This weekend saw the televising of the SOUTHBANK SHOW AWARDS 2007. This meaningless piece of modern dust collectors art is awarded to several arts interests across the arts, from writers of novels to screen plays, from film directors to actors, from singers to groups, to opera companies, theatre companies in fact anything which you might construe to be art. The range of arts always amazes me and in that respect as no stone is left unturned then maybe it is a worthwhile award to have. But is the only worthwhile award to have or are dozens of others.

I have a problem with awards and awards ceremonies in that I feel there are to many of them. The more there is of something the less value it has. I suppose those put forward for awards who fail in one sector of the awards community may be elected in another so an issue of swings and round abouts exists to, in recognition of how important certain awards are and more so how they are given or awarded.

I gather some of the British comedy awards are voted by the viewer the bulk is considered by a panel who a week prior to the event might never have heard of the latest stand up comedian or impersonator. In fact they might never have seen a performance or laughed at a joke. But come what may locked away in some secret corner of a boardroom they will be imprisoned and commanded to just sit and watch a few excerpts of the selected performers and then decide on who the winners are. Some of the soap awards are done like this to, with the exception of the viewers voting for there soap actor of the year.

So we have,

1. THE SOUTH BANK SHOW AWARDS.
2. THE BRIT AWARDS.
3. THE ITV SOAP AWARDS.
4. BRITISH COMEDY AWARDS.
5. THE TELEVISION AWARDS.
6. THE MOBO AWARDS.
7. THE OSCARS.
8. THE EMMYS.
9. THE LAURENCE OLIVIA AWARDS FOR THEATRE.
10. CLASSIC FM AWARDS
11. CLASSICAL MUSIC AWARDS NAMED AFTER THE SPONSOR.

It is without a shadow of doubt that I say this, that given our passion for *reality tv* but there are at least another half dozen to add to this list if not more, some which will be televised for the viewer to watch.

What do you think? Is there to many award ceremonies are there too many awards issued?

Remember the more awards there are the less real value they have. These things have come to be known as everyday objects a bit of bling for your fireside mantelpiece, like the gadgets attached to mobile phones.

What do they really mean for the plethora of receivers, Something - that acknowledges they have made big strides for there industry, or they have stood the test of time and have become a legend a real star - nothing, because sometimes they haven’t the decency to turn up and collect them so maybe they in years to come will sell them on ebay, because they have so many there is no more space left for such ornaments, - or are they really an item of value, because they have this as there only achievement or it is one of two or three they have been awarded so it is therefore a treasured heirloom to pass on in the years to come?

You see there really is far to many awards made each year for each of the award ceremonies we see, which is really what each industry does when it feels the need to give themselves a big round of applause for those people who have made it the most money. A hit at the box office, a double platinum disc for an artist and the company profits soar. So no longer is a star the product of years of hard slog and experience some literally are made overnight. Others carry on to be television icons even when there roles have ended and so the cycle of awards and those who receive them goes on.

We do have one award ceremony which is moving but very rarely does an award ceremony acknowledge true merit or bravery and courage for the ordinary people of great britain with there personal achievements, if they did we would know and recognise that better talent exists away from the one eyed monster in the corner of the living room. But that is another reality and television after all is unreality. Television’s very special subject is wrongly labelled reality television, when it is format, scripted unreality television, sold as a package.

Have we award show to many? Is there an award show we could do without?

This article has been written by Maureen, one of our contributors on Unreality TV. Thanks Maureen!