{iemmys.tv}

The 2009 International Emmy Award Nominees were announced earlier this week, but at least one category – Comedy – seems to be composed of dramas. Take the four nominated shows from Japan, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and Germany:

• Hoshi Shinichi’s Short Shorts: A very clever and sophisticated part-animated show that has its moments but is more situational drama than comedy.
• Peter Kay’s Britain’s Got the Pop Factor…: This show is definitely a comedy, but is only two hours long (it aired in two parts). It’s a straightforward meaningful parody that lacks creativity.
• The Slum: Information on this Brazilian show is nearly impossible to find, even from TV Globo. The world ’slum’ does not connote humor.
• Turkish for Beginners (Türkisch für Anfänger): All sources agree that this show is a comedy, yet on paper the themes appear deep and not conducive to unrestricted humor.

No one ever said all forms of comedy were created alike, but shouldn’t an international comedy category contain universal humor?