Supernatural honored AND snubbed at the PCA

How is it possible for a television show to win two prestigious awards and actually get snubbed during the same award ceremony? You'd think that wouldn't happen. But it just did to Supernatural.

Sometimes I feel like what has happened to Supernatural for the past few years is Buffy the Vampire Slayer deja vu. Buffy is now acknowledged to be a groundbreaking television classic and one of the best shows of all time, but it was virtually ignored by everyone but its legions of passionate fans during its initial seven year run. Supernatural has also been ignored by awards shows and critics, and even by its own network. (The CW rarely promotes Supernatural and has moved it to the Friday night death slot opposite Fringe, thereby ensuring that we genre fans have to watch one and record the other. And of course, that affects ratings, because DVR ratings aren't counted in the same way, because nobody goes out on Friday night. What is this, the 19th century?)

Twice now, Supernatural has gotten some unexpected major league attention, but only because those accolades came directly from the fans. Last year, TV Guide held a contest -- their first -- intended to discover which TV fan base was the most passionate, with the prize being the cover of their magazine. Supernatural was the surprise winner. It was such a shock that some commenters on talk and news shows hadn't even heard of Supernatural. I remember one commenter mentioning that the two stars were really handsome. Yeah, that's why a show is popular. Because everyone else on television is so homely.

http://www.douxreviews.com/2010/12/newsflash-supernatural-on-cover-of-tv.html

Last night, the Peoples Choice Awards crowned Supernatural Favorite Network TV Drama AND Favorite Sci-Fi Fantasy Show. Favorite TV Drama is a big one, isn't it? And yet, it was not presented during the broadcast, and Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, according to some well substantiated rumors, were not invited to attend. (They did record a lovely thank you, though.)

[Update: Jensen Ackles was asked by a fan if he and Jared were invited, and he said yes -- but that they were told the awards weren't going to be presented during the broadcast. That's a good reason not to go. And still a snub.]

So Supernatural just got swept under the rug again. Fans are livid, but unsurprised at the continuing slights to their favorite show. Yes, we know it's because it's a fantasy show. I've been a fan of a number of high quality shows that have been serially ignored at the Emmys and by the critics. Science fiction, fantasy and horror films are nearly always ignored at the Oscars, too. (Except for those technical and special effects awards, which always feel to me like "here's a little pat on the back, now go away").

What's it going to take?

I suppose, after the show ends its run this year or the next, Supernatural will eventually start getting the after-the-fact "yes, it's a classic" recognition that Buffy now enjoys. Until then, though, I suppose we should just stop expecting anything more.

Posts about what happened have been going up all day. This one was my favorite so far: "Supernatural Wins At The People's Choice Awards, But Is There Evidence Of A Genre Conspiracy?" by Laura Prudom:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-prudom/supernatural-peoples-choice-awards_b_1201590.html

Also, check out the People's Choice blog. They asked people what they thought of last night's show -- best moments, and so on. The comments are incendiary. Supernatural fans are PISSED.

http://blog.peopleschoice.com/2012/01/12/2012-pcas-best-moments-best-dressed/

Here's a list of all the winners. Big congrats to Nathan Fillion, Nina Dobrev and Lea Michele, by the way. I understand Nina wasn't even nominated but managed to rock the write-in.

TELEVISION (televised)
Favorite Daytime TV Host: Ellen DeGeneres
Favorite TV Comedy Actress: Lea Michele, Glee
Favorite TV Drama Actress: Nina Dobrev, The Vampire Diaries
Favorite TV Comedy Actor: Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Favorite TV Drama Actor: Nathan Fillion, Castle
Favorite TV Crime Drama: Castle
Favorite Cable TV Drama: Pretty Little Liars
Favorite Celebreality Star: Kim Kardashian
Favorite Late-Night TV Host: Jimmy Fallon
Favorite Cable TV Comedy: Hot in Cleveland
Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show: Supernatural
Favorite New TV Drama: Person of Interest
Favorite New TV Comedy: 2 Broke Girls
Favorite Network TV Comedy: How I Met Your Mother

TELEVISION (non-televised)
Favorite TV Competition Show: American Idol
Favorite TV Guest Star: Katy Perry, How I Met Your Mother
Favorite Network TV Drama: Supernatural

MOVIES (televised)
Favorite Movie Actress: Emma Stone
Favorite Comedic Movie Actress: Emma Stone
Favorite Comedic Movie Actor: Adam Sandler
Favorite Movie Star Under 25: Chloe Grace Moretz
Favorite Drama Movie: Water for Elephants
Favorite Comedy Movie: Bridesmaids
Favorite Book Adaptation: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Favorite Movie Superhero: The Green Lantern
Favorite Movie Icon: Morgan Freeman

MOVIES (non-televised)
Favorite Movie: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Favorite Action Movie: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Favorite Action Movie Star: Hugh Jackman
Favorite Ensemble Movie Cast: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Favorite Animated Movie Voice: Johnny Depp, Rango

MUSIC (televised)
Favorite Pop Artist: Demi Lovato
Favorite Band: Maroon 5
Favorite Album: Lady Gaga’s Born This Way
Favorite R&B Artist: Rihanna

MUSIC (non-televised)
Favorite Male Artist: Bruno Mars
Favorite Female Artist: Katy Perry
Favorite Song of the Year: “E.T.,” Katy Perry featuring Kanye West
Favorite Hip-Hop Artist: Eminem
Favorite Country Artist: Taylor Swift
Favorite Music Video: Katy Perry, “Last Friday Night”
Favorite Tour Headliner: Katy Perry

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