Sandy Hook Promise and Discovery Channel's Shark Week win Emmy Awards for commercials

I was pleasantly surprised by the winners of Outstanding Commercial at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards and the News and Documentary Emmy Awards, just as I was two years ago when I wrote 'The Talk' and 'Shark Week 2017' — two Emmy winning commercials. Then, I expected an entertaining Super Bowl commercial and a serious news or documentary promotion to win. Instead, a serious public service announcement (PSA) and an entertaining promotional announcement took home the trophies instead. The same thing happened last week, when Back-To-School Essentials | Sandy Hook Promise won instead of the two Super Bowl commercials I thought were favored, Groundhog Day for Jeep and What did we do before Alexa? I am happy to say I was wrong and that one of the two socially conscious PSAs took the Emmy home instead.

Just to refresh everyone's memory, here's the YouTube upload of the PSA.

Survive the school year with these must-have back to school essentials.
...
**Please note that this PSA contains graphic content related to school shootings that may be upsetting to some viewers. If you feel that this subject matter may be too difficult for you, you may choose not to watch this video.**

Powerful stuff that impressed the Television Academy. I just hope it changes minds outside of Hollywood, especially in Congress.


Now for the fun winning commercial over at the News and Documentary Awards, So Good You’ll Scream: Shark Week Starts Sunday, July 28!


Here is the field of nominees it beat for the award.

Outstanding Promotional Announcement

FRONTLINE "Rule The World" PBS
Lost & Found Trailer National Geographic
Shark Week 2019 "Shark Scream" Discovery Channel
The Movies "Anchors Campaign" CNN
The Movies "Iconic Graphics Spot" CNN

Once again, a well-produced, creative, and fun nominee beat out a field of more earnest fare. Considering how grim the News and Documentary Emmy Awards nominees and winners can be, I can't blame them for wanting to recognize something entertaining and effective.

Speaking of entertaining, I'll be back with more Emmy winners in between coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic 2020 election, and climate and weather. Stay tuned.

Previous posts about the 2020 Primetime and Creative Arts Emmy Awards

• Kerry Washington promotes 'The Fight,' a documentary about the ACLU's legal battles with the Trump Administration
• Sandy Hook Promise's 'Back-To-School Essentials' and P&G's 'The Look' among Emmy nominees for Outstanding Commercial
• 'Tiger King' vs. 'McMillion$' - big cats and true crime at the Emmy Awards for World Lion Day
• For National Presidential Joke Day, I present the variety talk show nominees at the Emmy Awards
• 'The Cave' vs. 'American Factory' - Oscar nominees and other documentaries at the Emmy Awards
• 'Short Treks,' '#FreeRayshawn,' and 'Reno 911!' - government in short form at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
• It's Saturday night, so here are the 15 Emmy nominations for 'Saturday Night Live'
• 'Cheer' leads unstructured reality program nominees in a field that recognizes diversity
• 'Queer Eye' leads structured reality program nominees at the Emmy Awards while 'preaching love, acceptance, pride, and compassion'
• 'El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie' vs. 'Bad Education' and 'American Son' - Outstanding Television Movie nominees about crime and punishment at the Emmy Awards
• Star Trek vs. Star Wars - futuristic politics and government at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
• 'Watchmen' vs. 'Mrs. America' and 'Unbelievable' — limited series at the 2020 Emmy Awards that examine politics and government
• 'Schitt's Creek' vs. 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' — Outstanding Comedy Series nominees that use politics and government for laughs
• Outstanding Drama Series nominees at the Emmys once again examine politics and government