themed cocktail and a photo op. Build a backdrop, hire a photographer, and oh yeah can I order one “Dr. Robby’s Sabbatical?”4
The food is often the lowest common denominator to make the most people happy but recall I have taste and whimsy. You can make the best medical drama this decade and at the end of the day, people will vote for you depending on how overcooked the steak at your buffet is. Will I remember that The Pitt did not have a photo op, despite probably being my best drama? Will I remember the pizza at Stranger Things and how it was good but incredibly heavy and made me full for an actual 24 hours afterwards? Will I remember that the photo activation at The Comeback was basically just… headshots…? Hell yeah.
In the end, it’s an exercise in “what is the point?” and zooming out to realize that this is frivolous fun. It’s a venue to complain and brag simultaneously with strangers: can you believe the food was this bad at this free event? It’s a reminder that TV is art and should be celebrated accordingly and largely. If you ever have an opportunity to see a TV show on a screen bigger than your 65” mounted on the wall with hundreds of people, mama sign up. And if you don’t, fly to me in the spring months and I’ll bring you as my date.
I haven’t watched The Pitt S2 finale at home yet, but have seen it twice in theaters. Television Academy, I love you and please revoke my membership if I ever become cynical to these perks. If I can offer one suggestion: we need “I VOTED” stickers for the Emmys.
As a little extra reading, I was at this event in early April and was delighted to read another take on seeing Dr. Santos and Dr. King sing karaoke with a thousand other people:
I did not go to this event but I know people who did— word on the street is: events about food shows have the best food.
I may use the word “free” a lot. TV Academy membership costs me $225 for one year. $225 to schmooze and booze and see the stars and note who looks great in person and who benefits from the glam of the TV cameras.
Imagine knowing that Deborah Vance didn’t die in the finale 2 days before most other tastemakers!
Basically a watermelon margarita.
my favorite FYC date always
“who did I work with 10 years ago here that I don’t want to ever talk to again?“