If what’s happening on the stage of the Nokia Theatre isn’t exciting enough for you, NBC and the Emmys have an alternative this year: a live stream of the backstage goings-on.
“Backstage Live @ the Emmys,” a program shot behind-the-scenes during the broadcast on Sunday night, will stream on Emmys.com, NBC.com and Ustream.com during the show, which begins at 5 p.m. Pacific, 8 p.m. Eastern.
Shot by seven cameras, the program promises to show footage of presenters preparing to go on, winners reacting and using the “thank you camera,” and various other happenings in the wings, hallways and backstage areas of the Nokia.
"With more and more viewers using the Internet while they watch television, we believe the live streaming across these multiple platforms will allow viewers an all access look at television's biggest night," Academy of Television Arts & Sciences chairman John Shaffner said in a press release announcing the venture.
In other Emmy news, the Academy announced that singer Jewel will perform a newly-written song to accompany the show’s In Memoriam montage. The song, “The Shape of You,” was written about the loss of a friend, and will be available on iTunes after the telecast.
In addition, “Survivor” host Jeff Probst (right) has been booked as a presenter on the telecast, according to Variety.com. At the Creative Arts Emmys on Saturday, Probst was the winner in the Outstanding Host in a Reality – Competition Program, a category that became a bone contention when it was moved to the Creative Arts show after two years on the Primetime Emmys telecast.
After initially saying that he would not be able to attend the Creative Arts ceremony because of his duties hosting the upcoming season of “Survivor,” Probst flew in from Nicaragua the afternoon of the show, and flew back immediately afterwards.
Finally, the newest batch of Emmy presenters includes three stars of the HBO series “True Blood”: Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer and Alexander Skarsgard.
