What is supposed to be television’s biggest night is clearly not enough of a draw for TV viewers. ABC’s presentation of the 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards hit a new low with only 14 million viewers to come in second place according to Nielsen ratings. The show ranked second behind a line-up of re-runs on CBS.

What has led to the audience’s lack of interest in the Emmys? Can it be blamed on a glut of awards show or is the truth that the audiences are no longer concerned with which television shows are most popular? Some critics say that wins by HBO shows and other pay cable hits tend to alienate viewers who do not have cable. This year’s awards were dominated by HBO once again with “Angels in America,” “Sex and the City,” and “The Sopranos” picking up many statues.

Reviews on Garry Shandling’s performance as host have been mixed. Some enjoyed his acid-tongued delivery while others thought they were watching the rantings of a bitter man with no show to call his own.

One thing nearly everyone seems to be able to agree on is the show’s insistence on keeping to schedule. Several winners including Geoffrey Wright and James Gandolfini were cut off when they tried to tell important stories. Others, namely Al Pacino, were allowed all the time they needed.