After watching Bravo’s A-List Awards the other night, I couldn’t help but think about all the awards shows that have popped up on cable over the last few years.  MTV was a pioneer with its VMAs – now in their 25th year – and the MTV Movie Awards, now in their 17th year.

Nickelodeon has the Kids Choice Awards, ESPN has the Espys, CMT has CMT Music Awards, Bravo has their A-List Awards…  There are the TV Land Awards, and even G4 has the Game Developers Choice Awards (or the GDCAs).  Is this a way for cable to get some live programming on the air?  Or is it an effort to give themselves some authority over their audience’s entertainment choices?

It’s probably both, and there are varying degrees to how well each network fares in the latter.  The VMAs are trendsetters in and of themselves: using Russell Brand as the host in 2008 pretty much let everyone know that he’s cool.  And this year’s Movie Awards host is SNL funnyman Andy Samberg, might be deemed a comedy veteran to the kids who will be tuning in.

The Espys push the line between sports and entertainment by bringing entertainment celebrities into the mix of sports celebs.  While the critics seemed to like Justin Timberlake as last year’s host, my husband and his Sportscenter-obsessed friends will tell you a different story.

CMT puts the power in its viewers to vote for the winners rather than the committee behind the Country Music Awards (airing on CBS), building loyalty with the regular viewers and surely some of the channel surfers, too.

Bravo’s A-List Awards take a stab at claiming their stake in what’s cool/what’s not authority.  While filled with their own talent (Kathy Griffin hosts, Tim Gunn does the Red Carpet, the Real Housewives, Make Me A Supermodels and Top Chefs are everywhere), awards are offered to celebs from their TV competitors: the Kardashians, Tori Spelling, Chelsea Handler, the “stars” of Big Brother.  Awards also went to fashion designers, celebrity chefs, innovations, even the A-List Hotel (Gramercy in NYC, in case you’re curious).

Being a huge fan of all things Bravo, I loved the A-List Awards from beginning to end.  Not only were my favorites chosen as winners, it was a thoroughly entertaining show.  (I’m one of the people who likes Kathy Griffin.)  And I’m pretty sure this is what all these networks want from their own awards: to set the trend in their own cultural/social/demographic universe, and to be good TV.  I hope the guys (and girls) who tuned into the GDCAs on G4 got the same fan-favorite rush that I did.

Read past entries by Sabrina Toledo