IAWTV Awards Liveblog: Why Felicia Day is the Tina Fey of Web Entertainment

The International Academy of Web TV Awards launched yesterday, celebrating the best content that Web Entertainment has to offer. The first annual ceremony took place in Las Vegas and was livestreamed on YouTube, with plenty of behind the scenes videos launched in anticipation of the night, such as What’s Trending‘s pre-show coverage and interviews, along with IAWTV’s “Why I Do What I Do” videos.

Picking up where the Streamys left off, the IAWTV Awards would be the new litmus test for how well the indie genre of Web Entertainment could withstand such a mainstream affair as an awards show. Backed by some kickass sponsors like YouTube, Yahoo!, MyDamnChannel, and Crackle, the pressure was definitely on.

Earlier this week, we gave you a sneak peek sampling of five categories of Web series and the shows that make them awesome. Most of them, of course, were nominees in at least a couple of categories. So how did our faves fare?

Here’s what went down at the inaugural event. We present the tears, the bad jokes, the togas, the anarchy, the double rainbows, and too many hypocritical references to network television.

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It’s only the “preview” and they’ve already clipped Grace Helbig’s legendary Tampon video about five times. Off to a good start. For some real facts, the members of the panel are from 16 countries around the globe. This is a truly international event. I’m floored, considering this show is produced by an International Academy.

The future of Web Television has arrived and we are all apart of it. Our first booby prize for tuning in? We were the first ever eyes to glance upon the brand new statue. And we can’t undo this. It…kind of looks like a MoMA piece. Viewers are invited to tweet in their trophy nickname suggestions. They don’t even have a name for it?! This is pandemonium already. I vote Bluetooth Ivy. Oh, it’s made of golden pillars representing the togetherness of the Web. Cute.

We get a sampling of some videos that didn’t make it into the awards show. The first one looks like Jackass. Wait, here’s Charmin! She’s a badass rapper who will give those little British girls, Sophia and Grace, a run for their money. Look her up now. And here’s a David Cross lookalike parodying newscaster flubs.

BEST EDUCATIONAL WEB SERIES: DadLabs; Engineer Your Space; Financially Fit; The Great Camera Shootout 2011; What You Can Do

Oh no, they showed the audience, or lack thereof, in attendance. There’s an embarrassing amount of empty seats. I guess when you’re not the Oscars and you don’t have a real name for your award, you can’t afford to hire seat fillers. Since this is a Web Series awards show, maybe they should’ve just streamed live and forgone the audience. They also can’t afford more than one nameless award. Everyone kinda just gets to hold it. You know, like on Global Guts.

BEST NEW WEB SERIES: Breakout; Daily Ticker; Tech News Today; The Philip DeFranco Show; The Woodward Report

Josh Molina is here and he made a Jewish joke. This is now officially a real awards show.

BEST VARIETY SERIES: Fanboy Funhouse; Kids React; Mark Malkoff; Stripped Down Live (porn show); Team Unicorn (also a porn show)

Oh no, these guys have to thank 53 people. It kind of sounds like a rap. Now we’re heading into Grammy’s territory. Next they have to curse ten times and then thank God.

This sound quality is masterfully on par with that of my high school drama productions.

Napster presents the award for Best Music Show? Because everyone still uses Napster, right? Oh wait, but it’s actually just a ninja.

BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC: Rob Gokee, Night of the Zombie King; Rob Gokee, SOLO: The Series; Mike Jackson, AIDAN 5; Peace Nistades, Dragon Age: Redemption; Brian Satterwhite, CELL: The Web Series

This is just the same as every other awards show. We still can’t learn to write or deliver these presentation bits in a non-awkward manner.

BEST EDITING: Fawaz Al-Matrouk, Goldilocks; Jeff Cowan, RCVR/Web Series; Matthew Lyons and Kirby Jinnah, Riese: Kingdom Falling; Chris Preksta and Tyson VanSkiver, The Mercury Men; Tony E. Valenzuela, BlackBoxTV: The Series

BEST DESIGN: Greg Aronowitz, Dragon Age: Redemption; Ben Brown and Jason Mowry, AIDAN 5; Jonathan Nail and Michael Levine, SOLO: The Series; Kelly Wasserman, RCVR/Web Series; Eric Whitney, Continuum

So far this feels like it appeals to a very male audience, like those guys in high school who still traded Pokemon cards at lunch. I’m not judging. Felicia Day is the gaming master (mistress? that sounds derogatory). But I expected to see more variety and not as many repeats. Also, “I would double rainbow you” is NOT a pick up line.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Andrew R. Deutsch, Night of the Zombie King; Christopher Charles Kempinski, Riese: Kingdom Falling; C. Kim Miles, Mortal Kombat: Legacy; Iskra Valtcheva and Michael Morlan, CELL: The Web Series; Joost Van Starrenburg, RCVR/Web Series

Other lessons: we can make Web Series but are still painfully incapable of livestreaming without glitches.

BEST WRITING IN NONFICTION: Benny Fine and Rafi Fine, Kids React; Grace Helbig, Daily Grace; Rudy Jahchan, A Comicbook Orange; Scott Lynch, The Great Camera Shootout 2011; Nar Williams, NextMovie Daily

This guy: “I’d like to thank the Academy, I guess?” Good, there you go. At least it wasn’t like Denzel Washington who didn’t know what the fuck was going on at the TONY Awards. Theater has its own Academy?! Ooh, and we have an advocate for stopping SOPA! Award shows ALWAYS get political. Always.

“Brevity is the soul of wit.” Is that a Dorothy Parker quote?

BEST WRITING IN COMEDY; Felicia Day, The Guild; Jeff Lewis, The Jeff Lewis 5-Minute Comedy Hour; Marilyn Anne Michaels and Dominic Conti, The Best Friend; Jessica Mills, Awkward Embraces; Steve Silverman, Pretty

Our girl, Felicia Day, takes it! It’s been five years almost to the day since she finished her first draft of The Guild. Why does she do what she does, you ask? Because of family. Her cast, her crew, the audience, and the family we create online. Viewers who enjoy the entertainment together. “Let’s all keep doing what we’re doing because we love it.” Now that was a speech. Go, girl.

BEST WRITING IN DRAMA: Vidas Barzdukas, AIDAN 5; Mark Gardner, CELL: The Web Series; Susan Miller and Tina Cesa Ward, Anyone But Me; David Nett, Rick Robinson & Andrew R. Deutsch, Night of the Zombie King; David Van Eyssen and Brian Horiuchi, RCVR/Web Series

I believe this is a show about lesbians. These ladies look like the Diane Keatons of web series. One’s wearing sunglasses insdoors. Baller.

BEST COSTUME DESIGN: Katie Broad, Fallout: Nuka Break; Jenny Green, Dan Crawley and Thais Yuki, Video Game Reunion; Kristin Ingram, The Guild; Megan Leson, Riese: Kingdom Falling; Shawna Trpcic, Dragon Age: Redemption

“Admorous” isn’t a word. Also, I may have been utterly mistaken. I think they get to keep their Bluetooth Ivy Awards. Get ready to clear a really tall shelf or bathroom cabinet.

Here’s our first SkyRim joke.

BEST MAKEUP/SPECIAL EFFECTS: Greg Aronowitz and Kimberly Graczyk, Dragon Age: Redemption; Michael Del Rossa, RCVR/Web Series; Kimberly Graczyk, The Guild; Ralis Kahn, Bianca Appice and Shintaro Kakioka, Fallout: Nuka Break; Jamie Register, A Good Knight’s Quest

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: Chad Briggs, Continuum; Lawson Demming, Rocket Studios and Tunnel Post, RCVR/Web Series; Keegen Douglas, Mortal Kombat: Legacy; Shawn Likley, AIDAN 5; Chris Preksta, The Mercury Men

We have our first no-shows. C’mon. Don’t pull that shit. Only Maggie Smith can do that.

Here’s a woman wearing a toga. Oh wait, that’s a dress. It would’ve been better if it was a toga. Amber J. Lawson is thanking people for helping produce this show. Everyone has to stand as she announces their names. Like in elementary school assemblies. Where kids traded Pokemon cards.

Live-streamers are invited to stand up! I’m standing! I’m standing! I feel accounted for. I wasn’t aware it was a toga party, though. “You are the forward thinkers. You are the people who think out of the box. You are the risk takers. You are the people who make this community happen.” Can I get a hallelujah? Well that was more fun and interactive than one of those suits who comes out during big award shows basically telling you it’s time to take that bathroom break.

There is no ninja or robot to present that one. Just a classy voice over.

BEST MALE PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY: Yuri Baranovsky (Aaron Morrison), Leap Year; Jeff Lewis, The Jeff Lewis 5-Minute Comedy Hour; Jeff Lewis (Stan), The Jeff Lewis 5-Minute Comedy Hour; Jonathan Nail (Scott Drizhal), SOLO: The Series; Sandeep Parikh (Zaboo), The Guild

Jeff is the second person to thank Felicia Day. She is the Tina Fey of Web Series.

BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY: Alexis Boozer (Brynn Arbor), Leap Year; Emma Caulfield (Emma Caulfield), Bandwagon The Series; Felicia Day (Codex), The Guild; Julie Ann Emery (Emily), Then we got HELP!; Hillary B. Smith (Ellie), Fumbling thru the Pieces

Obviously, guys. She’s Tina. “I cannot run in stripper shoes.” Classy Day.

BEST MALE PERFORMANCE IN A DRAMA: Dingani Beza (Patrick Aubert), Asylum; Bryan Michael Block (Det. James Aidan), AIDAN 5; Daniel Bonjour (Luke Weber), RCVR/Web Series; Maxwell Glick (Hicks), Night of the Zombie King; Kevin McCarthy (The Man), CELL: The Web Series

“Man, it is heavy.” Typical.

BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE IN A DRAMA; Jourdan Gibson (The Woman/Sarah), CELL: The Web Series; Rachael Hip-Flores (Vivian McMillan), Anyone But Me; Jeri Ryan (Sonya Blade), Mortal Kombat: Legacy; Maya Sayre (Det. Morgan Riley), AIDAN 5; Taryn Southern (Jamie Phillips), BlackBoxTV: The Series

Cool category coming up!

BEST SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERIENCE: CliffsNotes Films; Kids React; RCVR/Web Serie; Stupid For Movies; What’s Trending with Shira Lazar

Yes, yes, yes. “I get an award for tweeting! This is my first award ever!” This woman is what Web Series are about. “Remember,” she advises, “Google before you tweet.” She speaks from experience. Does everyone know about the Steve Jobs catastrophe? Her account tweeted that Steve Jobs had died before he actually had. Like months before. She was fired from CBS. But still going strong!

BEST SUPPLEMENTAL CONTENT: Kids React; RCVR/Web Series; The Further Adventures of Cupid and Eros; The Mercury Men; Vampire Zombie Werewolf

“Off with your router!” is the new monarchistic threat, guys.

BEST DISTRIBUTION PLATFORM: Blip.tv; Crackle; Dailymotion; Hulu; Joost

“Bring back Friendster!” Are we about to have a riot on our hands?

Broadcast TV won’t have this next award. Ever notice how shitty and difficult to navigate those network show sites are?

BEST WEBSITE DESIGN: AIDAN 5; Engineer Your Space; RCVR/Web Series; Ruby Skye P.I.; The Guild

Felicia is accepting for this and RUNNING in her stripper heels. Do they serve drinks at this thing?

These presenters just made a Gaddhafi joke, as if this were the Best Dictator Award. Too soon? Nah, this is the Internet, nerds. Anarchy!

BEST DIRECTING (NON-FICTION): Danny Cameron, DadLabs; Benny Fine and Rafi Fine, Kids React; Sandra J. Payne, The Web.Files; Brett Register, What’s Trending with Shira Lazar; Mike Rotman, Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show

He thanks Tim Tebow. “I’ve accepted a lot of Oscars in my shower, but I’m no Felicia Day.” Too easy.

BEST DIRECTING (COMEDY): Sean Becker, The Guild; Sean Becker, The Jeff Lewis 5-Minute Comedy Hour; Sandeep Parikh, Legend of Neil; Steve Silverman, Pretty; Frederick Snyder, SOLO: The Series

BEST DIRECTING (DRAMA): Ben Bays, AIDAN 5; Tina Cesa Ward, Anyone But Me; David Nett, Night of the Zombie King; Chris Preksta, The Mercury Men; David Van Eyssen, RCVR/Web Series

Grace Helbig is presenting. By far the funniest one up there yet. She’s like the Amy Poehler of presenters. Everyone’s the something of something, am I right?

BEST HOSTED LIVE WEB SERIES: Geek Beat LIVE; Indie Intertube; Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show; Stupid For Movies; What’s Trending with Shira Lazar

Shira Lazar is What’s Trending now, bitches. She is an inspiration.

BEST HOST (TAPED): Khail Anonymous, ETC – Entertainment, Technology, Culture; Burnie Burns, Immersion; Kristyn Burtt, The Web.Files; Casey McKinnon, A Comicbook Orange; Brad Powell, DadLabs

BEST HOST (LIVE): April Grant and Amanda Shockley, Indie Intertube; Mark Keizer and Wade Major, Stupid For Movies; Shira Lazar, What’s Trending with Shira Lazar; Kevin Pollak, Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show; Curt Smith, Stripped Down Live

So turns out there’s not a lot of variety with these winners either. “More to come,” says Lazar. “This is history in the making for everyone.” I’m a sucker for those revolutionary bits.

Grace says that the total number of Twitter followers of everyone nominated tonight is…eleventy billion. And if they all were to tweet at the same moment, the earth would explore into the sun. It’s science. She’s so smart.

BEST HOSTED TAPED WEB SERIES: A Comicbook Orange; ETC – Entertainment, Technology, Culture; Immersion; NextMovie Daily; The Web.Files

We officially have our first sign of waterworks. Another +1 for being on our way to a real awards show.

I rest my case! The teleprompter’s messed up. These presenters now have to rely on their memories. What do they think we are, humans?! “Boo, technology!” she says. Umm, you’re at an awards show for the Web.

BEST DOCUMENTARY WEB SERIES: Beyond the Gallery; Deja View; Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell; The Founders; White Collar Brawler

BEST ANIMATED WEB SERIES: CliffsNotes Films; Dick Figures; Red vs. Blue; Sketch 22; The World of Bruce McCall

Now Shira Lazar and Kevin Pollak are here to present the last two awards. Shira is maybe the Meryl Streep of the IAWTV awards and Kevin Pollak is the Kevin Pollak.

“You’ve worked with Hollywood,” says Shira. The H-word! That’s taboo, Lazar!

Are they doing improv right now? “Awkward silences are always great when you’re live.” She would know. Oh, they were waiting for a scripted conversation with Siri. The tech on this production is just flawless.

BEST COMEDY WEB SERIES: Gigi: Almost American; Pretty; The Guild; The Jeff Lewis 5-Minute Comedy Hour; Video Game Reunion

We hear some voice say, “The Teleprompter must’ve been freaking out. Haha.” Again, the tech is just without flaw here.

BEST DRAMA WEB SERIES: AIDAN 5; Anyone But Me; CELL: The Web Series; Pioneer One; RCVR/Web Series

Considering the title of this show was pronounced three different ways throughout the night, its win sure took me by surprise. But the presenter is British so he automatically convinces everyone of the validity of his words and his dapper existence. He’s also in a suit. Where do you think you are, an awards show with an audience?

If you’ve made it this far, that’s incredible and your Bluetooth Ivy is being shipped as we speak.

What I’ve learned:

The physical award should be changed to a golden statue of Felicia Day, in her stripper heels, and next year it will be called The Day Awards or The Felishes. Just as long as we can’t tell that it’s named after a woman, like the TONYs. Also, would it be counterproductive of me to say that Shira Lazar and Grace Helbig should have their own network TV shows? Probably. But these ladies need to go mainstream. And while Web Entertainment deserves some quality funding and attention, it is certainly still on the periphery.

Lastly, next year, Felicia will win the first Lifetime Achievement Award for six whole dedicated years in the biz. So look out for that. We’re making history here, guys. History.

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