Emmy Awards telecast boss Ken Ehrlich has defended his decision to single out late Glee star Cory Monteith for a special tribute during Sunday's ceremony.
The tragic actor, who died from a heroin and alcohol overdose in July, will be among five late stars who will be honoured onstage during the show's In Memoriam segment, prompting critics to suggest there are others who are more deserving of the honour.
However, Ehrlich reveals there is a special reason why Monteith will be remembered in style.
He tells Access Hollywood, "I do think that when people see this and they see that there is kind of a message involved in what we're saying about him I think they may revise some of this early unfair advanced criticism.
"It does celebrate him because he really did significant work on that show but it's also, in a way, a warning."
Glee's Jane Lynch will honour Monteith at the Emmys, while Edie Falco will salute her late The Sopranos co-star James Gandolfini, Michael J. Fox will pay tribute to his former Family Ties producer Gary David Goldberg, who lost his battle with brain cancer in June, and Rob Reiner will remember his All in the Family castmate Jean Stapleton.
Robin Williams will also be part of the special tributes as he salutes his friend, mentor and Mork & Mindy co-star Jonathan Winters.
WENN.com
source: newshub archive
