Why Cherry Jones Quit Emmy Race

Cherry Jones quit the Emmy race because she knew 'when to leave well enough alone and be grateful'

June 7, 2010 | 4:07 pm

Last year's Emmy champ Cherry Jones insists she didn't quit the current race for best supporting drama actress because of alleged fury with producers over her final days on "24."

"I love and adore everyone I worked with on '24' and am actively missing them," Jones says via e-mail to Gold Derby. "This job has offered me time with my elderly parents, given me new lifelong friends, a bank account, and the memory of last year's Emmy night which was one hell of a delicious ride. So honestly it never occurred to me (or my two agents who know me well) to submit me this year. One of the lessons in life is to know when to leave well enough alone and be grateful."

When Gold Derby broke the news that Jones would not be on the ballot as Emmy voting commenced on Friday, neither her agent nor a rep for "24" would address the reason why. Inevitably, that fueled negative rumors triggered by an interview Jones gave to Entertainment Weekly about how she and her role were treated during the last year of "24." While she said was satisfied with how her character played out, she also was frank about how producers dangled her throughout the final season, not mapping out a clear story arc for the part, dismissing her from the show, then bringing her back willy nilly.

But Jones insists that her comments were misunderstood and have nothing to do with her decision to exit the Emmys 10 months after winning. Such negative assumptions are "exactly wrong," she adds. Below, her full explanation:

Hey Tom,

Cherry Jones here writing from balmy Manhattan. I wanted to clear up the mystery surrounding my not submitting myself for Emmy consideration.

I love and adore everyone I worked with on "24" and am actively missing them.

I relished playing poor old Allison Taylor's descent into Logan Hell. Like all actors on "24" who realize their characters are being sent to the Dark Side, I resisted at first and then, of course, realized what a seductive playground the Dark Side presents for a dramatic actor.

This job has offered me time with my elderly parents, given me new lifelong friends, a bank account, and the memory of last year's Emmy night which was one hell of a delicious ride. So honestly it never occurred to me (or my two agents who know me well) to submit me this year. One of the lessons in life is to know when to leave well enough alone and be grateful.

I will however be watching the Emmy's from New York this year and rooting for all my "24" team and the other actors I've had the pleasure to get to know in Hollywood during my West Coast baptism.

I genuinely appreciate your interest and hope you will find the space to clear up the assumption which was being made....which, as my old movement teacher used to say, was "exactly wrong."

Thanks so much, Tom.

Warmly,
Cherry

Sent from my iPad

Photo: Associated Press

Source: goldderby.latimes.com

Cherry Jones Quits Emmy Race

Cherry Jones Quits Emmy Race

June 4, 2010 1:27 pm

When Emmy voting commences after 6 p.m. PST today, TV academy members will be shocked by the status of a past champ. Last year's winner of best supporting drama actress, Cherry Jones ("24"), took her name off the Emmy ballot.

Why did Jones bow out? Her rep won't say.

When Gold Derby asked her agent at William Morris Endeavor, Scott Henderson, for comment, he dodged the inquiry and referred us to a publicist at Fox TV. That rep said that the network submits "24" only in the race for best drama series. Actors submit themselves in the performance categories, so only Henderson or Jones can explain why she quit the Emmy derby just 10 months after winning.

Jones' refusal to explain her snub will inevitably fuel speculation that she's upset with "24" producers over how her role evolved as U.S. president. While she told Entertainment Weekly that she's satisfied with how her character played out, she also confessed that producers dangled her throughout the final season, not mapping out a clear story arc for the part, dismissing her from the show, then bringing her back willy nilly.

When asked if she thought there will be an opening for her in the "24" feature film, she replied, "I can't imagine that would be the case."

Source: goldderby.latimes.com

Will Emmy Awards Make Time for 24 This Year?

Kiefer Sutherland Deserves An Emmy Join Here

Will Emmy Awards make time for '24' this year?

May 25, 2010 | 8:51 am

The series finale of "24" delivered the show's trademark mix of action and drama as it wrapped up another eventful day in the life of Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland). This year, the rogue spy battled both friends and foes before ending the day facing exile.

Many critics have hailed the creative resurgence of this onetime perennial Emmy Awards contender. However, neither of our two Emmy experts -- Chris "Boomer" Beachum and Robert "Rob L" Licuria (Awards Heaven) -- foresee an awards comeback for "24." How fast the mighty have fallen!

For its fifth season in 2006, "24" finally won best drama series and Sutherland reigned as best actor. In 2007, Season 6 was deemed a disappointment, and the show failed to contend for the drama series Emmy for the first time in its run. Although "24" had made the top 10 -- as determined by a popular vote of TV academy members -- the sample episodes failed to impress the judging panel enough for the show to make it through to the final round of nominees. Then-reigning champ Sutherland did contend again in the best actor race, for the sixth year in a row, but lost to James Spader ("Boston Legal").

After being benched in 2008 because of the writers strike, the former Emmy powerhouse made a lackluster return to the race in 2009, failing to score bids for either series or TV movie ("24: Redemption"). Sutherland, who was a fixture in the best actor in a drama series category, was snubbed for the first time in the show's seven years. He had to make do with a nod in the TV movie actor race for "24: Redemption" and lost to Brendan Gleeson ("Into the Storm").

Boomer and Rob agree that reigning champ "Mad Men" will contend again this year, as will "Breaking Bad," "Damages" and "Dexter." Boomer believes freshman hit "The Good Wife" and the departing "Lost" will also make the ballot, while Rob thinks "House, M.D." and "Big Love" will round out the roster. Rob thinks Sutherland has an outside chance of making the top six in the crowded lead actor race this year, while Boomer ranks reigning champ Cherry Jones -- who portrayed America's first female president -- in the sixth slot in the supporting actress category.

Maria Elena Fernandez delivers a must-read wrap-up of the series, including interviews with exec producer Howard Gordon and fan favorites Mary Lynn Rajskub (the stalwart Chloe) and Gregory Itzin (the slippery ex-president).

Photo: Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer in the finale of "24." Credit: Ray Mickshaw / Fox

Source: goldderby.latimes