6 Ways His Emmys Tribute Can Improve Upon the VMAs

The 2014 MTV Video Music Awards was an impressive show, not to mention quite a victory for women and feminism. Not only did Beyoncé shoot down the divorce rumors with a show of family solidarity, but we got to see an epic performance of Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj's "Bang Bang" and see Miley Cyrus come a long way from her 2013 VMAs performance. However, the lowest point of the VMAs (aside from Jay Pharoah's creepy jokes about Grande) was their tribute to Robin Williams. It was a 20 second collection of pictures of Williams throughout his career set to Coldplay's "A Sky Full of Stars" and it was, well. It could have been better.

The 2014 Emmy Awards is going to do a tribute of their own to Williams and I'm already hoping that theirs will be better than the one we saw at the VMAs. Things already look promising since Billy Crystal will be honoring Williams at the Emmys and Crystal has, at least, worked with Williams with the past and knew him better than anyone who was on stage before Williams' tribute at the VMAs. However, that's not enough to give Williams a proper tribute. In fact, if the Emmys really wants to do right by Williams, then here are six things I hope to see from their tribute Monday night.

1. Personal Accounts

The thing about the VMAs tribute is that it felt a little dispassionate to just collect photographs together like that. If the Emmys plans to do a montage of their own, they should be accompanied by audio recordings of people talking about Williams and how he's touched their lives or careers over the years. Personal accounts always give more poignancy to a tribute.

2. A Clip Show

Instead of photographs, I would like to see clips of Williams, in his movies, in his interviews, and maybe even in his life. We've watched so many films that Williams has done, but seeing a compilation of some of his best roles cut together with some of his best interview quotes would reduce the audience to tears in no time. I'm tearing up just thinking about it.

3. Appropriate Music

As great a song as "A Sky Full of Stars" is, exactly what does Coldplay have to do with Robin Williams? If they're going to use music, I think they should use Williams' favorite song or a song from a band that he liked or something that's a little more personal than a Coldplay plug. Coldplay is a great band, but I don't think they're the right band for this tribute.

4. A Moment of Silence

One of the most awkward parts of the VMAs tribute was the fact that it was immediately followed by a featurette about Iggy Azalea. There was no applause and, more telling, there was no moment of silence. I think a Williams tribute needs that, needs to be followed by a few seconds of silence before the show continues on as scheduled.

5. People Who Knew Him

Crystal is a step in the right direction, but it would be nice if more of Williams' friends and loved ones were present to give their own speeches on what Williams meant to them. I'm hoping that the Emmys has an unannounced appearance from his family to share their personal accounts with us for one last, big tribute, but only if they want to, of course.

6. A Longer Runtime

No, but, really, 20 seconds? That's it? I know the Emmys can do better than that. In fact, I'm hoping for it. Don't let me down.

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