I used to want to win a Webby Award. Until I realized years ago that you had to pay several hundreds of dollars just to be considered for one. Yes. Really. It's that democratic. You only have to be fabulously wealthy and successful already to pay for the privilege of a Webby Award nomination. And now, this year, we see that the Webby Awards have a people's choice vote via AOL. You know. AOL. The company you associate with Internet greatness. Or the company you associate with having $315 million to give to Arianna Huffington for creating a site that relies on free writing.
Is there a Webby Award for that? Not this year.
Alrighty then!
Here are the 2011 Webby Awards nominations in categories that seem/look/feel funny:
In the official Humor category, it's a race among CollegeHumor, Comedy Central, Funny or Die, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and The Onion.
In the official Weird category, it's down to Awkward Family Photos, Most Awesomest Thing Ever, Rather Good, The Daily What, and What the Fuck Should I Make For Dinner?
There's an entirely separate page for Interactive Advertising! Great job, Webbys.
In Online Film & Video, which is its own thing, for something, Funny or Die is competing against itself in Best Individual Performance, as both its "Presidential Reunion" and Ralph Macchio videos got nominated, alongside Cheri Oteri's "Liza Life Coach" for AMC.com, Sundance Channel's Green Porno, and Web Therapy.
For some reason, Zach Galifianakis is up against the New York Times' David Pogue and YouTube's iJustine for Best Host.
Galifianakis also competes with Funny or Die's April Fool's joke with Justin Bieber, the "Kenny Powers" campaign for K-Swiss, The Onion, and CollegeHumor's "Grammar Nazis" for Individual Short.
In Comedy Long Form Series, Funny or Die's "Presidential Reunion" and LStudio's "Web Therapy" get additional nods, alongside 30 Rock's "Frank vs. Lutz," The Office's "The 3rd Floor Webseries," and "The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora."
Congrats to all of the corporate entities who earned honors this year!