emmy®extra September 2007 • more emmy®extra features
A Different Kind of "A-Team"
The Oh-So-Vital Roles Played by Ernst & Young's Emmy Accountants
By Libby Slate
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Ernst & Young's Andy Sale
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When it comes to red carpet finery, Andy Sale and John Nendick sport the ultimate Emmy Day accessory: handcuffs.
Sale and Nendick are the Ernst & Young accountants responsible for the safe delivery of the envelopes bearing the names of the winners at the Primetime Emmy and Creative Arts Awards, as well as the Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards.
Their wristlets—issued by the LAPD, who holds the keys—are attached to briefcases, which may—or may not—contain the results.
“At Ernst & Young, one of the things we’re really focused on is that the security, reliability and confidentiality of the process be maintained,” says Sale, head of the company’s Pacific Southwest media and entertainment team.
“We don’t have routines. We do change the methods and mechanics of how the ballots arrive at the Shrine," he explains. "If we don’t arrive at the show, we have a responsibility to make sure there is a show.”
19 Years and Counting...
Ernst & Young has been handling Primetime Emmy ballot-counting and delivery for nineteen years now. This season marks Sale’s seventh year on the job; it’s year three for Nendick, head of the firm’s global media and entertainment practice.
They head a hand-picked group, dubbed “The A-Team,” which gathers in a windowless room in the downtown Los Angeles office beginning in June, to count about 8,000 Emmy ballots to determine nominees; they do so again in August to determine the winners.
A computer first scans the ballots; those that are rejected are examined by team members. If the voter’s intent is clear, the vote counts; if not, out it goes.
| On the day of the Primetime Emmy Awards, Sale, Nendick and Mieke Velghe—who wears bejeweled handcuffs on her wrist—arrive in separate cars. They walk the red carpet, mingling with celebs... Once inside, they shed the cuffs. |
About 100 ballots are discarded each year because they are completed incorrectly.
Proving the winner is
the right winner
“We scan everything twice and recount if it’s a close race,” Sale explains. “We take the view of the person just behind." He says his team's philosophy is: "Have we done enough work to prove that the winner is the right winner?”
His advice to Emmy voters to make sure their ballot counts: Pay strict attention to published deadlines and double-check your ballots.
The “A-Team” members—detailed-oriented, close-mouthed sorts who give up most of their summer including holiday weekends—even do their own printing of the cards bearing the winners’ names and the envelopes which hold them, in large type so presenters can read them easily.
They also print the results press releases and the cards used for rehearsals. In the first rehearsal, the first nominee name for each category becomes the mock winner; for the second rehearsal, it’s the second name, and so on.
Dodging Questions on
the Red Carpet
On the day of the Primetime Emmy Awards, Sale, Nendick and colleague Mieke Velghe, who wears a bejeweled set of handcuffs on her wrist, arrive in separate cars.
They walk the red carpet, mingling with celebs and dodging friendly questions; “A frequent one is, ‘Just tell us one of the winners. Just one,’ or, ‘Just give us a hint,’” Nendick says. “But there’s never been a serious security risk or threat.”
Once inside, they shed the cuffs. “They’re very uncomfortable,” Sale notes.
During the ceremony, they hand the envelopes to the presenters; they must be prepared for any last-minute show changes to make sure the envelopes are in the right order.
Last year, the two men appeared on stage, accompanying basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. “It was fun to meet him,” Nendick says.
Not Just Counting Ballots,
Protecting the Brand
It’s only at the Governors Ball that the real-life accountants finally get to relax, also posing with attendees who request a photo with the briefcase.
Their high-profile responsibility affords the globally-based Ernst & Young worldwide exposure; both executives point out that they take the same meticulous, confidential approach to meeting all their clients’ needs.
And, says Sale, “We’re not just counting ballots; we’re helping to further and protect the brand. The Emmy brand means a lot. We’re extremely proud of our association with the Television Academy and the Emmy Awards. It’s humbling in many respects. And it’s always interesting.” •
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