Emmy Winner Peter MacNicol -- Cory Tribute is Great ... For Drug Awareness

Emmy winner Peter MacNicol is not buying what Jack Klugman's angry son is selling because Peter thinks the tribute to Cory Monteith could actually save lives.

MacNicol -- who won an Emmy for "Ally McBeal" and also starred in classics like "Ghostbusters II" and "Sophie's Choice" -- tells TMZ tonight's tribute to Cory will create enormous drug awareness and possibly reach thousands of teens on a path of destruction.

Peter doesn't think it matters that Cory died without a single Emmy. He says, "If we are going to get into a merit system based on longevity then we are in trouble."

Tell that to Adam Klugman -- who is furious that his 3-time Emmy winning deceased father is barely getting a mention at tonight's ceremony.