On Sunday night, the Emmys did their In Memoriam and showed old photos and videos of the recently deceased. There was only one problem, instead of using a photo of the late Composer Andre Previn, they used one of Conductor Leonard Slatkin.
How does Slatkin feel about being killed off by the Emmys? Jimmy Kimmel found him in Ireland and asked him that very question and several more. When the ABC late night host asked him if he is dead, he told him, “Some people might wish that especially my conductor colleagues.: Then he added, Nope, I was really quite shocked to learn that in giving their best to Andre Previn, they wound up giving their worst to me.”
How did he find out he made the Emmys? He woke up at 4a to check the baseball scores, he looked on the computer, “and all of a sudden I see, ‘Oh, I knew Andre was gone a few months ago and now apparently me too.'”
Talking about computers, he got several messages from people checking on him to make sure he is still alive. Which made him wonder, “Why are they sending me messages if they think I am gone?” Which is a really good question.
How does Slatkin think his friend would have reacted? He thinks Previn is laughing in his grave. Slatkin just wishes his friend could have gotten a proper sendoff from the Emmys.
When it comes to the Academy, they released this statement to The Hollywood Reporter about the mess up, “The producers for the 71st Emmy Awards, the Television Academy and Fox sincerely apologize for this error. All In Memoriam mentions on the Television Academy’s website feature accurate imagery of Mr. Previn.”
I think as an apology to Slatkin, they should have him conduct the Emmys next year! Actually, I just want to watch him at work. He makes me laugh!
This is not the first time this happened during an In Memoriam. Back in 2017, Australian producer Jan Chapman was mistaken for her late friend Janet Patterson.
