Why the Real Winner of the NBC 2010 Emmy Award Show was 'In Memoriam' and Not 'Modern Family', 'Mad Men', or Even 'Temple Grandin.'

Before there was television on the Internet, or on an iPhone or iPad, in fact, before there was TV on Hulu, You Tube, DVRs, CDs and even video cassette recorders, there was simply television on a little home TV screen.

Usually, with no remote control.

Maybe you remember early black & white, maybe you can even remember the early days of color television. Anyone who grew up with television knows how many people--TV stars and non-stars alike--have combined to make the TV we've watched through the years so enjoyable.

Many of the countless number of people who made TV come alive for us are still around, even if they're not regulars on today's TV screens. But unfortunately, many people who made our TV watching moments wonderful have sadly left us.
Remembering and reminiscing about the current as well as the golden days of television is an ongoing joy.

But every year, and including last night's wonderful 2010 Emmy Award show on NBC, the touching segment titled 'In Memoriam' is the show's real winner because it gives us an opportunity to sadly look back and remember when times were different.

Last evening's 'In Memoriam' segment opened with a touching introduction by the singer Jewel who sang a moving song she wrote called "Shape of You."

Her song was dedicated to a friend who died of cancer. During her beautiful vocal rendition, videos and photo stills of some of the many people in the television industry who died over the past year were shown on the screen. And they were flashed in ways that we could easily reminisce and remember them by.

Soupy Sales wasn't doing 'The Mouse' but as we say, nobody took a pie in the face better than Soupy did.

Fess Parker was Davy Crockett and I don't know whatever happened to my coonskin cap.

Roy Disney was Walt's brother but even in his more famous brother's shadow, Roy made so many children throughout the world active participants in his World and Land.

Peter Graves had many famous roles but none better to me than Fury.

Art Linkletter proved that kids could say the darndest things.

Rue McClanahan was a real golden girl.

Dixie Carter was a true woman of design.

Gary Coleman was known for one great line ('what ya' talkin' about, Willis?), one terrific show and one sad life.

Jimmy Dean, Cory Haim, Brittany Murphy, Robert Culp, John Forsythe and sadly, others were remembered in memoriam, and in gratitude for everything they did to make television picture perfect.

While honoring the nominees and winners like "Mad Men", "Modern Family" "Temple Grandin" and others, it was great to look back and remember.