The Primetime Emmys' producers are defending their decision to pay special tribute to Cory Monteith during their In Memoriam segment.
On Monday, it was announced that the Emmys were planning on paying tribute to some actors lost this year, and the Glee star was to be included. Sopranos star, James Gandolfini was another actor the producers specifically mentioned was going to be mentioned.
The 30-year-old actor died in July after accidentally overdosing on heroin and alcohol.
But after making the announcement, some were not sure that Monteith warranted mentioning due to his limited career, E! Online reports.
During a conference call, Emmy producer Ken Ehrlich said, "It was a rather personal choice, but Cory's appeal was to maybe a little different generation than some of the others we're honoring."
"We felt it needed to be represented, that at 31, he passed away under very tragic circumstances. And that it was important to be responsive to younger viewers, to whom Cory Monteith meant as much as perhaps these other four individuals meant to their own generations."
Erhlich also commented on how they weren't including Dallas actor Larry Hagman for the special segment saying, "No matter what we do, there will be people who feel we could have made other options, and done other things."
Those getting a special segment are Monteith, Gandolfini, Gary David Goldberg, Jonathan Winters and Jean Stapleton.
The Emmys air on CBS live on Sunday.
image: Fox